Old Fashioned Pinto Bean Patties – Pinto Bean Pancakes (Easy To Make)

These old-fashioned pancakes made from pinto beans taste good and are inexpensive. They can be made into a meal or a snack.

Old Fashioned Pinto Bean Patties are an economical meal from the past. These Pinto Bean Pancakes use leftover beans, onions, egg, flour, salt and pepper and are fried until golden brown. Learn how to make bean cakes with these easy directions.

Old Fashioned Pinto Bean Patties

Fried pinto bean patties are exactly what they say – cooked pinto beans that are mashed up and formed into a patty and then pan-fried until golden brown.

As you can imagine, bean cakes are a very old fashioned recipe. They come from a time when being economical was a necessity, a time when women were stretching ingredients to feed hungry families.

The good news is that these country bean cakes are quite tasty too. Mashed bean patties can be served as the main entrée (served with fried potatoes and cinnamon apples) or as a nice little side dish with cubed steaks or Chipped Beef Gravy.

Pinto Bean Pancakes Ingredient List

• Pinto Beans (or white beans), drained
• Diced Onion
• Large Egg
• All Purpose Flour
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Vegetable Oil (for frying)

Mashed Bean Patties

These country bean patties remind me of my Granny; she was the queen of stretching food for eight hungry kids. She is the maker of Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes which are very similar to these bean cakes with flour.

The recipe is so easy. Basically, you mash up leftover pinto beans (or white beans), and then make a quick batter with eggs, flour, minced onion and salt and pepper. Give each little pinto bean pancake a quick fry in some vegetable oil until both sides are golden brown.

Honestly, if you love beans or you love Fried Salmon Patties, these Pinto Bean Cakes are for you.

How to Make Old Fashioned Bean Cakes

Step By Step Instructions

1. Drain pinto beans well.
2. Mash beans coarsely using a potato masher, fork or in a food processor.
3. Add egg, salt and pepper, flour and minced onion to the bean mixture.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Make small bean patties and place in hot oil.
6. Fry until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes, flip and fry the other side.
7. Drain off oil on a paper towel.
8. Eat while hot.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. To reheat, pull from the fridge and place in the air fryer for a couple minutes, or warm in the microwave.

For the full instructions for fried pinto bean patties, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Recipe FAQs

• Use leftover pinto beans or canned pinto beans for these pinto bean pancakes. Be sure to drain the beans well.
• Substitute white beans (cannellini or great northern beans) for pinto beans, if desired.
• Mash the beans as fine or as coarse as you desire. I like to leave mine on the more coarse side, but that’s just my personal preference.
• If your pinto bean cake batter seems dry, add a little bit of water. If it it seems very wet, add more flour.
• Vegetable oil or canola oil works best for frying these mashed bean patties.
• To add some extra flavor, add a bit of garlic powder or cayenne pepper or any other of your favorite seasonings.
• I eat mine hot from the oil, but my kids like to dip these in ketchup.
• Check out our Amazon Store for our pantry essentials and kitchen items.

What to serve with bean cakes?

• Old Fashioned Pickled Beets 
• Red Hot Cinnamon Apples 
• Old Fashioned Stewed Tomatoes
• Cottage Cheese and Pineapple
• Crispy Fried Potatoes
• Creamed Peas 
• Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy
• Sweet and Sour Coleslaw 
• Old Fashioned Cornbread Muffins 
• Cucumbers and Onions

Can you freeze bean cakes?

Yes, fry up the cakes, and let cool completely. Place on a sheet pan in an individual layer and place in the freezer. Once frozen, place in an air-tight zip lock bag in the freezer. Pull out the desired amount of bean cakes, and reheat in an air fryer for the best results.

Easy Dinner Recipes with Beans

Stove Top Poor Man’s Stew

Southern Pinto Beans and Sausage

Creamy Chicken Chili

Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Soup

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.