Mexican pinto beans are the perfect side to many of your favorite Mexican dishes! They’re incredibly easy to make. They also make a tasty meal all by themselves when accompanied with some salsa and warm corn tortillas.

When it comes to making beans I almost always use dried beans. It’s less expensive and tastes better.
So I make sure I always have plenty on hand.

It’s so easy to make these beans. I’ve been making a pot every week for the last month!
All I add to them are onion, garlic and bay leaves. You can add more or less onion and garlic according to your taste.

What Goes Good with Pinto Beans?
Pinto beans pair really good with grilled meats. They’re also great as a side dish to meals like chiles rellenos and enchiladas.
I really enjoy adding habanero salsa to my beans and eating them with warm corn tortillas. It’s really amazing.
Can You Cook Beans Without Soaking Them?
Of course you can. I never soak my beans and they always turn out just fine. Soaking will help reduce the cooking time though.
Without soaking my beans take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to cook. Usually it’s about two hours.
Tips for Making Pinto Beans
- Always rinse your beans before cooking.
- Never salt your beans at the beginning of the cooking process. Wait until they have cooked a couple of hours first and have softened. Otherwise the salt could make them tough.
- Make sure the beans are always covered with water. Check on them frequently to make sure they are covered.
This has become my go to meal for many reasons. Not only are they delicious but they are also insanely cheap.
They’re also healthy so I feel good about myself when I eat them. All they need is a little salt after cooking and they’re ready to serve.
Many people think that beans need bacon or a hamhock in order to taste good but that isn’t true. I find that these Mexican pinto beans have a lot of flavor to them despite using such simple ingredients.
If you have a large family you need to be making beans part of your meals if you want to save money.

I recently made these beans for some friends of mine.
These are friends who are used to their beans being made with bacon grease or lard.
Surprisingly they really liked these beans!
Don’t get me wrong I love adding bacon grease to my beans. It’s absolutely delicious!
But I can’t ignore the fact that it isn’t very healthy.
I’m so glad to have such a delicious and healthy recipe for Mexican pinto beans that I don’t have to feel guilty about for eating.
How do you make your beans?
I know everyone makes theirs differently and it’s always nice to discover a new trick or two.
Thank you for visiting, come back soon!

Mexican Pinto Beans
Mexican pinto beans are the perfect side dish to all of your favorite Mexican dishes!
Ingredients
- 1 lb pinto beans rinsed
- 1/4 piece of white onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 cups water
Instructions
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In a pot bring all ingredients except for the salt to a boil.
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Reduce heat to low.
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Cover and simmer for about 2 hours or until beans have softened.
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Remove from heat and salt to taste.
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Always rinse beans before cooking
- Never salt the beans at the beginning of the cooking process. Let them cook for a couple of hours first and get tender before salting.
- Always make sure they are covered in water.
Regi says
Authentic, healthier method and equally delicious without ham hock!