These air fryer refried beans come out creamy and delicious, seasoned just the way you like them! They take less monitoring than the stove, and allow you to customize your beans to your tastes.
Place the beans, oil, onions, garlic, and all seasonings into an oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer’s basket (I use small loaf pans because I have a Ninja Dual Zone, but anything similar works)
Add the stock or broth, making sure that it just covers the beans (this will prevent your beans from getting hard and crunchy). You may need more or less broth than the amount listed based on the exact size and depth of your dish, so adjust as needed
½ cup beef, chicken, or vegetable stock
Set the filled pan into your air fryer’s basket or rack, and then cook on the air fry setting at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until hot
Use a potato masher (preferred) or a fork to smash the beans to the desired consistency. Place them back in the air fryer for 5-10 additional minutes, stirring after 5, until the desired consistency and browning level on top is reached
Add any toppings if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
You can also use black beans instead of pinto beans if you prefer
The oil can be swapped for butter, bacon grease, or lard for different flavors
All seasonings are adjustable to taste, but this is a good base recipe. I also like different chili (ancho or chipotle) when I want a spicier version
Toppings are entirely optional, but can include crumbled cotija cheese, jalapenos (fresh or pickled slices), pickled red onions, chopped cilantro, or any salsas or hot sauces you like
For reference, I used about ⅔ cup broth to get my beans fully covered (this will vary based on your dish size). I added 10 more minutes of cooking post-mashing to get them to the right consistency for my preferences with that amount of liquid in my Ninja air fryer, but you can adjust as needed for your own situation and how you like them!
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and variety of ingredients, any toppings or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fried pinto beans, air fryer refried beans, cooking pinto beans in an air fryer, mashed beans, ninja air fryer refried beans, refried bean recipe, refried pinto beans