2 slices bacon
1/2 onion (diced)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less, if you prefer mild spice)
15 oz. canned pinto beans (drained and rinsed, about 1.5 cups cooked beans)
1/2 cup chicken stock/broth (or veggie stock, or water)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

2 slices bacon 1/2 onion (diced) 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less, if you prefer mild spice) 15 oz. canned pinto beans (drained and rinsed, about 1.5 cups cooked beans) 1/2 cup chicken stock/broth (or veggie stock, or water) 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

In a heavy skillet (I used a cast iron one), fry the 2 slices bacon until crispy on medium high heat. Remove the bacon and set aside. Chop into small pieces when cooled.
Meanwhile, the diced onion to the bacon grease in the skillet; sauté until soft and slightly browned (about 2 minutes).
Add the chili powder (1 teaspoon) and cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoon); stir to coat the onions.
Add the drained and rinsed pinto beans and chicken stock (1/2 cup). Use a potato masher (or a fork) to mash the beans to desired texture, then stir to incorporate with the liquid.
Continue heating until heated through. It may seem pretty watery at this point. If there is too much liquid, continue heating until some of the liquid has evaporated, until you reach the desired consistency, stirring frequently, keeping in mind the beans will thicken additionally as they cool.
Stir in cilantro (1/4 cup) if using, the chopped bacon, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Vegetarian?
Use butter to sauté the onion, omit the bacon, and use veggie stock or water. For a vegan option, use olive or canola oil. I recommend adding a little smoked paprika to the spice mix since you won’t get that smokiness from the bacon.
Make ahead Instructions:
They can be made ahead of time and reheated, but they will dry out a bit over time. Adding a little water or a squeeze of lime juice should help with that.
Nutrition
Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 369mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg