Pinto Bean

Pinto bean is a speckled tan-and-brown common bean with a thin skin and creamy interior. It tastes earthy and mildly nutty, cooking to a soft, creamy bite that holds in stews yet mashes smoothly. Use it for refried beans, chili, soups, and burrito fillings; sold dried in bags or pre-cooked in cans.

Domesticated in Mesoamerica, pinto spread through Mexico and the U.S. Southwest and became a staple in Northern Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. Modern production in the United States and Canada dries the beans after harvest, with extensive canning for ready use.