Slow Cooker Refried Beans and Burritos

Lent is just around the corner, and if you are anything like me, you may be wondering what will be on the supper table every Friday.

Our family struggles to find meatless dishes that we really like.  I’ve tried many different recipes, but usually end up making the same few things time and time again (cheese pizza, bean burritos, American pierogi, and tuna melts).

Today I’m sharing with you not one, not two, but THREE fabulous recipes straight from my very own kitchen. I’ve been making all three of them for years now and they never fail!  They will be perfect on your Lenten supper table!

First up:  Slow Cooker Refried Beans

These are so easy to make.  If you have been buying your beans in a can, you will kick yourself after trying these.

I love this recipe because:

• It makes a ton
• Freezes well
• Super easy
• Super cheap!
• Super healthy
• NO SOAKING!

I love to simply pop my beans in the slow cooker and go about my day.  For supper we make bean burritos with tons of toppings, and with the leftovers I make my Freezer Friendly Bean Burritos (recipe below!).

They are also great on taco pizza, taco salad, quesadillas, nachos, or as a chip dip.

You will always find several containers of these beans in my freezer.  I just defrost and rewarm them in the microwave for an easy meal.

You can also scoop out some cooked beans to freeze before you mash if you like to have cooked beans on hand as well.

Slow Cooker Refried Beans

• 2 lbs. dried pinto beans (can use black beans or a mixture)

Rinse dried beans in a colander picking out any bad beans.  Put beans in a slow cooker (I used a 6 qt. crockpot) and fill the crockpot with water-pick out the floaters.  Cook on high for approx. 8 hours.  If you want a shorter cooking time, presoak the beans the night before.

When beans are soft, drain and reserve some of the liquid.  Using a potato masher, shmush up the beans to your desired consistency.  If beans are too dry, add some of the reserved liquid back in.

To eat add Homemade Mexican Seasoning to taste (approx. 3-6 T. for the whole batch).  We use ours to make tacos, burritos, taco salads, nachos, quesadillas, dip, or taco pizza.

Freezes well for future use!  (I store mine in old yogurt or cottage cheese containers.)

Recipe #2:  Homemade Mexican Seasoning

I learned from my wise mother that good cooks don’t use seasoning packets.  I do; however, like the convenience of just dumping one thing into my dish versus getting out all my spice containers.  This Mexican seasoning is perfect to spice up taco meat or refried beans.

Mexican Seasoning

• 1/4 C. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 2 T. cumin
• 4 tsp. sea salt
• 4 tsp. black pepper

Combine all the ingredients and store in an airtight container. (The above recipe will fit well in a pint sized jar.)

Recipe #3:  Freezer Friendly Bean Burritos

Are you in to freezer cooking?  Instead of doing one HUGE freezer cooking session, I often stock the freezer by finding ways to extend my daily cooking.  These Freezer Friendly Bean Burritos are one of the ways I do just that.

We eat from my big crockpot of refried beans at supper and then I make the burritos from the leftovers.  They are perfect for lunches.  Husband loves grabbing them out of the freezer on his way to work.

Bean Burritos

• 1 recipe Slow Cooker Refried Beans (above), $1.48
• 1 lb. Cheese, $2.38
• 16 oz. Salsa, $.80
• 3 – 6T. Homemade Mexican seasoning (above)
• 40 small to medium tortillas, $6.56

Cost for 40 burritos=  $11.22, per 1 burrito = $.28

Combine the beans, cheese, salsa, and Mexican seasoning (this will be easier if the refried beans are warm).  You may like to add more seasonings based on your tastes.  Put tortillas on a plate.  Invert another plate on top and microwave for 1 minute to warm the tortillas for easy rolling.  Place 1/3 C. filling down the center of each tortilla.  Roll the tortilla.  Can be served immediately or frozen for future use.  Eat with toppings or eat as is!

*To use after freezing:  Put on a plate and warm through in microwave.

I hope you try these recipes out!  If you do, I’d love to know what you think!

Looking for another meatless meal?  You may also like American Pierogi!