Slow Cooker Refried Beans with Bacon - Thick, creamy, and flavorful beans with crispy bacon.

Enjoy the delicious flavors of refried beans combined with smoky bacon in this slow cooker recipe. These homemade refried beans are thick, creamy, and bursting with flavor. The bacon adds a crispy texture and rich, savory taste that takes these beans to the next level. With just a few simple ingredients and a slow cooker, you can easily make this classic Tex-Mex side dish. Serve it alongside your favorite Mexican dishes or use it as a filling for tacos, burritos, or quesadillas.

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried pinto beans
• 6 cups water
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions

1. Rinse the pinto beans under cold water, picking out any debris. Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Let them soak overnight or for at least 8 hours.
2. Drain the soaked beans and transfer them to a slow cooker. Add the water, diced onion, minced garlic, cooked and crumbled bacon, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) to the slow cooker.
3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours or until the beans are tender.
4. Once the beans are cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove about half of the beans from the slow cooker and transfer them to a separate bowl.
5. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the beans in the separate bowl until they reach your desired consistency. If you prefer smoother beans, you can use a blender or an immersion blender.
6. Return the mashed beans to the slow cooker. Stir in the chicken broth to achieve a creamy texture. If the beans are too thick, add more broth as needed.
7. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for an additional 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
8. Serve the slow cooker refried beans with bacon hot as a side dish or as a filling for tacos, burritos, or quesadillas.
9. Garnish with additional crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.

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