Looking for a quick complex carbohydrate option to add to your meals? Here are our top picks for refried beans!
Refried beans are a delicious and nutritious pantry staple. They make for the perfect, quick, high- fiber side item to our sheet pan chicken fajitas (found in the Stepwise Cookbook, and also VLCD-friendly). Slap them on a low carb tortilla with some spinach and salsa for a quick lunch taco. Add them to your egg scramble with a side of sauteed onions and peppers for a balanced weekend breakfast.
1. Trader Joe’s Traditional Style Fat-Free Refried Beans
These are your basic beans, except they’re fat-free! They make a wonderful option if you are carefully monitoring your calories. However, they are high in sodium to make up for the fact that they are fat-free.
Ingredients
Cooked beans, water, salt.
NutritionFacts
Per ½ cup serving: 120 calories, 0g fat, 460mg sodium, 23g total carbohydrate, 5g dietary fiber, 8g protein
2. Amy’s Vegetarian Refried Beans
These beans are minimally processed, and made with real, whole-food ingredients. They are also high in fiber, making them a healthy addition to your diet. For those looking for heart-healthy options, they also come in a low-sodium version. Additionally, they are cooked in plant oils, which gives them a slightly richer taste than fat-free refried beans.
Traditional
Ingredients
Organic pinto beans, filtered water, organic onions, organic high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, sea salt, organic garlic, organic spices.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup serving: 140 calories, 3g fat, 290mg sodium, 22g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 7g protein
Mild with Green Chiles
Ingredients
Organic pinto beans, organic onions, filtered water, organic bell peppers, organic tomato puree, organic high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, sea salt, organic green chiles, organic garlic, organic spices, organic cilantro.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup serving: 130 calories, 3g fat, 440mg sodium, 20g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 7g protein
Refried Black Beans
Ingredients
Organic black beans, organic onions, filtered water, organic bell peppers, organic tomato puree, organic high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, sea salt, organic green chiles, organic garlic, organic spices, organic cilantro.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup serving: 160 calories, 3g fat, 440mg sodium, 26g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 8g protein
3. Siete Vegan Refried Beans
All Siete products are made with avocado oil, including their beans! Like olive oil, avocado oil is a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Siete has somehow managed to lower the calories of their refried beans to 100-110 per half cup serving. They are flavored with spices and sure to please your palate.
Refried Pinto Beans
Ingredients
Prepared beans (water, organic pinto beans), avocado oil, sea salt, organic paprika, and organic onion powder.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup serving: 110 calories, 4g fat, 460mg sodium, 17g total carbohydrate, 7g dietary fiber, 6g protein
Refried Black Beans
Ingredients
Prepared beans (water, organic black beans), avocado oil, sea salt, organic paprika, and organic onion powder.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup serving: 100 calories, 5g fat, 390mg sodium, 15g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 6g protein
Meal Examples
