by Texas Homesteader ~
It’s easy to make your own pinto bean seasoning mix. Just add a few ingredients into a jar and shake to blend. A super simple yet delicious and inexpensive way to season your homemade pinto beans!
Cook 2 Pounds Of Dry Pinto Beans
I’m always cooking dried beans. It’s a pantry staple in our home. Beans are cheap, healthy and easy to make.
I wrote recently about how I often Cook 2-Lbs Of Beans At Once in my Instant Pot. You may ask:
WHAT? 2 lbs??!! That’s crazy. There are only two of you in your home, right? Won’t you be tired of pintos by the time you eat them?
Don’t worry about cooking so many beans at one time. Check out this post about serving pintos in different ways for several days. Our palates never got bored!
But most of the time I just season pinto beans with my own homemade seasoning mix. Since I’ve been asked to share my seasoning recipe, read on dear friends!
Making Homemade Pinto Bean Seasoning Mix
There are several reasons you might like to make your own homemade pinto beans seasoning mix:
Fresher Ingredients. Use spices from your own kitchen.
Customizable Recipe. Create the blend your family loves most.
YOU Control the Salt. Especially helpful for a low-salt diet.
Save Money. Making your own pinto bean seasoning mix will save money over buying the commercial stuff.
Less Waste. Y’all know how much I hate plastic waste and trash. It’s not a problem when you make it yourself!
I’ve seen plastic containers of pinto bean seasoning mix at the stores. But y’all know I prefer to make for myself instead of buying. And since I’m making this seasoning myself there’s no additional plastic bottle coming into our home.
And I’m not gonna lie, it makes me smile to hear RancherMan rave over the taste of the pintos when I use this seasoning mix.
Plus, I’m kinda surprised at the price of the commercially-produced seasoning mix. I can make it myself in minutes right here at home. It’s fresher and cheaper too.
Plus homemade seasoning is more adaptable too. Don’t like that much cumin? Cut back some. On a low-sodium diet? Adjust salt to your tastes. Like a little more chili powder? Knock yourself out!
Ingredients For Homemade Pinto Bean Seasoning Blend
Since I cook dry pinto beans so often I like to have this seasoning mix at the ready. That way I just measure out 3 Tablespoons per pound of dried beans that I’m cooking. Work smarter, not harder I always say!
My pinto bean seasoning mixture includes simple spices:
Cumin
Paprika
Chili Powder
0nion Powder (I make my own Onion Powder)
Garlic Powder
Salt
Sugar
It’s all mixed together & placed into a clean, labeled jar. Then I just shake it to mix everything up. Really, does it get any easier than that??!
What Goes With Pinto Beans?
There are so many things that go with pintos, y’all!
…or any Tex-Mex dish really! Check out our Tex-Mex Favorites by clicking this button:
So if you find yourself cooking pinto beans often, mix up some of this pinto bean seasoning for yourself. It stores well in a small jar and it’ll be ready & waiting for you next time you cook up a batch of inexpensive pinto beans.
Did you make this seasoning mix? Please rate my recipe in your comment below!
~TxH~
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Other Side Dishes We Love
Rice
- Rosemary Rice
- Buttered Rice w/Fresh Sage & Garlic
- Cilantro-Lime Rice
- Texas-Style Spanish Rice
- Favorite Ways To Flavor Plain Rice
Beans
- Ranch-Style Beans
- RancherMan’s Green-Bean Casserole
- Cooking Dry Pinto Beans in An Instant Pot
- Fun Flavor Variations For Plain Pinto Beans
- Black-Eyed Peas With Rotel Tomatoes
Vegetables
- Roasted Vegetables
- Fried Okra Fritters
- Simple Homemade Creamy Coleslaw
- Mashed Potatoes Into Potato Cakes
Other
…and MANY MORE!
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30 Responses
This sounds yummy. I’m thinking the leftovers would be a great nacho topping. Do you add in the seasoning once the beans are mostly cooked, or do you add the seasoning when you begin cooking the beans?
I add everything at one time – sauteed onions if using, dried but soaked beans, this seasoning mix, broth or water. I typically cook the beans in my instant pot for 30 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes, finally quick release. They turn out perfectly every time! ~TxH~
Do you add any meat with the beans?
Ya know Judy – you certainly could. But I never do. When I’m making pintos I’m either making them as beans with rice & cornbread or as a side dish or ingredient in another dish. But I’m thinking smoked sausage or ground beef would be good too. ~TxH~
Hi TxH, What is the ratio of beans and liquid? I have 4 cups of soaked beans I want to cook in the Instant Pot and I’m unsure about the amount of liquid or stock to add.
