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Home › Recipes
21 Comments

Easy Charro Beans (Mexican Pinto Beans)

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Feb 13, 2023

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This post may contain affiliate links.

Why have plain ol’ pinto beans when you can have tender, smoky mexican-style pinto beans simmered in broth with rich layers flavors from bacon, tomatoes, chiles and spices! An incredible everyday side dish, this Easy Charro Beans recipe goes with so much more than just your Tex Mex favorites!

Mexican cowboy beans cooked in a delicious stewed broth with bacon, tomatoes, chiles and spices


Enjoy your pinto beans with a little fiesta flair! This shortcut recipe uses drained and rinsed canned beans to cut out soaking and extra cooking time, creating a delicious homestyle pinto bean recipe you can enjoy any night of the week!

Related Recipe: Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas & Ham

But do they really go with anything? They sure do. Charro beans are actually a great substitute for baked beans. Anything you might serve with your traditional recipe, spice it up with these smoky pintos instead! Grilled meats, fried chicken, burgers… mmmm, you might just have a new favorite side dish!

mexican style pinto beans side dish

What are Charro Beans?

Charro Beans are Mexican-style stewed pinto beans cooked tender in savory broth with diced tomatoes, bacon, onions and peppers. They have a subtle smoky flavor from canned chipotle peppers and a little adobo sauce. They can also be made with ham, chorizo or beef.

You might also hear Charro Beans, or frijoles charro, referred to as Mexican Cowboy Beans, named after the traditional Mexican cowboy, or skilled horseman. What else would cowboys eat out on the range other than hearty beans loaded with flavor and goodness whipped up with ease from simple pantry ingredients?

Well, cornbread. They could have had Easy Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins with it. I would, wouldn’t you?

ingredients to make easy charro beans as a quick side dish

Ingredients for Easy Charro Beans

  • canned pinto beans, drained & rinsed- canned beans make for a great shortcut recipe that saves hours of time, but if you want to use dried beans, see the tip below
  • thick sliced bacon
  • yellow onion
  • jalapeno
  • minced garlic
  • canned diced tomatoes
  • canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • chicken broth
  • dried oregano
  • cumin
  • bay leaf
making charro beans with dried beans
Charro Beans, or Mexican Cowboy Beans, are the side dish for all your tex mex favorites or grilled meats

How to Make Mexican Charro Beans

Start with Bacon. In a dutch oven or large pot on the stove top, cook diced bacon just until it starts to crisp around the edges. Add diced onion, jalapeno and minced garlic to to the bacon and the bacon renderings. Sauté until the onion is translucent.

Make the Base. Add the canned diced tomatoes (with liquid). Remove one chipotle pepper from its can and dice. Add the diced pepper and 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce from the can to the pot. Stir it into the bacon, onions and pepper and allow to simmer 3-5 minutes.

Simmer the Beans. Add the drained and rinsed pinto beans, chicken broth and all the seasonings to the pot. Give it a good stir to incorporate everything together. Then, turn the heat to low, put the lid on the pot (but cracked to let steam escape) and allow those pintos to simmer for 30 minutes or until the broth has thickened to a stewed consistency. Salt to taste.

pro tip for making the best charro beans
Charro beans are also called frijoles charro or Mexican Cowboy Beans

What To Serve With Easy Mexican Charro Beans

For a little fiesta flair at home these pinto beans are the perfect partner for Green Chile Rice on the side of some your favorite Tex Mex recipes!

  • Layered Beef Enchilada Casserole
  • Tex Mex Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
  • Ultimate Mexican Pot Roast
  • Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Ultimate Shortcut Mexican Cornbread
  • No Mess Chicken Nacho Foil Packets

But they are also great in the place of baked beans with your burger or steak, even chicken fried steak fingers!

Other Tex Mex Side Dishes You’ll Love

  • Fresh Salsa with Cilantro & Lime
  • Mexican Street Corn Foil Packets
  • Easy Green Chile Rice
  • Tex Mex Guacamole
  • Green Chile Corn Salsa Dip
  • Taco Pasta Salad with Avocado Dressing

If You Make This Recipe, I Can’t Wait To Hear About It!

Leave A Comment & Rating Below Or Snap A Photo To Share.

Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse
mexican style pinto beans side dish

Easy Mexican Charro Beans

Why have plain ol' pinto beans when you can have tender, smoky mexican-style pinto beans simmered in broth with rich layers flavors from bacon, tomatoes, chiles and spices!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: TexMex
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 2 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2-3 slices thick cut bacon, diced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium jalapeno, deveined and diced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (7 ounce) can whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 bay leaf
  • top with chopped cilantro, if desired
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • 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.
mexican style pinto beans side dish
Did you make my Easy Mexican Charro Beans?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
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Why have plain ol' pinto beans when you can have tender, smoky mexican-style pinto beans simmered in broth with rich layers flavors from bacon, tomatoes, chiles and spices!  An incredible everyday side dish, this easy pinto bean recipe goes with so much more than just your Tex Mex favorites!

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Filed Under: Recipes, Side Dishes

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoDonna

    January 19, 2022 at 4:03 pm

    If using dried pinto’s don’t I need more liquid for cooking?

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      January 19, 2022 at 4:58 pm

      Hi, Donna! Yes, you would. You would need to cook the beans to tender, then begin with this recipe.

      Reply
  2. Avatar photoPatty

    June 25, 2022 at 10:37 am

    5 stars
    My husband thought that I cooked these all day long He loved them my grandchildren are coming today I’m cooking a Mexican dinner and I’m gonna cook them again!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      July 19, 2022 at 11:46 pm

      Hi, Patty! You’ve made my day! This is awesome! Thank you so much.

      Reply
  3. Avatar photoKathy

    July 12, 2022 at 12:46 pm

    Do I need to add the whole 7 oz can of adobe peppers?

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      July 12, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      Hi, Kathy! The recipe only uses part of the can. See Step #2- 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.

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Avatar photoGuadalupe

    October 10, 2022 at 8:07 pm

    5 stars
    Yumm!
    Quick and easy. Had only one can pinto and one can black beans so combined. So very good, like your previous poster said they taste like they have simmered all day.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      October 13, 2022 at 10:33 am

      Hi, Guadalupe! Thank you so much! It made my day to read that you liked this bean recipe! It’s so nice to have a good short cut when you don’t have the time to let them simmer all day. I hope you will make them again soon (and maybe some other yummy recipes too)!

      Reply
  5. Avatar photoDDinDFW

    October 22, 2022 at 5:02 pm

    5 stars
    Gosh these were good. I enjoyed mine with flour tortillas. Will definitely make them again, and enjoy my leftovers during the week for lunch.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      October 22, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      Hey, there! I am so tickled that you love these easy charro beans! Thank you! You made my day!

      Reply
  6. Avatar photoDebra

    December 13, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    I made these at the last minute so I used canned beans. Everyone really like them. Next time I will try using dry beans. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      December 13, 2022 at 11:58 pm

      Hi, Debra! You are so welcome! I made this recipe especially for those last minute days. We all have them! I am so glad you made these charro beans. Let me know how the dried beans turn out!

      Reply
  7. Avatar photoLauren

    January 12, 2023 at 6:28 pm

    5 stars
    Very good! Made it 3 times in just over a week! 3rd time i added pork shoulder. To do this chop smallish pieces of pork shoulder into the dutch oven with a little oil. Let the pork release moisture and brown a little on all sides, about 20 minutes, then add the bacon to start the recipe.

    Reply
  8. Avatar photoCat

    January 16, 2023 at 8:17 pm

    5 stars
    OMG this is sooooooo good!! I’ll definitely be making this all the time! Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      February 2, 2023 at 7:26 pm

      Hi, Cat! Thank you so much! I am just tickled you love these pinto beans. We love some Tex Mex and are thrilled when others love it too!

      Reply
  9. Avatar photoLa

    February 23, 2023 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    I just finished making these beans! They are awesome!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      February 27, 2023 at 9:08 am

      Hi, Larry! That’s so great! Thank you! I’m just tickled you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  10. Avatar photoJoy Ledbetter

    October 28, 2024 at 5:44 am

    5 stars
    I have made this Charro Beans recipe many many times! I used fire roasted diced tomatoes and Mexican oregano. So yummy and easy to make. Ty for this wonderful recipe!!

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      November 17, 2024 at 1:32 pm

      Hi, Joy! You’re so very welcome! Thank you for making this recipe so many times. That makes my day! Love the fire roasted tomatoes & Mexican oregano!

      Reply
  11. Avatar photoCharlotte

    March 29, 2025 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    These beans are outstanding. I pair them with mexican rice, which makes a very tasty, filling, meal. this has become one of my new favorites.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      March 29, 2025 at 3:22 pm

      Hi, Charlotte! Thank you! This truly makes my day!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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