🇲🇽 Mexico · Food
Frijoles Charros
By eatmundo · August 3, 2026
🇲🇽 MXA classic Northern Mexican dish consisting of pinto beans stewed with bacon, beef, and aromatics. This hearty bean soup is a staple at barbecues.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Dice 100g of bacon and 600g of beef steak into small, bite-sized pieces.
- 2
In a large pot, fry the bacon over medium heat until crispy, then remove and set aside.
- 3
In the same bacon fat, brown the beef steak pieces until deep brown, about 7 minutes.
- 4
Add 1 chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan, cooking until softened, about 4 minutes.
- 5
Return the bacon to the pot and add 400g of cooked pinto beans.
- 6
Pour in 500ml of beef broth, add 1 tsp of salt, and simmer covered for 30 minutes to meld the flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned beans?+
Yes, just ensure you drain them if they are in a heavy sauce.
What is the key to the flavor?+
The key is the rendered bacon fat; don't substitute it with oil if you can avoid it.
Is it meant to be a soup or a stew?+
It falls somewhere in between; it should be thick but have plenty of broth.
Can I add chiles?+
Adding a finely chopped serrano pepper during the onion step provides a nice kick.
