Chipotle Pinto Beans (Copycat Recipe) (2024)

Chipotle pinto beans are popular for a reason! They're spicy, tangy, and addictively delicious. And now you can easily make them at home with this copycat recipe. Serve them with tostados and rice, or make yourself a vegan burrito. The options for using these smoky, tasty pinto beans are endless.

If you love your tacos and taquitos, you're going to love this Chipotle pinto bean copycat recipe. It's easy to make a large batch of these ultra yummy beans and stash them in the freezer for a quick and tasty Mexican dinner on a busy weeknight.

Chipotle used to use bacon in their famous pinto beans recipe, but they've removed all meat from their current recipe. Obviously my copycat recipe is 100% vegan; and I guarantee you'll love it.

Reasons You'll Love This Recipe

✅It's easy on the wallet. It doesn't get much cheaper than dried beans, and there's so many ways to use them.

✅It's freezer friendly. Make a big batch and have a Mexican meal in no time at all.

✅Kids love this recipe.

✅This pinto bean recipe is packed with protein and fiber.

Ingredients

• Dried Pinto Beans: Choose dried, not canned pinto beans for this recipe. For soaking methods, see below.
• Oregano, Bay Leaves And Cumin: Chipotle uses Mexican oregano in their recipe, so that's ideal if you can find it. If you can't go ahead and use standard Italian oregano. You'll need 2 bay leaves and some ground cumin for that traditional Mexican flavor.
• Oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil in their recipe, but I've used olive oil because it's what I had on hand. It's also much easier to find, and I think the difference to the flavor will be negligible.
• Chipotle Peppers And Adobo Sauce: Choose canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. They're easy to find at the grocery store.
• Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic. The taste is so much fresher and brighter than garlic powder.
• Lemon And Lime Juice: Use the juice of one fresh lime and one fresh lemon. Again, fresh is best.
• Cilantro (optional): Cilantro is one of those herbs that you either love or hate. If you love it (like me), I highly recommend throwing a handful on top before serving your Chipotle pinto beans.
• Salt And Pepper: Salt and pepper are great flavor enhancers. You can pass on the salt if you're on a low salt diet.

How To Soak Pinto Beans

There's lots of confusion about how long to soak dried beans, so here's a few different methods that will work like a charm:

• Overnight Soak: Put the pinto beans in a large, non-reactive bowl. Cover with at least 2 inches of water and soak for 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse the beans before using them.
• Quick Soak Method: If you're running short on time, or you forgot to soak your pinto beans overnight you can use the quick soak method. Put the beans in a large pot, cover with at least 2 inches of water, and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and allow the beans to soak for an hour. Drain and rinse before carrying on with the recipe.

How To Make Chipotle Pinto Beans

1. Heat your oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Saute the onion until translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
2. Add your oregano, cumin, garlic, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce.Allow the spices to release their flavors for about 30 seconds, stirring continuously.
3. Add the pinto beans and bay leaves and enough water to cover the beans. Bring the water to a boil. Put the lid on the pan, and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Simmer the beans for 1½ hours.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and take out the bay leaves. Stir in the lime and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Garnish with optional cilantro.
6. Enjoy your homemade Chipotle pinto beans!

Serving Suggestions

🧡Serve this awesome copycat recipe with cilantro lime rice, just like they do at Chipotle.

🧡 Chipotle pinto beans make an awesome side kick to Argentine chimichurri rice.

🧡Make a big vegan burrito that has pinto beans, fresh veggies and guacamole. Add a pineapple salsa for an extra hit of flavor.

🧡Top with pickled onions and jalapeno peppers.

🧡Serve on top of a tostada for a restaurant quality Mexican dinner.

🧡Go British, and serve pinto beans as part of a traditional full English.

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