Ranch Style Beans
Ranch Style Beans feature tender pinto beans in a super flavorful tomato chili gravy. This Southwestern favorite is completely delicious and simple to make on the stovetop.
What Are Ranch Style Beans?
Ranch style beans are beans cooked with spices, onions, and tomatoes, similar to chili. Sometimes people will use ranch style beans in place of chili beans in recipes, for a quick chili recipe.
Why This Ranch Beans Recipe is So Good
- These beans simmer with spices for 2 whole hours! That means that all the flavor from the spices, aromatics, and tomatoes have time to concentrate, and the sauce turns into a rich, thick chili gravy.
- Beans are an amazing food. They are very inexpensive, particularly when you buy them dried, and they’re easy to cook. They provide hearty protein and fiber and can be flavored in so many tasty ways.
- This recipe is super versatile! Try Ranch style beans as a side dish with your favorite Tex-Mex dishes, or enjoy it like you would a bowl of Chili- as your main dish.
- It’s also perfect for potlucks, or any time you need to bring a dish to share. Everyone loves these beans, and they’re easy to make ahead of time and reheat too.
Tips and Tricks for Making The Best Ranch Style Beans
- Instead of soaking the beans overnight, you can do what’s called a “quick soak”. Add the beans to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil rapidly for 2 minutes then remove from the heat, cover and leave to sit for 1 hour. Then drain away the water.
- To Make in a Slow Cooker: Do NOT soak the beans. Start by cooking the onion and garlic and making the tomato puree. Then add that, the dried beans, and the remaining ingredients (including water) to the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.
- You can add spice if you like! Add as much chili powder or hot sauce as you can handle. The little bit of chili in the recipe gives the beans flavor, but keeps them mild enough for the whole family to enjoy.
- This recipe is vegan and vegetarian! Feel free to add cooked bacon or ground beef to the recipe, or replace the water with ham stock for more flavor.
- You can serve this recipe to 8-10 people as a side dish, or 4-6 as a main meal. Feel free to double the recipe to feed a larger crowd.
What to Serve with Ranch Style Beans
Try these beans wherever you’d serve baked beans, like at a barbecue or family party. Pair them with other easy side dishes like baked zucchini or Mexican Macaroni Salad.
Ranch style beans are also the perfect addition to a Tex-Mex Feast. Make them for taco night!
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
- Instant Pot Baked Beans
- Vegan Baked Beans
- Ranch Mashed Potatoes
- Mizeria Cucumber Salad
- Amish Potato Salad
- Honey Sriracha Brussel Sprouts
- Quesadillas Fritas
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Ranch Style Beans
Ranch style beans feature tender pinto beans in a super flavorful tomato chili gravy. They are completely delicious and simple to make on the stovetop.
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried pinto beans
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 4 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 400 g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Add the pinto beans to a large bowl of water, cover and soak overnight for 10-12 hours. Then drain the water away.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot. Fry the onion on a medium setting until softened (about 5 minutes), then add the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
- Transfer the onion and garlic to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Add the chopped tomatoes, sugar, spices and salt and blitz into a puree. Set aside.
- Add the drained beans to a large pot along with the vegetable stock and water. Bring to a boil then simmer covered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Add the tomato puree to the pot, stir well and simmer uncovered for another hour.
- Serve topped with shredded cheese and fresh chopped cilantro (optional).
Notes
- Instead of soaking the beans overnight, you can do what's called a "quick soak". Add the beans to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil rapidly for 2 minutes then remove from the heat, cover and leave to sit for 1 hour. Then drain away the water.
- To Make in a Slow Cooker: Do NOT soak the beans. Start by cooking the onion and garlic and making the tomato puree. Then add that, the dried beans, and the remaining ingredients (including water) to the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.
- You can make this recipe spicier if you like! Add as much chili powder or hot sauce is you can handle.
- This recipe is vegan and vegetarian! Feel free to add cooked bacon or ground beef to the recipe, or replace the water with ham stock for more flavor.
