How to Make South Texas Borracho Beans - A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to Tex-Mex cuisine, few dishes are as beloved and iconic as borracho beans. These hearty and flavorful beans are a staple in South Texas cooking, and for good reason. They are the perfect side dish to accompany your favorite Mexican entrees, and they are also delicious enough to stand on their own as a main course. Borracho beans are packed with bold flavors and spices, making them a true crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Traditional borracho beans are made with pinto bean...

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans
  • ½ pound bacon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle dark lager-style beer (such as Shiner Bock®)
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 fresh jalapeno pepper

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 8 hrs
  • Total Time: 10 hrs
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • Place pinto beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water. Soak beans 8 hours to overnight.
  • Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon slices to a plate lined with paper towel to drain, reserving the bacon drippings. Chop the bacon.
  • Drain and rinse pinto beans; transfer to a large pot. Pour enough water over the beans to cover by several inches Stir salt and garlic powder into the water; bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Add bacon, reserved bacon drippings, beer, cilantro, green onions, diced tomatoes, and jalapeno pepper to the water; bring mixture to a simmer and cook until the beans are completely tender, 90 minutes to 2 hours.
  • Nutrition

    363 cal.

    • Total Fat: 6g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Cholesterol: 14mg
    • Sodium: 1012mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 52g
    • Dietary Fiber: 18g
    • Total Sugars: 3g
    • Protein: 22g
    • Vitamin C: 17mg
    • Calcium: 140mg
    • Iron: 6mg
    • Potassium: 1092mg