Recipes with pinto beans

Texas-style cowpoke pinto beans cooked low and slow with smoked bacon, salt pork, jalapeños, cumin, and chili powder. Crockpot or stovetop, freezes well for refried beans later.

Vegetarian shepherd's pie with a three-bean puree base, sauteed peppers and zucchini in crushed tomatoes, topped with golden mashed potatoes. Comfort food, plant-powered.

Speedy fried beans, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and bagged coleslaw make this a speedy weeknight main dish a welcome change.

Hearty vegetarian pot pie packed with pinto beans, chickpeas, mushrooms, corn, and chili peppers under a golden biscuit crust. Miso and tomato paste add deep, savory umami to every spoonful.

Red beans and rice with green and red bell peppers, tomatoes, celery and a kick of chili and hot sauce. A Louisiana-leaning bean pot built on dried kidney and pinto beans, finished with a splash of cider vinegar.

A hearty grain salad of pinto beans and wild rice tossed with mixed greens in a punchy chive-garlic vinaigrette, garnished with chive blossoms. Vegan, filling, and full of texture.

Nacho-loaded cornbread squares with a mashed pinto bean and chili layer, jalapenos, mushrooms, tomatoes, and melted cheddar. Topped with sour cream, olives, and green onions.

Pork chili with pinto beans, blended tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and garlic served over beans with corn tortillas. A New Mexican-style chile that skips the ground beef for tender cubed pork simmered in a simple red sauce.

A thick, hearty three-bean beef chili loaded with pinto, kidney, and navy beans in a rich tomato base. Dump it all in, simmer low, and let time do the heavy lifting.

Easy chile with ground beef, pinto beans, and stewed tomatoes simmered low and slow in one pot. A thick, warming bowl of comfort that feeds six hungry folks on a busy weeknight.

Fat-free pinto bean soup simmered with garlic, jalapeno, onion, and fresh cilantro. Six ingredients, one pot, 35 minutes. A hearty, budget-friendly soup with a kick that proves simple can be seriously satisfying.

North Carolina-style barbecued baked beans with dried pinto beans, chili powder, mustard, and tangy vinegar sauce. A smoky, spicy Southern casserole baked with onion slices on top.

Habichuelas guisadas: Puerto Rican stewed beans with potatoes, sofrito, sazón, and tomato sauce served over white rice. A quick, soul-warming one-pot meal ready in 25 minutes.

Chicken and bean burritos with spiced poached chicken shredded into smooth pureed pinto beans, rolled in flour tortillas with cheese and sour cream, then baked crisp. A lighter, hearty burrito with all the taco toppings.

Chili with beans built the old-school way: overnight soaked pintos, three kinds of meat, and a slow simmer that coaxes out real depth. Cumin, cayenne, and jalapeños do the talking.

Beef and pinto bean chili made with cubed sirloin tips, dried pinto beans, beef stock, garlic and chili powder. Slow-simmered for deep flavor. A no-fuss cold-weather one-pot dinner.