Cheesy Refried Bean Dip

Published February 1, 2012. Updated December 14, 2023

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This Cheesy Refried Bean Dip is the perfect addition to your appetizer spread for Superbowl Sunday, any game night, or even just a delicious after-school snack. It pairs perfectly with your favorite salsa! 

I would truly consider this bean dip one of my favorite foods.  When I lived in Arizona, I often went to two amazing Mexican restaurants that served warm cheesy refried bean dip alongside their fresh salsa—it was incredible, to say the least!  Unfortunately, I no longer live there so I had to figure out how to make it on my own.

Cheesy refried bean dip with tortilla chipsCheesy Refried Bean Dip

This is the perfect party snack for the upcoming Super Bowl.  Make this and no one is going to care who wins. When I make this, I often serve it along with fresh salsa, fresh guacamole, and sour cream.  They all accompany each other perfectly.  This bean dip is SO easy to prepare; it just takes a little while to fully cook so make sure you plan ahead.

I also use this same recipe to make refried beans, just decrease the reserved water added to the blender to 1 1/4 cups for slightly thicker refried beans.  I love refried beans served alongside Shredded Beef Tacos and Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce.

This bean dip can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week, and reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave (I usually add a bit of water when I reheat it because it seems to thicken a bit once refrigerated).  I even use this recipe to make my own frozen bean and cheese burritos, again slightly decreasing the water added and layering on more cheese.

Cheesy Refried Bean Dip with tortilla chips

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Cheesy Refried Bean Dip

The tastiest appetizer or party dip! Easy to make and seriously addictive. Makes about 5 cups.
Servings: 15
Prep15 minutes
Cook4 hours 30 minutes
Ready in: 4 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Soak beans in a bowl or pot overnight in 2 quarts cold water (I just soak them in the slow cooker pot so I don't have to clean two pots).
  • Drain and rinse beans after soaking. Place beans in a slow cooker, cover with 2 quarts hot water. Cover with a lid and cook on high for 4 1/2 hours or low for 9 hours (my slow cooker lids fits snugly but if yours doesn't just keep an eye on the water level to make sure they stay covered).
  • Once cooked (they should be fully tender when pierced with a fork), laddle out 1 3/4 cups of the water and reserve. Strain remaining water by pouring beans into a colander. Place beans, 1 cup reserved water, butter, lard, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin and pepper in a blender or food processor (for safest method blender should be no more than halfway full of hot ingredients, so if necessary process in two batches). Cover blender with lid and blend on low speed for about 1 minute or until well blended. Add more water up to 3/4 cup to thin as desired. Pour mixture into a large bowl, stir in shredded cheeses. Serve warm with tortilla chips.
  • Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.

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