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Easy Bean Recipes

Easy Recipes

Hoppin’ John Recipe

Hoppin’ John is a Southern dish traditionally served on New Year’s Day, but this easy Hoppin’ John recipe tastes great at any time of the year. Hoppin’ John is served on New Year’s Day because black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck.  Check out our Vegetarian Hoppin’ John recipe if you’re interested in a meatless version of this dish.

Hoppin’ John Recipe

1½ cup dried black-eyed peas
1 small ham hock
5 slices thick-cut bacon
2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
1 large onion, chopped
3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
8 cups water

  1. Soak the beans overnight. Drain and discard the soaking water.
  2. In a large pot, add the soaked black-eyed peas, ham hock, 6 cups of water, and salt. Cover, then cook until the black-eyed peas are tender, about 1 – 1½ hours.
  3. Meanwhile, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside. Reserve the bacon grease. Crumble the bacon.
  4. Sauté the chopped onion in the bacon grease until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
  5. When the black-eyed peas have finished cooking, drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
  6. In a large pot, add the rice, 2 cups of the cooked black-eyed peas, sautéed onions, crumbled bacon, red pepper flakes, 2 cups reserved cooking liquid, and 2 cups water. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat until the rice is done, about 15-20 minutes.

Serves:  about 4-6 servings

Find more bean recipes here: The Complete List of Bean Recipes by BeansBeansBeans

Cowboy Beans Recipe

Cowboy beans can best be described as baked beans with a southwestern twist. This cowboy beans recipe uses our cooked pinto beans recipe as a base, so be sure to read through both recipes before preparation.

Cowboy Beans

6 cups cooked pinto beans with reserved bean broth
4 slices bacon, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
½ onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp lard or vegetable oil
1 tbsp salt or to taste
½ tsp ground cumin
chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

  1. Prepare a large pot of cooked pinto beans. Set aside and do not drain the cooking liquid.
  2. Heat the lard or oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the bacon and onion and cook until the onion is golden, about 5-7 minutes. Add the peppers and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute more. Transfer the fried vegetables and bacon to the pot of cooked pinto beans.
  3. Season the pinto beans with salt and cumin. Bring the pinto beans to a simmer, and cook for at least 10 minutes to combine the flavors. Serve in a bowl and garnish with cilantro.

Yield: 6 cups cowboy beans

Find more bean recipes here: The Complete List of Bean Recipes by BeansBeansBeans

Refried Beans Recipe

This easy refried beans recipe not only makes a healthy side dish, but it can be quickly turned into several cheap dinners, such as bean burritos, nachos, and quesadillas. Lard is traditionally used in refried beans, but they will still be tasty if you substitute a lighter oil like peanut, canola, or vegetable. The onion in the recipe is optional, but it is recommended since it gives the refried beans more flavor.

Refried Beans Recipe

3 cups cooked pinto beans, cooking liquid reserved, or two 16 oz. cans pinto beans
½ cup reserved bean broth (cooking liquid)
¼ cup lard or cooking oil (peanut, vegetable, or canola) or bacon grease
½ tsp salt or to taste
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (optional)

  1. Melt the lard or heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions until soft and golden, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat to low. Using a large wooden spoon, add a few spoonfuls of cooked pinto beans to the skillet and a little bit of the reserved bean broth. Mash the beans with a potato masher or fork. Repeat, adding a few spoonfuls of cooked pinto beans and a little bit of bean broth each time, until all the cooked pinto beans have been mashed. Mash the refried beans into desired consistency.
  3. Add the salt and pepper to the refried beans and stir well. Turn the heat to medium and warm the refried beans to desired temperature.

Yield: 3 cups refried beans

Find more bean recipes here: The Complete List of Bean Recipes by BeansBeansBeans