Drunken Beans (Frijoles borrachos) Recipe Highlights
Today we’re making Drunken Beans, a.k.a. Frijoles Borrachos. They are beyond easy to make and delicious. You’ll love them! They’re hearty, warm, and rustic. Basically, they’re the definition of comfort food. They are made with a beer (wink). Don’t fret! The alcohol from the beer boils out during cooking. You can make this recipe with dry beans or canned beans; I have included instructions for both. I really love cooking beans! They are easy to make, inexpensive, filling, delicious, and so versatile. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with beans, at least not at my house.
What are drunken beans or frijoles borrachos?
For those of you who’ve never tried drunken beans, they are basically pinto beans simmered in Mexican beer and bacon. YUM! These Drunken Beans are one of my favorite side dishes to take to summer potlucks and barbecues since they are the perfect accompaniment to burgers, chicken, carne asada, or whatever you’re grillin’ up.
You’ll need:
Bacon: Adding the bacon adds a nice salty smokiness. Don’t skip it! Veggies: You’ll need onion, green pepper, Serrano or Jalapeño pepper, and garlic. Pinto beans: You can use dried or canned pinto beans. See the recipe card for details. Canned tomatoes: I used Rotel for extra heat, but you can use regular diced tomatoes or fired-roasted for extra smoky flavor. Mexican beer: You can use any beer you have on hand. I prefer a dark Mexican beer, such as Negra Modelo, but any beer will work fine. Chicken or vegetable stock: You can substitute stock for water; in that case, taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste, adding more salt and pepper if necessary. Salt: I recommend kosher or sea salt for better taste. Cumin: This adds an earthy, warm flavor. For extra flavor, you can add 2 teaspoons of chili powder if desired. Black pepper: Feel free to use cayenne pepper for more heat if you prefer.
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You can use any beer you have on hand. I prefer a dark Mexican beer, such as Negra Modelo, but any beer will work fine. For a not-spicy version, substitute jalapeño or serrano pepper for more green bell pepper. Add 2 teaspoons of chili powder for an extra kick of flavor!
Recipe Card 📖
This recipe was originally published in May 2017. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in June 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
