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Charro beans are a Mexican favorite! Tender pinto beans are simmered in a flavorful broth seasoned with onion, garlic, and bacon while jalapeño adds just a touch of heat. This Mexican bean soup is the perfect side dish for any meal! 

Pot of charro beans topped with cilantro and crispy bacon.


 

What are Charro Beans?

This Mexican bean soup, is the best side dish for any Tex Mex meals, such as our Chile Rellenos or Cheese Enchiladas. While the beans cook they create the most flavorful broth, which is the highlight of this dish. This bean dish is known by several names. Charro Beans. Frijoles Charros, or sometimes Cowboy Beans. And there is another version that involves beer called Boraccho Beans.

Charro Bean Ingredients & Substitutions

Ingredients needed to make charro beans.
  • Pinto Beans: This charro bean recipe can be made with dried or canned pinto beans. If using dried beans they should be soaked overnight, unless you plan on cooking them in the slow cooker all day or in the instant pot. I do not recommend substituting another type of bean for the pinto bean if you are wanting an authentic dish. 
  • Bacon: These beans can be made using any type of meat: beef, chorizo, ham, or bacon. But bacon is my favorite, it’s easy and gives great flavor. If needed you can omit the meat for a meat-free option.
  • Broth: Chicken broth is used when cooking the beans on the stovetop or in the instant pot. When using the slow cooker, the beans cook for several hours and they will actually create their own bean broth with plenty of flavor. You can substitute with a vegetarian broth for a meat free option. 
  • Jalapeño: These pinto beans have an incredibly mild heat. If you want more heat you can substitute for a Serrano pepper, or you can leave the seeds and membranes in the jalapeño. If you are concerned about the heat you can substitute for a poblano or green bell pepper. 

How to Make Charro Beans

If Using Dried Beans

Add the dried pinto beans to a large bowl. Pour in the water, ensure that the beans are covered completely with water. Allow to sit overnight or for at least 5 hours. Drain out any excess water and rinse the beans off.

Pinto beans soaking in a bowl of water.

Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside. Drain the grease, reserving 1 tablespoon in the pot. Add the diced onion and jalapeño. Cook until the onion and jalapeño are soft and tender. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

Cooking bacon in a dutch oven.

Pour in the broth, water, rinsed beans, salt, cumin, oregano and the crumbled bacon.

Dutch oven filled with broth, pinto beans, bacon, and seasonings.

Bring the pot to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover and allow the beans to cook for 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The broth will thicken and be flavorful and the beans will be tender. Serve with fresh chopped cilantro.

Cooked pinto beans with bacon and cilantro.

Using Canned Beans

If you are using canned beans you will follow the same directions, except instead of soaking beans, you will drain and rinse 3 cans of pinto beans and add them into the broth.

Serving

Charro beans are a common side dish in Texas when served with Tex Mex, some main dishes you may want to try to accompany these beans are Pollo Asado, Barbacoa, Carne Asada, and our Classic Ground Beef Tacos.

Pot filled with charro beans topped with bacon and cilantro.

Store

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 3-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through, this can take approximately 10 minutes. Or you can use a microwave to reheat.

Freeze

Charro beans can be stored in a freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the beans to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw the beans in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat them on the stovetop over medium heat when ready to serve. 

Slow Cooker Directions 

  1. Rinse the pinto beans in cold water, drain off any water. Add the pinto beans and 8 cups of water to a slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours.
  2. In a medium size pan cook the bacon over medium heat. Once the bacon is cooked, remove and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and diced jalapeño to sauté in the bacon grease for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and the jalapeño softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  4. Add the onion, garlic and cooked bacon to the beans in the slow cooker.
  5. Add remaining seasonings and cook beans on low for 4-6 hours or on high for an additional 2 hours.

Instant Pot Directions

  1. Sauté the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and drain the excess grease, reserving 1 tablespoon. 
  2. Add in the onion and cook until softened. Then add in the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. 
  3. Pour in the broth, add seasonings, the beans, and the cooked bacon. 
  4. Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Then allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and quick release any remaining pressure. 

Charro Bean FAQs

Why are they called Charro Beans?

Charro translates to “cowboy”, so these beans are known as cowboy beans. Charro beans are believed to have been prepared by cowboys over campfires in Northern Mexico and what is now known as Texas. 

What is the difference between charro, borracho, and refried beans? 

Charro, Borracho, and refried beans all start with pinto beans. But the method of preparing the beans is different. Borracho translates to “drunk”, which refers to the beer used in the broth of the beans. Other than that, borracho and charro are very similar. Refried beans are “twice fried” beans. Which is pinto beans that have been cooked, then fried in lard or other oil while mashing. 

