Pinto beans are simmered along with bacon, fresh onion, tomatoes, chilies and spices and topped with fresh cilantro in this shortcut charro bean recipe. Charro beans (also called frijoles charros or cowboy beans) are a traditional Mexican main or side dish made from pinto beans simmered in a savory broth. This shortcut Charro beans recipe captures the fresh and smoky flavor of the original recipe in less than 30 minutes. Move over baked beans, charro beans are the new favorite Summer BBQ side dish!
Slow Cooker Recipe
Make these shortcut charro beans in the slow cooker/crock pot for easy Summer entertaining. Once they’re cooked, set them to the warm setting so that guests can help themselves to warm charro beans during your BBQ. To modify this recipe for the slow cooker, start by cooking your bacon and onions directly in the slow cooker if your slow cooker has a sauté setting. If your slow cooker doesn’t have a sauté setting you’ll need to sauté the bacon and onions on the stove top and add them to the slow cooker once they’re cooked. Once all ingredients have been added to the slow cooker, simply set to the high setting for about an hour or until thoroughly heated.
Soupy Charro Beans
I prefer the thicker consistency of this easy charro bean recipe but the traditional recipe has a soupy consistency. If you prefer soupy charro beans, you can add about a cup of low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth to the beans before simmering. I suggest using low sodium broth to avoid over-salting your beans. You can always add a little bit of extra salt to taste, if necessary.
Modifications
Meat-lovers: Traditional charro beans have bacon, ham and chorizo. That’s a lot of pork! If you prefer your charro beans packed with protein, try reducing the amount of bacon and add a little chorizo and ham.
Add a spicy kick: To increase the heat in these beans you have a few options. You can add a chopped jalapeño to the beans (include the seeds and ribs/membranes – that’s the spiciest part) or swap the regular Rotel for the hot variation with habaneros.
Shortcut Charro Beans
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon or turkey bacon chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 15-ounce cans of Pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 2 10-ounce cans Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
- ¼ teaspoon salt add more to taste if necessary
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper add more to taste if necessary
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh cilantro chopped (about a handful)
Instructions
- Add the chopped bacon to a large pot or dutch oven and cook on medium heat until the bacon is fully cooked. Remove the bacon, but keep the bacon grease in the pan.
- Sauté the onion in the bacon grease for 5-6 minutes or until it starts to turn translucent.
- Add the cooked bacon, onion, garlic, beans, Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, pepper and garlic powder to the pan and simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- Add the chopped fresh cilantro to the beans and stir to combine prior to serving.
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