Low Carb Refried Beans Recipe with Bacon (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat refried beans on a low carb diet? ›

Carbs in Refried Beans

Net carbs (total carbohydrates - fiber - sugar alcohols) in refried beans are also very high, at 26g. You might be thinking 26g of net carbs sounds like a lot, and it is. In fact, this exceeds many people's daily carb limit.

Highest and Lowest Carb Beans

Among these, black soybeans and green beans have the lowest carbs, potentially making them better for a keto diet. On the other hand, chickpeas, pinto beans, and navy beans have high carbs. You might want to avoid these if you're strictly following a keto diet.

Black soybeans are the best low-carb bean to enjoy on keto, especially if you're looking for something to replace traditional beans like pinto beans and black beans. You can purchase them online, canned or dried, and use them in any dish you'd normally use beans in — including refried beans.

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

Because keto is a low-carb, high fat diet, and most types of beans fall into high-carb categories, they are not best suited for a ketogenic diet. Though the range can vary, one serving of any type will likely take up a large chunk of your daily carbohydrate allowance.

"If you follow a low-carb eating plan, beans are a good choice to help you reach your daily fiber needs," she said. Still, "portion size is key to ensuring you get a good mix of macronutrients in your diet. This goes for protein sources like meats, but it also applies to fruits, vegetables, and beans, too," Kris added.

Put simply, carb blockers are exactly what they sound like. By inhibiting the digestion of starchy carbs, white kidney bean extract can cut the amount of carbs absorbed in the intestines by up to 66%.

However, when combined with other protein sources, such as rice, beans can provide all the essential amino acids needed for a complete protein. Beans do contain more carbohydrates than rice, but they are still considered a protein source because of their high protein content.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

What pasta has lowest carbs? ›

What type of pasta is lowest in carbs? "Vegetable-based pastas, such as zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles, tend to be lowest in carbs and calories," says Sassos. "They are also packed with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals and are naturally gluten-free.

Hummus can definitely be part of your keto diet, but just one or two servings can quickly expend a significant portion of your daily carb allotment. If you do eat hummus, you'll want to limit yourself to a small amount — perhaps just 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 grams), which provide 4–8 grams of net carbs.

Lard – Here's where the secret ingredient comes in. Use lard to add a rich, savory thickness to the beans, or, use bacon fat like I do. Leftover bacon fat is extremely rich in salty, savory goodness, and it adds an entirely new depth of flavor to these Mexican refried beans — I can't recommend it enough!

Or for an even smokier flavor, you can add in some finely-diced chipotle chile in adobo sauce. Or — the easiest option for heat — just add in some cayenne pepper to taste. Add in some cheese: I just like to garnish my refried beans with some crumbled cotija or shredded cheddar cheese on top.

If you don't like bacon flavor in your refried beans (which I don't, but some do), you can simply add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and some oregano to those beans. An alternate addition is adding a bit of your favorite salsa to them.

Refried Beans Traditional Canned (1 cup) contains 34.1g total carbs, 24.8g net carbs, 5.1g fat, 12.5g protein, and 227 calories.

Are refried beans good for weight loss? Refried beans can be a good option for weight loss in some circ*mstances. A 1-cup serving of refried beans has 231 calories, so you could include this food in a low-calorie diet as a main meal. This food is also an excellent source of dietary fiber.

Black soybeans have the lowest amount of carbohydrates of any canned bean. They have just 5 net carbs for a half-cup serving and also have a lot of protein so they are very filling. Unfortunately, they can be hard to find, so I usually buy them in bulk online.