Using a humble can of pinto beans, along with some other basic ingredients, you can whip up these pinto bean fritters in minutes! They’re easy, flavourful and just hit the spot, especially when enjoyed straight out of the pan after they’ve been fried until golden brown and crispy.
Hi friends!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to be sharing this pinto bean fritter recipe with you guys!
Yes, beans excite me. I live an extraordinary life, I know, LOL!
But you know why this recipe excites me so much?
The base is a humble can of pinto beans, that cost less than a buck. A buck!!
Combine those with a few other basic ingredients, and you have the most delicious bean cakes (or bean fritters). Talk about a budget-friendly, versatile and comforting recipe!
How To Make These Bean Fritters
Full details on how to make bean fritters are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- After your pinto beans are rinsed and well-drained, give ’em a little pat dry with a clean tea towel and place in a food processor. Process them so they break down somewhat, while there are still some whole pieces.
- Place your pinto beans into a bowl, along with egg, panko bread crumbs, corn, bell pepper, green onion, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Give everything a little mix to incorporate all the ingredients.
- Use a round ice cream scoop to form into patties. Place the patties onto a lined sheet pan or large plate while you are preparing them all.
- Heat some vegetable oil or avocado oil in a skillet and cook the fritters on both sides.
Best Bean To Use
Canned pinto beans were used here, but canned navy, white kidney or black beans would work too!
How To Keep the Patties Together
These bean patties are held together using binders, such as egg and unseasoned panko bread crumbs.
If you need to add more bread crumbs to hold them together, simply add more (a little at a time until you get things where you want them).
Alternatively, if these patties are too dry, you can add a splash of water or lime juice to add a little moisture to the mix.
What To Serve With Bean Fritters
Honestly, these pinto bean fritters are delicious on their own, but they’re also yummy with some sides and toppings. Some delicious options are:
- Quinoa salad
- Bowl of black bean and sweet potato soup
- Chips and chunky salsa
- Poached egg with hollandaise for breakfast
- Sour cream
- Greek yogurt
- Homemade guacamole
- Hot Sauce
Tips and Variations
- Ensure your canned pinto beans are rinsed and well-drained before using.
- Canned corn was used, but you can use frozen or fresh should you wish.
- Don’t have green onion on hand? Try some minced chives or a little finely minced onion.
- Instead of smoked paprika, try chipotle powder or simply cayenne powder. Cayenne won’t yield the same smoky heat but will give you a little spice.
- Have a small can of diced green chiles on hand? Mix those in instead of bell pepper. You may need to add a little more panko, though, to ensure these bean fritters bind together.
If you make these pinto bean fritters, be sure to leave a comment below!
Pinto Bean Fritters With Corn and Bell Pepper
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and well drained
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup unseasoned panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup canned corn kernels, well drained
- ½ bell pepper, diced small (about ½ cup)
- 2 stalks green onion, finely sliced
- ½ jalapeno pepper, minced (about 1 heaping tablespoon)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil or avocado oil, for frying
Instructions
- After your beans are well rinsed and well drained, give them a little pat dry with a clean tea towel to remove excess moisture.
- Place pinto beans in a food processor and process (just a little) to break some up, while leaving a little whole (or you can mash using a bowl and potato masher instead of a food processor).
- Transfer beans to a medium bowl and add egg, panko bread crumbs, corn, bell pepper, green onion, jalapeno, cilantro, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Form bean mixture into fritters, each about ¼ cup (a standard round ice cream scoop is a great tool to use, if you like). You can place the fritters on a wax paper-lined sheet pan or large plate as you are forming them.
- To cook fritters, heat vegetable oil or avocado oil (about 2 tablespoons to start, adding more, as necessary for the next batch) in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Note: You'll want to cook fritters in batches (4 fritters in the pan at a time), adding more oil to the pan between batches.
- Place 4 fritters in the skillet and cook for 3 minutes on one side.
- Flip fritters to the other side and continue to cook for another 3 minutes or until the outside is golden brown and crispy and they're heated through. Transfer fritters to a serving plate.
- Repeat process to cook remaining 4 fritters.
- Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Beans excite me too, Dawn! Maybe that’s why we are friends lol!! They’re so cost friendly but you can make so many delicious recipes with them…these look particularly yummy! So crispy!! Definitely an awesome meatless dinner!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Lol!! So true! Thank you, Haylie. 🙂
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Okay so these bean fritters are seriously so fun. I think your spice blend is the secret to why these are so fabulous!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you, Heidi!
David @ Spiced
Now is that a Canadian buck or a US buck? Hah! 🙂 Either way, I love what you did with a simple can of pinto beans. I probably would’ve smashed ’em up a bit and turned those beans into a quesadilla, but the fritter is an awesome idea. I’ll have to try this idea out! Hope you had a great weekend, Dawn! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
LOL…Thank you, David! Hope you have a lovely week!
[email protected]
If that’s not the prettiest fritter I’ve ever seen! Loving how jam-packed with flavor this is!! Delicious!! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so very much!! XO
Ashlyn @ F5 Method
I’ve been incorporating more meatless meals into my routine lately so these look great! I love a bean and also love how budget friendly this recipe is!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
That’s awesome! Thank you, Ashlyn!
Leanne
Would you believe I’ve never had pinto beans!? These fritters look super crispy and tasty. Perfect as an appetizer or served up with a side salad. Happy weekend Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you, Leanne! They’re a staple around here! Have a great week.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Lol! Beans excite me too Dawn! Can’t wait to give these fritters a try. I’ve been swapping out my usual ground beef burgers for healthier versions in 2020, so these will be perfect! Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Thanks Mary Ann! Enjoy! 🙂
Valentina
You sure do make a lot of great, interesting savory “cakes” (like those with fish), and burgers. My younger son has decided he’s a vegetarian (well, who sometimes eats fish). So now I have one who’s vegetarian, and one who has to be GF. I will use GF breadcrumbs and both will love these! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
What can I say…I love ’em! 🙂 So happy to hear that! Enjoy!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I always have a few cans of beans in the pantry. This is the perfect quick way to use them up. They look delicious! Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Same here! Thank you, Kelsie.
Marissa
You managed to make a can of beans into something fancy, Dawn! I love these – they look completely mouthwatering. Great party app, but I’d glad make a meal of them too! Have a wonderful weekend, friend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you, Marissa!! Hope you have a lovely week.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Such a delicious way to enjoy a can of pinto beans! Love this 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you, Jennifer.