Chipotle Pinto Beans (Stovetop)

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My copycat Chipotle Pinto Beans redefine fast food! Step up your burrito game and learn how to cook stovetop pinto beans in 20 minutes.

titled (shown closeup on spoon): chipotle pinto beans

I don’t think that I know anyone who doesn’t love Chipotle™. They’ve really nailed every item on their menu, from the meat and corn salsa, right down to the Chipotle guacamole.

ingredients to make chipotle pinto bean recipe

Chipotle Pinto Beans

Trust me when I say, this copycat Chipotle pinto bean recipe tastes just like the real thing.

It’s so easy to prepare, and this simple dish can be used in all of your favorite tacos, burritos, or bowls.

Sometimes, I even eat Chipotle beans over nothing but brown rice — they’re that good!

Read on to learn how to cook pinto beans on the stove. For a hands-off method, you can prepare Instant Pot pinto beans instead.

Craving some meat with your meal? Make our copycat version of the restaurant’s famous steak, juicy carnitas, or spicy barbacoa right at home!

cooking onions for pinto beans chipotle recipe

Pinto Beans Chipotle Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t overcook!

    If the Chipotle pinto beans are simmered for too long, they will split open and become mushy. Keep the heat on low and stir regularly. 
  • Use the right pepper.

    Instead of fresh or dried varieties, this recipe calls for chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

    They come in a can and can typically be found with the salsa, taco seasonings, and green chiles.
  • Not a fan of onions?

    You can easily leave them out of this pinto beans Chipotle recipe entirely. If it’s the subtle crunch you don’t like, quarter the onion instead of dicing.

    It will still add flavor to the dish, but you can scoop out the pieces before serving.
mixing peppers and spices into pot of pinto beans

How To Cook Stovetop Pinto Beans

It really couldn’t be easier to do! First, saute the onion until softed — this creates the base of flavor for the dish.

Then, add the remaining ingredients and simmer until thickened and warmed through! Be sure to remove the whole pepper and bay leaf before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Chipotle beans make such a terrific side! They go well with so many dishes, especially meals with proteins such as ham, meatloaf, or fried chicken.

Of course, they’re delicious in tacos and burrito bowls as well!

adding chipotle beans to bowl with lettuce, rice, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole

Storing Leftover Chipotle Beans

Whether you’ve got extra of this Chipotle pinto bean recipe, or you couldn’t finish your takeout meat, you can easily save your leftovers.

Allow the beans to cool, then transfer to an airtight container made of glass or plastic. Refrigerate for up to 4 days and reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Stovetop pinto beans can also be frozen — yes, even after they have been cooked!

Make a large batch and portion them out for easy meal prep, then freeze for up to 6 months.

Chipotle Pinto Bean Recipe FAQ

What ingredients are in Chipotle pinto beans?

The restaurant version includes bay leaves, black pepper, chipotle chili, cumin, garlic, lemon and lime juice, yellow onions, oregano, rice bran oil, and salt.


Since I wasn’t able to find rice bran oil locally, I simply used olive oil instead.

Do you need to soak pinto beans before cooking?

Nope! When you’re using canned, they don’t need to be soaked. Simply rinse, drain, and heat.

If you prefer to use dried, you would need to soak them overnight and cook them for several hours before using them in this recipe.

Do Chipotle pinto beans contain pork?

Currently, pork is not listed as an ingredient for this dish. However, it’s always best to play it safe and review ingredients and labels provided by the restaurant, as recipes change from time to time.

stovetop pinto beans in bowl next to large bowl of burrito ingredients

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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spoonful of chipotle pinto beans

Chipotle Pinto Beans (Stovetop)

Donna Elick
My copycat Chipotle Pinto Beans redefine fast food! Step up your burrito game and learn how to cook pinto beans on the stove in 20 minutes.
5 stars from 2 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Method Stovetop
Servings 10

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 48 ounces pinto beans, 3 16-ounce cans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 whole chipotle pepper, in adobo sauce
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 cup water
  • salt, to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a medium pan, add olive oil and diced onions. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent. Reduce heat to low.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Return to medium high heat for 2-3 minutes, then reduce to low, stirring gently on occasion. Once thoroughly cooked, remove from heat.
  • Using a spoon, remove the whole chipotle pepper and bay leaf. Add salt if desired. Serve warm as a side or as a topping.

Donna’s Notes

The chipotle pepper that is used in this recipe comes from a can and is labeled as “chipotle peppers in adobo sauce”. You can typically find these in the aisle with the taco seasonings, green chiles, salsa, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 214cal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 22mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 13g | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled pinterest collage for chipotle beans recipe

Originally published March 2022

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Ive been looking for a good pinto bean recipe for a while, and finally stumbled upon this one! I tried it a few days ago and it was so good! Pinto beans are a perfect side dish for a variety of meals, can’t wait to make this again.

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