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Crispy Refried Bean Tacos

Crispy refried bean tacos with golden-fried tortillas and melty Mexican blend cheese. Creamy beans are spread inside corn tortillas, then fried until crunchy outside and warm inside in about 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 510
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Corn tortillas
  • 8 small corn tortillas
Refried bean filling
  • 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
  • 0.5 tsp ground cumin
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil plus extra as needed for frying
Cheese
  • 1.5 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
Toppings
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 0.5 cup sour cream for serving
  • hot sauce for serving

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 small saucepan

Method
 

Warm the bean filling
  1. Warm the refried beans in a small saucepan with the ground cumin and garlic powder, stirring until smooth and heated through.
  2. Keep the beans warm on low while you prep the tortillas so they stay spreadable.
Assemble the tacos
  1. Spread about 2 tablespoons of beans onto one half of each small corn tortillas and sprinkle with shredded Mexican blend cheese.
  2. Fold the tortillas in half over the filling to form tacos, pressing lightly so they hold together.
Fry until golden and crispy
  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Fry the tacos in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.
  3. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve with toppings
  1. Top the tacos with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.
  2. Finish with sour cream and hot sauce before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: Fry in small batches so the oil temperature stays steady and the tortillas crisp instead of getting soggy. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container up to 3 days; reheat tacos in a hot skillet or oven to re-crisp. Freezing isn’t recommended for best texture. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheese and swap sour cream for plain Greek yogurt.