Dress up pinto beans with bacon, ham, and pico de gallo salsa to make this stick-to-your-ribs Mexican Charro Beans with Ham recipe!

taking a bite of Mexican Charro Beans with Ham

Are you needing inspiration for leftover ham? Or you just love pinto beans? I love this Mexican Charro Beans with Ham recipe that I made a while back because it’s a lovely side dish, main dish, or even delicious served in a wrap. You may also want to try my Homemade Refried Pinto Beans recipe!

Why we love this recipe

  • This recipe includes ham! I love ham and bacon!
  • It’s an easy charro beans recipe!
  • Recipe is on the table in less than 30 minutes.
  • Great potluck dish, or side dish for Cinco de Mayo!

bow of Mexican Charro Beans with Ham with spoon

What are Mexican Charro Beans with Ham made of?

Charro beans, or “cowboy beans” are Mexican-style pinto beans made from bacon, onions, garlic, chipotle peppers, tomatoes and other spices. For this recipe, we took a short cut and used Bush’s canned pinto beans, ham, and picco de gallo!  For this best charro beans recipe, you can cook the beans from scratch, in broth, if you prefer.

how to make Mexican Charro Beans with Ham

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Ingredients for pinto beans recipe

  • Bacon (and leftover ham)
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Pinto beans (canned)
  • Onion
  • Salt
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream

I get into ruts with cooking. I love the simplicity and taste of this easy recipe today, made with beans, leftover ham, and salsa.

serving of Mexican Charro Beans with Ham

How do you serve Mexican Charro beans?

You can serve it as a main dish (on rice), side dish (with chicken), or even in a wrap.

Or, how about as a quick snack? I eat several snacks throughout the day. Mini meals are the best!

You can also grab a bag of chips and eat is as a dip (chips and salsa). So good.

Serve these charro beans at your next Mexican potluck!

Mexican Charro Beans with Ham with sour cream

How do you make Charro beans?

  1. In large skillet, fry bacon with diced ham.
  2. Next add in Pico de Gallo and saute (approximately one minute). Add the drained beans and onion.
  3. Simmer and then add small amount of water as needed. Add salt to taste. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
  4. Serve individual servings in a bowl with a dab (spoonful) of sour cream, and fresh cilantro sprinkled on top.

Tips and substitutions:

  • Swap out the beans for your favorite beans. But to make authentic charro beans, you really do want to use pinto beans!
  • Use leftover ham. We love the leftovers from this Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe.
  • This makes a great potluck dish!
  • Make this dish in the slow cooker – heat on LOW for 1-2 hours.

Mexican Charro Beans with Ham

More bean recipes to try:

Cheesy Vegetarian Sweet Potato Bean Enchiladas

Stovetop Cuban Style Black Beans

Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans

Mexican Charro Beans with Ham with sour cream
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Mexican Charro Beans with Ham

Use leftover ham for this delicious side or main dish recipe.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 8
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 4 slices uncooked bacon chopped
  • 1 cup diced precooked ham
  • 14 ounces prepared Pico de Gallo sauce
  • 4 cups canned pinto beans
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 pinch Salt to taste
  • fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • sour cream, a dab on each serving for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In large skillet, fry bacon with diced ham. When done, add Pico de Gallo and saute (approximately one minute). Add beans and all ingredients to stock pot.
  • Simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Add small amount of water as needed. Add salt to taste. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
  • Serve individual servings in a bowl with a dab (spoonful) of sour cream, and fresh cilantro sprinkled on top.

Notes

Reposted from April 2015.
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Side Dish
Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer
Calories: 179kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 748mg, Potassium: 328mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 160IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

spoonful of Mexican Charro Beans with Ham