Discover the traditional flavors of Mexico with this authentic charro beans recipe. Made with slow-cooked pinto beans, bacon, and a blend of flavorful spices, this hearty dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
I’ve never eaten so many beans in all my life! Testing and developing this recipe has filled my freezer with more beans that my family will eat in our lifetime😂. But I had to figure out the best charro beans recipe!
I’ve tried them with chorizo, without, with ham, without ham, spicy, way too mild and bland. And finally I’ve come up with what I believe are the best charro beans with fantastic flavor and best of all, the perfect method. The bay leaves are essentially though I could never describe the flavor they lend to the beans. Without the bay leaves it was a flatter dish. I also tested dried beans vs canned beans and have a whole section below on what I found there.
What are Charro Beans?
Charro beans or frijoles charros (cowboy beans) are a savory Mexican side dish consisting of pinto beans slowly cooked with different meats (ham, chorizo and bacon) in a rich flavorful broth with peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Ingredients for Charro Beans
You have the option in this recipe to use dried or canned pinto beans. The recipe card lists all the ingredients for the dried beans version so there are a few more ingredients since you need to cook the dried beans before making the charro beans. Here is everything you will need:
- Dried Pinto Beans: see section below for using canned beans
- Yellow Onion: a white onion would work great too
- Garlic: adds flavor
- Bay Leaves: adds flavor
- Kosher Salt: adds flavor
- Dried Mexican Oregano: an absolute must! It can be found at most grocery stores – Walmart, Kroger, Harmon’s etc.
- Water: needed to soften and cook the beans
For the Charro Beans
- Meat: Bacon, Ham and Chorizo
- Yellow Onion: a white onion also works
- Jalapeño: adds flavor and little bit of heat
- Garlic: adds flavor
- Better Than Bouillon: adds flavor, can be substitute with water and a bouillon cube
- Roma Tomatoes: You could also used canned diced tomatoes if needed.
- Chipotle Pepper in Adobo Sauce: You will find this in the Hispanic food section is in a can. Our favorite brand is La Costeña.
- Smoked Paprika: adds smoky rich flavor
- Ground Cumin: adds the signature Mexican food flavor
- Kosher Salt: adds flavor
- Fresh Cilantro: adds a pop of freshness that balances everything out
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. Keep scrolling for all the details.
Dried vs Canned Beans
The most authentic recipes use dried beans, but I have to tell you, I prefer canned. The