Description
This slow cooker borracho beans recipe is the ultimate Mexican side dish, packed with bold flavors from beer, bacon, and spices. Perfect for taco nights or as a hearty main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb dried pinto beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup lager or amber beer
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 jalapeños, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced (or 1 can of diced tomatoes)
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Freshly squeezed lime juice, for serving
Instructions
- Rinse the pinto beans and soak them overnight in a large bowl of water. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
- Add diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeños to the skillet with the bacon fat. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the soaked beans, cooked bacon, sautéed aromatics, diced tomatoes, spices, and beer to the slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, then stir everything together.
- Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours, until the beans are tender.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice before serving.
- Ladle the beans into bowls or serve as a side dish with rice, tortillas, or your favorite Mexican entrees.
Notes
[‘Discard any beans that float to the top when soaking—they may be too old to cook properly.’, ‘For deeper flavor, use smoked bacon or add a ham hock to the slow cooker.’, ‘Add extra jalapeños or chili flakes for spicier beans.’, ‘Beer is the key ingredient for authentic borracho flavor, but you can substitute with broth if needed.’, ‘Check for tenderness starting at the 5-hour mark if cooking on high to avoid mushy beans.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 190
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 10
Keywords: borracho beans, slow cooker recipe, Mexican side dish, pinto beans, beer beans, easy Mexican recipe