Meatless Monday: Beer Braised Sweet and Spicy Pinto Bean Tacos

April 28, 2014

Beer Braised Sweet & Spicy Pinto Bean Tacos  Sarcastic Cooking

Do you guys have a guilty pleasure fast food joint? That is a silly question. I guess everybody does. But don’t say Panera, because that is too healthy and it doesn’t have a drive-thru so I don’t really consider it fast food. I’m talkin’ greasy, chain fast food restaurant food.

For me, it is Taco Bell. Or as I lovingly refer to it, T Bell.

It is just something about that greasy mystery ground beef that calls to me sometimes. It is the best decision of my life and then very rapidly the worst decision.

Growing up in my family, we were strictly Burger King or Mickey D’s kind of people. We always had a T Bell nearby, but we never went there. I mainly think it was because my mom associated T Bell with hoodlums that like to loiter in parking lots even though “No Loitering” signs were clearly posted. But also, if my mom was having Mexican food, she was either cooking it herself or going to a sit down family place where my grandma could have a margarita and take an insanely long amount of time to drink it.

Sweet and Spicy Pinto Bean Tacos  Sarcastic Cooking

The first time I can remember having Taco Bell was at a sleepover in middle school. Yeah, I know it is probably super sad and pathetic that I vividly remember the first time I ever ate a specific fast food. I felt so lame because everybody knew the lingo and what to order and I had no clue. The girl whose house we were sleeping at stepped in and schooled me in what to order.

She suggested I order some soft shell tacos and a side of pintos and cheese. Being the bean-lover that I am, I was all about the side of refried beans and cheese. The fact that it was socially acceptable was a huge plus too. Not often do you have a big group of people eating beans. (Sorry, there had to be a fart reference somewhere in this post). It has always baffled me why they named them pintos and cheese instead of pintos con queso. Why only half of a Mexican name?

Even in my vegetarian days, I would order a Mexican pizza with no meat and a side of pintos and cheese. Beans galore! These days it’s pretty much a craving for beans and a beef chalupa. Oh! And a large Pepsi. Never a Diet Pepsi. It is something about the Pepsi there, it is just so good.

Beer Braised Sweet and Spicy Pinto Bean Tacos  Sarcastic Cooking

Please don’t judge me too harshly over my dedication to Taco Bell. Like I said, it is a guilty pleasure not an every week occurrence. And in between the T Bell cravings, I make my own versions of beans. Like from scratch. From dry? Well, you get the gist.

Meatless Monday: Beer Braised Sweet and Spicy Pinto Bean Tacos

Prep Time 12 hours
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 13 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Cups Dry Pinto Beans
  • Water
  • 24 Ounces of Beer
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons Chipotle Pepper Puree*
  • 2 Tablespoons Agave
  • Zest of 1 Lime
  • Juice from 1 Lime

Instructions

  1. The night before you plan on cooking the beans, rinse the beans in a colander under cool running water. Pick out any funky looking beans and discard. Add the beans to a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Cover beans with the two beers and enough water so that about 2 inches of liquid are in the pot. Let the beans soak overnight.
  2. Cover the soaked beans with a lid and cook over medium/high heat for one hour. Remove the lid. Add the agave, chipotle, salt, pepper, lime zest, and lime juice to the pot. Stir to combine and cook for another thirty to forty minutes until beans are fork tender.
  3. Serve beans as a side or as a main taco filling. Beans and liquid freeze well for up to a month.

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  • Lisa LaRocco
    May 13, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    This is a great idea for a meatless meal. I love tacos–with meat, fish, chicken, turkey, pork,beans–any kind. When using beans, it is important to spice it up or it will taste very bland. You have the right combination of spices to make this super delicious. Another way to cook dried beans that is really easy is in the slow cooker.

  • Becca
    May 11, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    Everyone in my life always teases me because I always swear there is something special about Taco Bells Pepsi. I am feeling strangely vindicated and like I want you as my best friend now.

  • Francesca
    May 3, 2014 at 3:35 am

    Oh man, just this week I read something about the “12% other” which constitutes the ground beef in Tbell’s Tacos. I would take one of these lovelies over that any day! Because also, beer braised anything is ah-may-zing.

  • Sadye
    April 30, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    Well, you can’t be perfect 😉 I love Taco John’s, but could and hopefully will live the rest of my life without ever going to T-Bell again.

  • Tess @ Tips on Healthy Living
    April 29, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    Tex-mex is the best! I’m going to save this recipe for Cinco De Mayo. The only thing I might change is pinto beans for some black beans. Thanks for sharing!

    • Stefanie
      April 29, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      Great idea Tess!

  • Stephie @ EYHO
    April 28, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    I determined when I wound out about the UC that my TBell days were looooong over. I still mourn that sometimes. But I wouldn’t miss them a bit with these tacos! Love that fruity salsa!

    • Stefanie
      April 28, 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Mango salsa from Whole Foods!!! The best compliment to these sweet and spicy beans!

  • Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
    April 28, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    I like pretty much ALL fast food unfortunately, but Taco Bell is one that I don’t really care for EXCEPT for the pintos and cheese — oh the pintos and cheese, how I love thee. So good. Love that you took them and transformed them into tacos. Yum!

  • miss messy
    April 28, 2014 at 9:54 am

    Love the addition of the chipotle. Great meatless monday dish. I love Mexican style food

    • Stefanie
      April 28, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Mexican is my favorite type of food too! I could eat it every single day!

  • cheri
    April 28, 2014 at 9:26 am

    Hi Stefanie, Oh I am such a bean lover and this looks amazing. The first time I ever went to a fast food restaurant was Jack in the box and I was in my teens. Anyway great recipe.

    • Stefanie
      April 28, 2014 at 9:34 am

      I have only been to a jack in the Box once. I have to say it was a late night trip made after a night out in my early twenties.

  • Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
    April 28, 2014 at 9:04 am

    No judgment about Taco Bell here…I’ve been known to indulge on occasion as well, and now you have me craving it! I was always partial to their basic bean and cheese burritos. As a fellow bean lover, I will most definitely be trying this recipe!

    • Stefanie
      April 28, 2014 at 9:34 am

      Glad I am not alone in my T Bell love.