Easy Charro Beans Recipes

EASY CHARRO BEANS - MEXICAN PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook bacon: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bacon (add a splash of neutral oil if you are using lean bacon) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is cooked and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon and remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Turn off heat and drain or blot all but 2 TBS fat from the pot.
• Cook the chorizo: Increase heat to medium-high and add the chorizo to the pot. Cook undisturbed for 1 ½ minutes. Flip and cook another 1 minute undisturbed. Stir and continue to cook, using the back of a wooden spoon to break the chorizo up into small pieces, until browned, about 1 more minute. Use a slotted spoon and remove the chorizo to a SEPARATE paper towel-lined plate. Turn off heat and drain or blot all but 1 tablespoon of grease from the pot.
• Sauté vegetables + seasonings: Decrease heat to medium and add the onions and jalapenos. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, sugar, chili powder, oregano and paprika. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add remaining ingredients: Add in the beans, tomatoes, broth (or beef if using) and the reserved chorizo to the pot. Stir well to combine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a rapid simmer. Immediately reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
• Simmer: Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes, or until slightly thickened. (NOTE: For soupier, more stew-like beans, cover the pot and simmer for the first 15 minutes, then remove the cover and simmer an additional 10 minutes.)
• Add bacon, cilantro & adjust for seasoning: Turn off the heat and add the bacon and half the cilantro. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Serve: Garnish with remaining cilantro, along with fresh tomatoes or Pico de Gallo and jalapenos if using. Serve and enjoy!

EASY 'CHARRO' BEANS

Steps:

• Fry bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. With a slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towels. Reserve 1/2 cup bacon drippings.
• Place drippings in a large pot, and warm over medium heat. Fry onions until light brown. Stir in ham and chorizo. Reserve 1 cup of beans, and add the rest to the pot, along with the chipotle and garlic.
• Mash the reserved beans, then add to the pot. Simmer beans until thick and soupy, about 30 minutes. (If the beans become too dry, stir in water). Remove chipotle and garlic, and serve.

CHARRO BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Place ham hocks into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Boil until meat pulls back on bone, about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones, cut into bite-sized chunks. Reserve the bones but discard any fat.
• Chop 1/2 of the white onion, and leave other 1/2 whole; set aside.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, and chop when cool enough to handle. Pour bacon grease into a small bowl.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chorizo in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Place chorizo into a bowl with chopped bacon, tomatoes, chopped onion, and jalapenos.
• Place ham chunks and bones into a large pot, pour pinto beans over top. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chorizo and vegetable mixture and saute until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• When beans boil, add the remaining onion half and garlic. Let boil for 3 to 4 minutes; add sauteed vegetables and meat. Return to a boil; add cilantro and chicken bouillon. Continue to boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove bones, season with salt, and serve.

EASY COWBOY BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Combine pinto beans, tomatoes with green chile peppers, ham, cilantro, red onion, garlic, black pepper, and hot sauce in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour.

EASY MEXICAN CHARRO BEANS

Steps:

• In a dutch oven or large pot on the stove top, cook diced bacon just until it starts to crisp around the edges. Add onion, jalapeno and garlic to bacon and bacon renderings and sauté until the onion is translucent.
• Add diced tomatoes (with liquid). Remove one chipotle pepper from can and dice. Add diced pepper and 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce from the can to the pot. Stir and allow to simmer 3-5 minutes.
• Add drained and rinsed pinto beans, chicken broth and seasonings to the pot. Stir to incorporate all of the ingredients. Turn the heat to low, put the lid on the pot (but cracked to let steam escape) and allow beans to simmer for 30 minutes or until the broth has thickened to a stewed consistency. Taste and season with salt as needed.
• Top with chopped cilantro (if desired) and serve.

SLOW COOKER CHARRO BEANS

Steps:

• Place pinto beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak, 8 hours to overnight. Rinse and drain.
• Place beans in a slow cooker with just enough water to cover.
• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost browned and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, jalapenos, cilantro, and garlic. Saute in bacon drippings for 2 minutes, then slowly pour in the beer. Add salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil. Add this mixture to the beans and water in the slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 8 hours. Serve.