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Charro Beans (Frijoles Charros)

4.99 from 158 votes
Prep: 5 hours 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 5 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Serene
Charro beans are a Tex Mex favorite. These pinto beans are tender and simmered in a flavorful bean broth seasoned with onion, garlic and bacon. Jalapeño adds just a touch of heat. These charro Beans are the perfect side dish for any meal! 
Pot of charro beans topped with cilantro and crispy bacon.

Ingredients  

  • 1 pound pinto beans dried
  • 6 cups water enough to cover the beans in a large bowl
  • 4 slices bacon sliced
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups broth chicken or vegetable, low sodium
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

Topping

  • onion diced
  • cilantro diced

Instructions 

  • Add the dried pinto beans to a large bowl. Pour in the water, ensure that the beans are covered completely with water. Allow to sit overnight or for at least 5 hours. Drain out any excess water and rinse the beans off.
  • Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside. Drain the grease, reserving 1 tablespoon in the pot. Add the diced onion and jalapeno. Cook until the onion and jalapeno are soft and tender.
  • Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Pour in the broth, water, rinsed beans, salt, cumin, oregano and the crumbled bacon.
  • Bring the pot to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover and allow the beans to cook for 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The broth will thicken and be flavorful and the beans will be tender.
  • Serve with fresh chopped cilantro.

Video

Equipment

Notes

  • Pinto Beans: This charro bean recipe can be made with dried or canned pinto beans. If using dried beans they should be soaked overnight, unless you plan on cooking them in the slow cooker all day or in the instant pot. I do not recommend substituting another type of bean for the pinto bean if you are wanting an authentic dish. 
  • Bacon: These beans can be made using any type of meat: beef, chorizo, ham, or bacon. But bacon is my favorite, it’s easy and gives great flavor. If needed you can omit the meat for a meat-free option.
  • Broth: Chicken broth is used when cooking the beans on the stovetop or in the instant pot. When using the slow cooker, the beans cook for several hours and they will actually create their own bean broth with plenty of flavor. You can substitute with a vegetarian broth for a meat free option. 
  • Jalapeño: These pinto beans have an incredibly mild heat. If you want more heat you can substitute for a Serrano pepper, or you can leave the seeds and membranes in the jalapeño. If you are concerned about the heat you can substitute for a poblano or green bell pepper.
  • Using Canned Beans: If you are using canned beans you will follow the same directions, except instead of soaking beans, you will drain and rinse 3 cans of pinto beans and add them into the broth.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 3-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through, this can take approximately 10 minutes. Or you can use a microwave to reheat.
  • Freezing: Charro beans can be stored in a freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the beans to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw the beans in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat them on the stovetop over medium heat when ready to serve. 
Slow Cooker Directions: 
  1. Rinse the pinto beans in cold water, drain off any water. Add the pinto beans and 8 cups of water to a slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours.
  2. In a medium size pan cook the bacon over medium heat. Once the bacon is cooked, remove and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and diced jalapeño to sauté in the bacon grease for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and the jalapeño softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  4. Add the onion, garlic and cooked bacon to the beans in the slow cooker.
  5. Add remaining seasonings and cook beans on low for 4-6 hours or on high for an additional 2 hours. 
Instant Pot Directions: 
  1. Sauté the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and drain the excess grease, reserving 1 tablespoon. 
  2. Add in the onion and cook until softened. Then add in the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. 
  3. Pour in the broth, add seasonings, the beans, and the cooked bacon. 
  4. Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Then allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and quick release any remaining pressure. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 309mg | Fiber: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Charro Beans first appeared on House of Yumm on September 11, 2016. Updated February 14, 2020 and January 12, 2024.

Photography by KJandCompany.co


Welcome to my kitchen!

Welcome to the House of Yumm!! My name is Serene. I’m the food photographer, recipe developer, and official taste tester around these parts.

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44 Comments

  1. Thank you!! I absolutely LOVE Charro Beans and this recipe is perfect! Easy to do, no weird ingredients (my husband is a bit picky ) and so darn flavorful. I am getting ready to make these again and I just had to thank you. Absolutely the best recipe I have tried and I don’t have to look any further! Its in the regular rotation at my house and I think I make them every week now ….and I eat most of them….breakfast burritos, lunchtime tostados and my husband loves these over cornbread.

  2. I can’t find a way to go back and edit once I hit submit. I understand the 45 minute reference now. I didn’t read the stovetop instructions carefully since I’m doing crockpot. I usually do stovetop but I’m a little bit sick and want that added safety of not being able to burn them (easily LOL) in the crockpot. I realised that I cook beans on stovetop for a lot longer, a total of 2 hours after the soak. I like a thicker bean, kind of a thin gravy texture, which 2 hours gives me. Flavors develop better for my taste at the 2 hr mark. My recipe is identical except for cook time and half as much salt.