Use canned black beans to make the easiest refried black beans ever! With just a few spices you probably already have on hand, these healthy refried black beans are super simple and quick to make, and the mashed texture is perfect for baby led weaning and babies in the lumpy puree stage.
This post has been written and medically reviewed by Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist).
Easy, Healthy Refried Black Beans with Canned Beans
Refried beans are the perfect side dish to include with family meals. The texture is perfect for babies using a baby led weaning approach or spoon fed babies who have progressed to a lumpy texture. Make the easiest refried black beans ever to go with weeknight family dinners in just 15 minutes using canned black beans and just a handful of spices. Made with just a bit of avocado oil, these easy refried beans are also healthier than most and easy to customize to fit your family's taste and your little one's eating abilities.
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Ingredients
- Canned black beans Use no added salt or low sodium beans for more control over the salt levels. If you happen to have black beans cooked from dry, one 15 oz can is roughly 1 ½ cups cooked beans.
- Avocado oil You can also use olive oil or another oil if you'd like.
- Spices Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin.
- Salt If you're using no added salt beans, you may choose to add a little bit of salt for flavor, but it's completely optional if you're making for babies under 12 months. If your beans already have salt added, you probably won't need to add more. (Read more on my stance on salt for babies.)
Step By Step Instructions
For the full printable recipe, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Drain and rinse the beans. Heat the oil in a small saucepan, and add the beans. Mash with a potato masher or fork as much or little as you want.
- Stir in spices and salt, if using. Add water, starting with 2 tablespoon and using up to ⅓ cup, depending on how thin you like your refried beans.
- Simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until heated through and the thickness you like. Add more water as needed if the beans get too thick.
Tips and Recipe Variations
- You can make these beans using pinto beans for more traditional refried beans.
- Taste and adjust the spices as needed to suit your family's tastes.
- If you already have some on hand, you can use broth in place of water for a little more flavor.
- For baby led weaning babies, use less water to keep the beans a little thicker - it'll be easier for little ones to pick up or keep on a spoon. For younger spoon fed babies, mash the beans up smaller (or even puree them) and thin with a little more water.
Storage and Reheating
Refried beans keep well in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat in a saucepan on the stove over low heat, adding a bit of water or broth as needed to thin.
Refried beans also freeze well. Freeze in individual portions in silicone cube trays for a quick and easy side you can pull out and reheat any time for baby's lunch or dinner.
How To Serve Refried Beans To Babies 6 Months and Up
For baby led weaning babies 6 months and up, you can serve refried beans on a rimmed plate and just let baby scoop them up with his hands (keep them pretty thick if you're serving them this way). You can also preload them on a soft spoon and hand the spoon to baby or set the spoon on baby's tray. Another option is to spread refried beans on finger-sized strips of lightly toasted bread or tortilla.
You can also serve refried beans to spoon fed babies, thinning and mashing as much as you need to fit baby's eating stage.
For more ways to serve beans for baby led weaning, read How to Serve Beans to Baby, or How To Serve Rice and Beans for Baby Led Weaning.
More Easy Side Dish Recipes for Baby
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Easy, Healthy Refried Black Beans (Using Canned Beans)
Use canned black beans to make the easiest refried black beans ever! With just a few spices you probably already have on hand, these healthy refried black beans are super simple and quick to make, and the mashed texture is perfect for baby led weaning and babies in the lumpy puree stage.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
- Category: side dish
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp avocado oil
- Up to ⅓ cup water or broth
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- salt to taste (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-low heat in a saucepan. Add drained beans and mash with a potato masher or fork to your desired texture.
- Stir in spices, salt (if using) and desired amount of water, starting with about 2 tablespoons and adding more if needed as the beans cook.
- Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, or until heated through and your desired thickness. Add more water as needed to thin if the beans get too thick or if you need them thinner for baby.
Notes
- Salt: If you're using no added salt beans, you may choose to add a little bit of salt for flavor, but it's completely optional if you're making for babies under 12 months. If your beans already have salt added, you probably won't need to add more.
- Other beans: You can use pinto beans in place of black beans for more traditional refried beans.
- Taste and adjust spices as needed to suit your taste.
- For baby led weaning babies, use less water to keep the beans a little thicker - it'll be easier for little ones to pick up or keep on a spoon. For younger spoon fed babies, mash the beans up smaller (or even puree them) and thin with more water as needed.
- Broth: If you already have some on hand, you can use broth in place of water for a little more flavor.
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