Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans) Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

Slow simmered pinto beans, frijoles borrachos, or “drunken beans” get their flavor from dark Mexican beer and bacon. Juicy and bursting with flavor!

Traditional Mexican fare, frijoles borrachos are about the best beans I’ve ever had. I first tried them at a restaurant up north. When I saw drunken beans on the menu, I had to try them. I like anything with pinto beans.

When the bowl of beans arrived at our table, I was slightly surprised to see that they were really juicy, actually soupy. After the first spoonful, I eagerly slurped up all the soupy goodness.

The broth is the best part! Flavored with dark beer, molasses, and lime juice, it’s so so good! I not so subtly asked the waitress what could possibly be in those delicious beans and she gave me a few pointers. Not the whole recipe, of course.

But don’t worry, I won’t leave you wondering about how to make your own frijoles borrachos, or drunken beans. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe for the most flavorful beans ever!

About This Frijoles Borrachos Recipe

Because you start with dried beans, this recipe takes a little time. It’s pretty much all hands-off time and plus, you get to enjoy the delicious aroma while they cook. Just let your pot of beans simmer gently on the stove, and enjoy the fragrance. Anticipation can be one of the best parts of cooking!

I’ll run through the recipe here to get you started, with lots of helpful tips. Keep reading to the end of the post for the printable recipe card with complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.

What You’ll Need

• Dried Pinto Beans: Dried pinto beans need to be soaked at least 12 hours or overnight unless you have a pressure cooker (see Instant Pot pinto beans for directions). If you prefer, canned beans can be substituted.
• Bacon: I like center cut bacon because it’s leaner. You’ll also end up with meatier chunks of bacon because it’s sliced thicker. There’s no need to cook it first.
• Onion: Use any type of onion you happen to have. I usually use yellow onions for this type of recipe where the onion is cooked so thoroughly that it pretty much disappears. Yellow cooking onions are inexpensive and have lots of oniony flavor.
• Jalapeño Pepper: The peppers add a little flavorful heat but aren’t too spicy by any means.
• Garlic: Two fresh garlic cloves add a subtle garlic flavor. Increase it if you love lots of garlic.
• Dark Beer: Use a Mexican beer such as Modela Negra. Stay away from really hoppy beers which can be bitter when used in cooking. You’ll need one bottle. Serve the rest of the six pack with your meal :)
• Chicken Broth: You’ll need three cups of broth. Once the beans are soaked, drain the water off, and use broth to cook the beans so they have plenty of flavor.
• Molasses and Brown Sugar: This combination of adds deep notes of caramel and sweetness to the sauce.
• Dried Mexican Oregano: There are lots of different types of oregano and they don’t even come from the same type of plant. Look for Mexican oregano in the spice section of your grocery store.
• Chili Powder, Ground Cumin, and Salt: This trio seasons the beans.
• Fresh Lime Juice: Please don’t be tempted to skip the lime juice. Stir it in right before serving the beans, along with some fresh Cilantro.

How To Make Drunken Beans

To start the party, sauté bacon, chopped onions, jalapeño peppers, and garlic in a Dutch oven until the bacon is cooked and the veggies are softened. Deglaze the pan with a bottle of dark Mexican beer. I like to use Modela Negra.

Now it’s time for your beans to party. Dump the pinto beans in the pan, along with broth, molasses, brown sugar, and seasonings. The beans will absorb the beer and the broth, and get soft. Let them simmer for at least a couple of hours, stirring occasionally to make sure they aren’t sticking.

Check the beans to make sure they’re not drying out. If you need to, add more broth. Remember, it’s all about the juice.

When the beans are tender and you’re ready to serve them, stir in some fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. DO NOT skip the lime juice. It adds just the right note of tanginess. You may even want to add more! I like to serve them with tortilla chips and homemade pico de gallo.

Serve drunken beans in a bowl with a spoon so everyone can scoop up all that yummy juiciness.

FAQs

Make It Your Own

• To make drunken beans vegetarian, simply leave out the bacon, sauté the chopped onions and jalapeño in 2 teaspoons olive or avocado oil, and substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. These beans have plenty of flavor so I’m guessing no one will miss the bacon. Drunken beans are perfect for meatless Mondays. Serve the beans with a hearty bread and a salad.
• For a smoky flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or substitute chipotle chili powder for the chili powder.
• Don’t want your beans to be “drunken”? Make them without beer, and add 1 can of fire roasted diced tomatoes. Increase the molasses to 3 tablespoons so you still get the rich caramel flavor that the dark beer gives the beans.
• If you want to make a quicker version of frijoles borracho, use canned beans.You’ll need three 15.5 oz. cans of pinto beans, rinsed and drained. Instead of 3 cups of broth, use 1 cup. Reduce cooking time to one hour.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Leftover beans are so good. Simply put them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge for best results. To reheat, gently microwave the beans or warm them in a saucepan on the stove.

Meal Prep Ideas

Make a big batch of frijoles borrachos and enjoy them all week! Or freeze the beans in portion sized containers so you can enjoy them later.

More Bean Recipes

Beans are the best! High in protein and fiber, economical and versatile, beans are a nutritional powerhouse! And they taste great! Here’s more bean recipes:

• Slow cooker refried beans (way lower in sodium than canned refried beans)
• Instant Pot refried beans (start with dry beans, no soaking required)
• Crock pot baked beans
• Hoppin’ John recipe (black eyed peas and ham)
• Baked beans — the best!
• Black bean burgers — make your own!
• Instant Pot black bean soup (no need to soak beans!)
• Black bean dip (also great as a sandwich spread)
• Refried bean dip with cheese