Low Sodium Refried Beans Recipe (No Salt Added)
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Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Share Pin For Later EmailThis Low Sodium Refried Beans recipe is a flavorful and easy recipe with pinto beans, spices, and oil – no soaking required.
These bold and flavorful beans can be made on the stove top or Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker. These beans make a great side dish or you can add them to tacos or burrito bowls.
We are all about easy flavorful recipes – and these low sodium refried beans are a fantastic way to get some major flavor onto your plate without the salt. Most canned refried beans are loaded with salt and preservatives, making them a poor choice if you are watching your sodium intake. Luckily, a low so version couldn’t be easier to make!
You can used no-salt-added canned beans for this recipe, or dried beans from I use my pressure cooker weekly for meal prepping and cooking ahead. I have recipes below for both cooking methods. I prefer using my Instant Pot as can have a delicious pot of beans ready in under an hour, no soaking required.
These Low Sodium Refried Beans are:
- Earthy
- Spicy (but can be less spicy if desired)
- Warming
- Filling
- High Protein
- Plant-Based
- Salt & Preservative Free!
- High in Plant Based Protein
One of the Best Low Sodium Beans Recipes
This homemade refried beans recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal! It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards – most of which you probably have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and healthy meals using a few staples you can rotate.
I made a list of my Favorite Low Sodium Pantry Staples that I always keep stocked. By stocking up on healthy whole ingredients you can cook delicious salt-free & low so recipes without a trip to the store!
What’s In These Refried Beans with No Salt?
- Onion, Jalapeno, Cilantro, Lime
- Dry Pinto Beans – I like these organic pinto beans which have a fantastic texture and flavor when cooked. Beans are a healthy addition to any meal – add them to your breakfast burritos, enjoy in a soup for lunch, or turn them into refried beans to enjoy with dinner.
- OR use Canned Pinto Beans (No Salt Added) – if using canned beans for this recipe make sure there is no added salt! You could also try black beans too.
- Adobo Seasoning: a really fantastic blend of turmeric, pepper, garlic, and spice! I like to get one that doesn’t have added salt it in, so I can control the amount of sodium going into the dish.
- Salt Free Chili Powder – most chili powder blends do contain salt, so I like this no-salt version to limit the sodium which has 0 mg of sodium.
- Paprika – for a hint of spice and great flavor!
- Bay Leaves: I always add bay leaves to every bean dish I make.
- Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat! I like to add a few shakes to this recipe to give this dish a nice complex depth of flavor.
No Salt Canned Beans Versus Homemade
While I love the convenience of no-salt-added canned beans, I also love cooking dry beans from scratch in my Pressure Cooker – the texture is better and it’s more economical. I use the 8-Quart Instant Pot Ultra, which is larger than standard models3 to 4 times a week. The Instant Pot works wonders for cooking dried beans fast, no soaking required!
While canned beans are super convenient, normal varieties are often loaded with sodium. If you buy canned beans, I always recommend using a no salt added variety so you can control the amount of sodium in your recipes. Next time you reach for the canned beans, think about investing in a pressure cooker or slow cooker instead! This refried bean recipe is incredibly cost efficient, and you can add seasonings and spices to the beans while they cook for extra flavor.
How Do I Make These No Salt Refried Beans?
You can make these beans using canned pinto beans on the stove top, or dried pinto beans in the Instant Pot/pressure cooker. You could also substitute black beans or kidney beans for a different color and texture.
Stove Top Directions (with Canned Beans)
- In a large pot, add the Olive oil and onions and cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the canned beans and the rest of the ingredients, and stir well to combine. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
- Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are a creamy consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro, chili flakes, lime juice and enjoy.
Instant Pot Directions (with Dried Beans)
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode, add Olive oil and onions and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, and set to Manual/High Pressure Cook mode for 45 minutes.
- Allow the beans to naturally release for 20 minutes or so. Then release any remaining pressure manually. Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are the right consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro, chili flakes, lime juice, and enjoy.
- Store leftover beans in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days for later use.
What to Eat Refried Beans With
I love adding these vegetarian refried beans to my tacos or burritos, or 7 layer dip. They are great with tortilla chips too for a quick snack.
I like to top my homemade beans with fresh cilantro or green onion, and fresh lime juice for extra flavor. Top with hot sauce or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
More Low Sodium Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love!
Low Sodium Salsa Verde Recipe (No Salt Added)
Low Sodium Fries Recipe (Oven Baked, No Salt Added)
Low Sodium Macaroni Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
Low Sodium Pasta Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
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Low Sodium Refried Beans
Ingredients
Using Canned Beans
- 2 14- ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
- 1 cup no-salt-added vegetable stock
Using Dried Beans
- 1 lb pinto beans about 2 1/4 cups dried beans
- 4 ½ cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon no salt added adobo seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 lime juiced
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes or more to taste
- Toppings I used jalapenos, hot sauce, cilantro, and extra lime juice
Instructions
Stove Top Directions (with Canned Beans)
- In a large pot, add the Olive oil and onions and cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the canned beans and the rest of the ingredients, and stir well to combine. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
- Discard the bay leaves. Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are a creamy consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro, chili flakes, lime juice and enjoy.
Instant Pot Directions (with Dried Beans)
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode, add Olive oil and onions and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, and set to Manual/Pressure Cook mode for 45 minutes.
- Allow the beans to naturally release for 20 minutes or so. Then release any remaining pressure manually. Discard the bay leaves. Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are a creamy consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro, chili flakes, lime juice, and enjoy.
Notes
Save Money on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples!
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell organic produce at a discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from farmers to reduce food waste. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can save up to 40% off grocery store prices. If you think produce delivery is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a try!Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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