The Best Homemade Bean Dip Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

The Best Homemade Bean Dip Recipe– It’s easy to make delicious, creamy, scoop-ablebeandip right at home! Our restaurant-style bean dip recipe can be made on the stove or using anInstant Pot, with dried or canned beans.

Why We Love This Homemade Bean Dip Recipe

Whether we are talking picnics, potlucks, game day gatherings, or backyard barbecues, it isn’treallya party unless there are chips and dip involved.

The perfect dip is creamy with a bit of bite, packed with flavor, and appeasing to nearly all dietary needs. It has to pair well with both a chip or crackerandsome sort of fresh produce. And bonus points if it can easily be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.

OurBest Homemade Bean Dip Recipechecks all of these boxes, and then some!

The first thing wealwaysorder at our favorite Mexican restaurant is a large bowl of silky, flavorful bean dip to go along with all of those crunchy tortilla chips. It kicks the meal off just right, although honestly, I could eat the entire bowl myself as my entree!

But I figured, why enjoy such a wonderfully savory starter only when we are out to eat. Especially since it isso easyto make the most amazingMexican restaurant-style bean dipat home for your family dinners or parties?

Bring a large batch to your next gathering and watch how quickly it disappears. Thisgluten-free,vegetarian, scrumptious Homemade Bean Dip Recipe is always a huge hit!

Ingredients You Need

There are only a handful of6 ingredientsneeded to make thebestbean dip right at home.

You can use canned drained pinto beans to cut down on cooking time, but you’ll save money using dried pinto beans!

• Pinto beans –dried or canned
• Sweet onion –peeled and cut into wedges
• Garlic –smashed
• Pico de gallo –either store-bought orhomemade
• Mexican blend cheese –shredded (or Monterrey jack cheese, or pepper jack cheese)
• Salt

How to Make Beans on the Stovetop

To make this amazing dip on the stovetop, firstsoak the beans in cold waterovernight.

In the morning, pour off the water and place the soaked beans in a large 6-quart sauce pot, and place on the stove. Pour fresh water into the pot, covering the beans by 3-4 inches.

Turn the heat up to medium. Add the onion, garlic, and salt, and stir. Cover andsimmer for 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Pro Tip:The older the dried beans are, the longer they will take to cook. Check for doneness after the first couple of hours, and continue to monitor until they are ready.

How to Make Beans in an Instant Pot

Youdo nothave to soak the beans if pressure cooking them. Simply place the dried beans in the Instant Pot with the onions, garlic, salt, and 5 cups of water, and stir.

Set on Pressure CookHIGH for 35 minutes. Then perform a Natural Release. Once the steam button has dropped it is safe to open the lid.

Pro Tip:If the beans are too firm, pressure cook for 5-10 more minutes, then perform a Quick Release.

How to Make Homemade Bean Dip

Cook the beans until they arevery soft. Then drain off the liquid andreserve for lateruse.

To make the best restaurant-style bean dip at home, simply:

Pour the cooked pinto beans (or drained canned beans) into alarge food processor.

Add the pico de gallo and 1 cup of the reserved liquid. Pulse untilmostly smoothbutnotliquified.

Then, add the shredded cheese andpulse a few more timesto “melt” the cheese into the beans. If you like your bean dip to be looser, add another ¼ to ¾ cups of cooking liquid.

Pour the bean dip into a serving dish, sprinkle the top with a bit more pico de gallo, and enjoy withtortilla chipsorfresh veggies. Salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe Variations and Add-Ins

We love the simple clean robust flavor of this refried bean dip. Yet if you want to mix things up, try adding in or topping it off with some of these!

• Ground cumin
• Black olives
• Green chiles
• Jalapeños
• Bell peppers
• Green onions (scallions)
• Fresh cilantro
• Chili powder
• Garlic or onion powder

Serving Suggestions

Once you have made your bean dip exactly how you like it, you can serve it along with so many different things! It can serve as a dip or a spread or even a side! Try pairing it with some of my personal favorites:

• Carne Asada
• Homemade Tortillas
• Vegetarian Enchiladas
• Spanish Rice
• Pollo Asado

Get the Complete (Printable) Best Homemade Bean Dip Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make The Best Bean Dip with Canned Beans?

Yes, you can! For an evenfaster and easier versionof our Best Bean Dip Recipe, swap the dried beans for 3 cans of drained pinto beans and heat on the stovetop before pureeing.

You may need to add a little broth or water to loosen them up.

How should I store bean dip?

The Best Homemade Bean Dip keeps well stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to3 days.

You can serve this dip at room temperature, or reheat it on the stovetop in a small saucepan. Be sure to stir frequently and add a splash of water if needed before enjoying it again.

How Do I Make Vegan Bean Dip?

This vegetarian restaurant-style bean dip can easily be made vegan. Just substitute your favorite plant-based shredded cheddar cheese for a deliciousvegan bean diprecipe.

What Other Recipes Can I Enjoy with Homemade Refried Bean Dip Recipe?

Freshly made bean dip is perfect for a dip-able yummy snack, side dish, andsomuch more!

Use this appetizer dip recipe as part of making a stackableSeven Layer Dip,Mexican Sopes, or in the filling of burritos or tacos.

Looking for More Delicious Dip Recipes?

• Buffalo Cowboy Caviar
• Hot Onion Dip with Fried Onions
• Roasted Poblano Avocado Dip
• Hot Smoked Pimento Cheese Dip
• Amazing White Queso Dip (Queso Blanco)
• Fresh Mango Guacamole Dip
• Smoked Cheese Dip (Spread) with Sour Cream
• Retro Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
• Best Homemade Salsa
• Seven Layer Dip with Tomatoes and Refried Beans
• Magic Taco Dip with Taco Seasoning

Check out the printable recipe card below for nutritional information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin c, and calcium percentages.