Charro Beans Recipe (Frijoles Charros) (2024)

Charro Beans Recipe (Frijoles Charros)

We're making Mexican Charro Beans in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends, and I think you're going to love them. Charro beans is a simple but flavorful dish of beans, usually pinto beans or bayo beans, that are simmered in a seasoned broth with onions, garlic, peppers and pork, such as bacon or chorizo.

The recipe is popular in Mexican cuisine, particularly Tamaulipas and Coahuila, where it is called "frijoles charros", though you'll also find Tex Mex versions with more local ingredients.

It is typically served as a side dish, much like refried beans or pork and beans, though it is very easy to customize and serve as a meal with added meats or other fillers.

Recipes vary from region to region and cook to cook, with different meats and seasonings of preference. This is my particular adaptation, with bacon as the pork, though I do love it with spicy Mexican chorizo and/or some tender pork shoulder or fatty beef.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Let's talk about how to make charro beans, shall we?

Charro Beans Ingredients (Frijoles Charros)

• Bacon. 3 slices is great, though you can easily fit more to your taste.
• Vegetables. Onions garlic, jalapeno or serrano peppers (or both!).
• Pinto Beans. I used dried pinto beans that have been soaked and drained. If using canned pinto beans, the recipe will need to be adjusted for liquid and cooking times.
• Tomatoes. I love fire roasted tomatoes for this, but you can use canned diced tomatoes or the equivalent of fresh tomatoes. Roast them in the oven! Or just add them with the other ingredients.
• Broth. I usually use chicken broth, but vegetable broth is great as well, or use a few cups of water.
• Seasonings. Chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
• Garnish. Chopped fresh cilantro, spicy red pepper flakes, crumbly white cheese

How to Make Charro Beans (Frijoles Charros)- the Recipe Method

Cook the Bacon. Heat a large pan or a large pot to medium heat and add bacon. A Dutch oven is great for this recipe. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the bacon starts to crisp up. Remove the bacon and set aside.

Onion, Peppers and Garlic. Drain excess bacon grease and add onion and jalapenos. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.Add the garlic and cook another minute.

Remaining Ingredients. Add the reserved bacon, beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper. Stir and reduce heat to simmer the boldly flavored broth.

Simmer the Charro Beans. Cover and simmer for 60 minutes or longer, until the beans are tender to your preference. Check at 45 minutes. It could take up to 90 minutes, depending on your beans.

If the beans are too dry and not tender enough, add in a bit more broth or water to the pan and continue to simmer. Add salt to taste.

Garnish and Serve. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, chili flakes, crumbly white cheese and serve.

Recipe Tips & Notes

• Make it a Meal. You can easily add in extra meats to turn your charro beans into a full meal for dinner or gatherings. Try ground beef, turkey or pork, cooked chopped chicken, slow cooked pork shoulder or loin, spicy chorizo or others. Add some chopped brisket for a great Tex Mex version. So many options.
• The Beans. Soaking the beans reduces your cooking time overall. Try this recipe with bayo beans, which are more traditionally used in Mexican style charros frijoles.
• Additional Ingredients. Try making this with smoked paprika, or cayenne powder for an extra spicy version. Or use ghost powder, my true chilihead friends! A bit of fresh lime juice squeezed over the top is always a very nice addition as well. Chipotle peppers are an interesting addition as well.
• Soup Option. Add more broth or a bit of water and serve your frijoles charros as a soup! This is great as a starter to your meal.
• Canned Pinto Beans Option. You can easily make this recipe with canned pinto beans (drained). To do so, follow the recipe as written, but reduce the amount of broth to 1/2-1 cup and simmer until warmed, about 10 minutes. This is a quick and easy way to make taste charro beans when you're strapped for time.
• Slow Cooker Option. You can easily make this recipe in the slow cooker or Instant Pot by letting all of the ingredients cook slowly on high for 2-3 hours, or until the beans are softened to your preference. Just be sure to cook the bacon and vegetables first before slow cooking.

Cookbook Recommendation

If you love traditional Mexican cooking, I love this cookbook with recipes from all over Mexico. Definitely recommended.

• Mexico: The Cookbook (affiliate link, my friends!)

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

• Cowboy Beans
• Easy Homemade Refried Beans
• Cajun Red Beans and Rice
• Butter Bean Succotash
• Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)
• Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Beans
• Mike’s Zesty Three Bean Salad
• Huevos RancheroswithClassic Pico de Gallo
• Chorizo con Huevos
• Pulled Chicken Gorditas
• Beef Enchiladas
• Chiles Toreados (Mexican Blistered Peppers)