I Tried 5 Top Brands of Refried Beans and This Is My New Go-To

Taco Bell is to blame for my love of refried beans. In grade school, my friend’s mom would take us there for a bean burrito “after-school snack,” and in high school, I’d swing by the drive-thru and grab one before a volleyball game for “fuel” (not sure what I was thinking there). My refried bean habit continued into college, when the need for cheap, yet still tasty food was necessary. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve continued to fill my pantry with cans of refried beans, pulling one out when lunchtime hunger strikes or when I need to make a quick dinner that everyone will enjoy. But which brand of canned refried beans is the best? I set out to find the answer and here are the results.

How I Chose the Contenders

Surprisingly, there aren’t many choices out there in the world of refried beans, but I was able to find five brands to pit against each other. I selected cans labeled “mild heat,” when applicable, and only chose pinto or red bean styles (sorry black beans!). To keep things neutral, I also only chose varieties without additional peppers or heavy spice.

Here’s How I Tested

They say looks are everything, but I don’t think that applies to refried beans. They all kind of look like cat food, which isn’t fair, because their appearance is no indication of how delicious they are. All of that being said, I did “look” at the beans for texture purposes and factored that into my final vote. Next, I tasted them. I sampled all canned beans plain (enjoying a big bite, right off the spoon) and again on a flour tortilla. Overall flavor was important, but so was tasting that distinct “earthy” vibe you get from beans.

The Best Canned Refried Beans Taste Test Results

It was a limited line-up, but overall, I was impressed with most of the contenders. I was happily surprised that it took me several tastes to determine a winner. While I personally loved the winner on the list, rest assured they’re all pretty good.

5th Place: Old El Paso

Remember, even though this can of refried beans placed last, they’re still pretty darn good. I loved that there were lots of visible bean pieces and was impressed by the perfectly mashed texture of the others. While they looked good, they just didn’t pack the flavor I was after. Not much bean flavor and overall, pretty bland. I’d serve these, but not as the star ingredient.

4th Place: Goya

This can of refried beans was relatively smooth, without too many visible beans. This made for easy spreading and would likely also make it easy for scooping/dipping. Like Old El Paso, the flavor fell short. It was so mild that I wished I had a lime to squeeze over the top. Overall, it was a fine can of refried beans. Perfect for those seven-layer dips or adding to veggie burgers.

3rd Place: Taco Bell

My beloved Taco Bell sells its refried beans. They look and taste like what you’d get through the drive-thru, which is an awesome selling point. The texture was thick, with pieces of visible beans throughout. I liked the flavor too. I could taste the beans and there was just the right amount of seasoning. Grab a can to keep on the shelf for when that Taco Bell craving kicks in, but you don’t want to travel further than your pantry.

2nd Place: Trader Joe's

I made a special trip to everyone’s favorite store to see how its version of refried beans would stack up against the others. I’m glad I did because these beans are tasty! I loved the smooth texture with the occasional piece of whole bean poking out and they looked, dare I say, pretty? I know! The flavor was great too, especially considering the only ingredients in this variety are cooked beans, water, and salt. My advice? Grab a can next time you’re at Trader Joe’s.

1st Place: La Preferida

My winner is this can from La Preferida (which aptly translates to "the preferred one"). Unlike all of the others on this list, these beans are relatively thin and perfectly smooth. Normally I wouldn’t be excited about that, but because they taste exactly like the beans I enjoy at my local taqueria, they won. I could close my eyes and envision eating these at my favorite table—topped with cheese and nestled into that pile of delicious, seasoned rice. Although the flavor is mild, it’s perfectly seasoned to complement the tasty beans used to make it. These are my go-to and I’ll use them for everything!