Most traditional refried beans are made from pinto beans, but they can also be made with black beans or other varieties like cranberry beans or even white beans.

What kind of beans are refried beans?

  • In classic Mexican cooking, refried beans are usually made from pinto beans, which turn very creamy when cooked and mashed and have a mild, earthy flavor that takes on seasoning well.
  • Many recipes and restaurants also use black beans the same way, giving a slightly richer, deeper taste and a darker color.
  • Some home cooks and modern recipes experiment with other beans such as cranberry beans or small white/navy beans, which can also be cooked, then fried and mashed like traditional refried beans.

Quick Scoop

  • “Refried” doesn’t mean fried twice; it comes from the Spanish frijoles refritos , meaning well‑fried or thoroughly fried beans that have been cooked, then fried and mashed with fat and seasonings.
  • Authentic versions typically start with dried pinto beans simmered until soft, then fried with lard or oil, onion, garlic, and spices like cumin or oregano before being mashed to a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  • You will also see easy weeknight or “quick” versions that use canned pinto or black beans instead of dried, especially in online recipes and forum discussions about making refried beans at home.

In forum threads, people often debate whether refried beans are “ruining good beans” or one of the best comfort foods, but almost everyone agrees that pinto beans are the standard starting point.

TL;DR: Refried beans are usually made from pinto beans, but black beans and a few other types can be used in the same refried style.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.