Hi Catherine. My ratio for this pinto bean seasoning is 3 tablespoons of seasoning for each pound measure of dry, unsoaked pinto beans (there are approximately 3 cups of dry unsoaked beans per pound). But like you I soak my pintos before cooking. So after soaking my beans I drain, rinse & cover soaked beans with broth to about 1″ – 1.5″ over the level of soaked beans in the pot then add my seasonings before cooking. Here is the post for my Instant Pot pintos –> https://texashomesteader.com/instant-pot-pinto-beans/ ~TxH~
I am a southern cook and have always cooked my dried pinto beans (after the soak over night) in a crock pot with a country ham hock (not smoked). With this meat, I only needed 1 tablespoon of your spice mixture which added so much flavor to the beans After 7-8 hours cooked on low, they were perfect with an iron skillet full of cornbread! Thank you for sharing your pinto bean seasoning recipe.
Thanks for weighing in, Brenda. What could be better to a southern girl’s menu than homemade pintos & cornbread??!! 🙂 ~TxH~
This looks like exactly what I am looking for, for canning seasoned beans. Do you have a guess as to how much seasoning you’d use on a pint (2 cups) of cooked beans, or about a half cup dry? I’d love to try this.
Ya know Andrea, I’ve never canned beans before (I KNOW! LOL) But I’d think you could divide the 3 Tablespoon seasoning measurement for a 1-lb bag of dry beans shown in the post by the number of jars you divide it into? Sounds about right to me anyway. You’ll love this pinto bean seasoning, it’s a favorite around here. Enjoy! ~TxH~
I use this recipe when I can any dried beans and lentils. I am short of time during the week. Work full time, take care of my disabled husband, and grandsons. With my son and daughter-in-law I cook most meals. They are very good cooks often not home yet at meal time prep. Grabbing a jar or 2 off the shelf is so helpful or other home canned foods. I use to buy the jar, your recipe is better than the one I had.
Well aren’t you as sweet as peaches, Krista – thank you for your kind words. RancherMan really loves this pinto seasoning as well. It’s all we use here on the Homestead. 🙂 ~TxH~
Oh, my Lord! Thank you! The flavor of this is phenomenal. More than 5 stars, and being printed to go into my must have recipes for if the grid goes down or we lose internet. Fabulous spice mix!!!
🙂 Thank you, Angela – we enjoy it too! And my pintos always get compliments with many asking what the secret is. (ssssssshhhhhh… I won’t tell if you won’t! haha) ~TxH~
This seasoning is perfect for flavorful homemade pinto beans. I make a double batch of this pinto bean seasoning and keep it in a jar in my spice cabinet. 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!
This is the best pinto bean seasoning ever ! I made several batches in a quart jar so I never run out when I need it Pinto beans seasoned this way make the best refried beans.
Joan, I’m so glad you like this seasoning as much as we do. Like you, I usually make up enough to put in a jar so it’s ready and waiting for my next pot of pintos! RancherMan only wants pinto beans seasoned this way. 🙂 ~TxH~
My Aunt jas been using this recipe for years. Don’t know where she got it but this is how she taught me to make beans. I do my own thing by doubling all the ingredients except salt and add 1 pack of sazon goya and use monk fruit sweetener in place of sugar. My wife wont eat any other beans
The beauty of homemade seasonings – easy to adjust to individual tastes. Gotta love it! ~TxH~
Are the measurements used in this recipe what you would use to cook 2 lbs of dry beans? I see 3TBLS per pound and it looks like this would make just over 6TBLS of seasoning so was considering dumping the full recipe in with my 2 lbs of beans so I don’t have a scant amount leftover. Excited to try this! I have tried making pinto beans multiple times and they never seem to come out quite right.
I’ve never used more than the 3 Tbsp measurement per pound of dry beans. But then again as soon as my pinto seasoning jar level drops I make another double batch of the seasoning – I use it often. I brought pinto beans to a family gathering last weekend and everyone was asking, “Who made these BEANS! And can I have the recipe??” Gotta love it! BUT, I sprinkle this seasoning on other things so maybe you can do that to use up the rest? (ie: seasoning for burritos, roasted chickpeas, tacos, etc) ~TxH~
This is now my go- to bean seasoning. Fabulous!
Us too Jeanie! So easy, so delicious, so homemade! ~TxH~
I was shared this recipe from a friend, sounds really delicious
I keep a larger container of this pinto bean seasoning mix at the ready to make flavorful pintos quick. There are always compliments from our guests. (blush) You’ll love it as much as we do! ~TxH~
I love this recipe my only addition to it is 2TBS of chicken bullion powder. Other than that this is the best recipe I have found. Also, your family will devour the pintos with the addition of the chicken billion, some fried potatoes on the side and some buttered cornbread to top it off…oh and a thick ham steak diced up into the pot when you start your beans in the crock pot. I’m already hungry just writing this down lol
Glad you enjoyed the seasoning mix too. I love that homemade mixes can be tweaked in any number of ways to personalize to your family’s tastes. Enjoy! ~TxH~
I think I went thru at least 10 different pinto bean seasoning recipes. I am super picky along with my family. This recipe is tops on my list. Its a keeper is what I call it to make it to my recipe box. Thank you so much for sharing. My search is over.
Good
This is great seasoning for pintos. I add ground beef to mine and it’s delicious with jalapeño and cheese cornbread YUM it’s a whole meal nothing else needed.