Black Beans vs Pinto Beans: Health, Nutrition and Protein

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Ever since I went vegan, I’ve been eating a ton of beans.

Pinto beans and black beans are 2 of my favorites, and both are common beans, so I did a detailed comparison of the two to see which is healthier (among other things).

Like you might have guessed, they’re mostly similar, but there are a few differences.

Which Bean Tastes Better?

black beans vs pinto beans taste comparison

Side note: Black beans and black turtle beans are the same thing. Phaseolus vulgaris is the scientific name, but the common name differs based on the region you live in.

The biggest difference between these beans isn’t anything to do with nutritional content, but taste.

  • Black beans – Harder than pinto beans, and have a nuttier flavor and earthier texture.
  • Pinto beans – Softer and creamier. Much more versatile, and they pair well with most other flavors and aromatics.

Neither are great for recipes like baked beans. For those, you’ll want some sort of white bean, like cannellini beans or great northern beans.

SUMMARY

Pinto beans are softer and creamier than black beans, and most people prefer them in dishes where you really taste the beans (i.e. baked beans). Black beans have a much earthier taste, which can provide a great balance in the right mixture of lighter ingredients (e.g. corn, lettuce).

What Recipes Should You Use Black Beans vs Pinto Beans In

Black beans can be eaten fairly plain, but due to their harder texture, they’re great for thick soups, dips, and salads. They go well with a lot of spices like chili powder, so they’re still great in chili or tacos.

Pinto beans on the other hand, with their creamy texture, are typically used for fillings and added to recipes like chili and burritos, just like kidney beans. They’re the most common type of beans used to make refried beans.

And because they have unique textures and flavors, pinto beans and black beans pair nice with each other to provide a bit of variety.

Black vs Pinto Beans Nutrition and Protein

Let’s take a look at nutrition from a macro perspective, particularly the protein. Note that all nutrition values are for cooked beans.

  Black Beans Pinto Beans
Serving size 1 cup 1 cup
Calories 227 245
Fat 0.9 g 1.1 g
Carbohydrates 40.8 g 44.8 g
Fiber 15 g 15.4 g
Protein 15.2 g 15.4 g

Neither have much fat, and have a moderate level of calories. It’s really hard to overeat them.

Both are great sources of dietary fiber, and are some of the best plant-based sources of protein, along with other legumes. Although, if you really want to maximize protein, consider soybeans instead (soybeans have a ton of protein, see bean nutrition comparison for details).

SUMMARY

Each profile is pretty similar, but pinto beans have slightly more calories, carbohydrates, fiber, and protein than black beans.

Nutrient Comparison

Again, the nutrition in both types of beans are pretty similar, although pinto beans give you a little bit extra overall.

Here’s a comparison of all the nutrients that are in either bean in reasonable amounts:

  Black Beans (%DV) Pinto Beans (%DV)
Serving size 1 cup 1 cup
Thiamin 28% 22%
Vitamin B6 6% 20%
Folate 64% 74%
Calcium 5% 8%
Iron 20% 20%
Magnesium 30% 21%
Phosphorus 24% 25%
Potassium 17% 21%
Zinc 13% 11%
Copper 18% 19%
Manganese 38% 39%
Selenium 3% 15%

Beans don’t provide too much in the way of vitamins, but do have a lot of minerals.

Comparing black beans to pinto beans, most nutrient levels are similar, but pinto beans do have significantly more vitamin B6 and selenium. Not the most important nutrients, but a difference nonetheless.

SUMMARY

There’s no significant difference between the vitamin and mineral content of black and pinto beans.

Are Black Beans or Pinto Beans Healthier?

The macronutrient profiles are very similar between both types of beans. They also have an almost identical amount of vitamins and minerals.

Therefore, neither black beans or pinto beans are clearly healthier than the other.

But they are both very healthy foods that most people could benefit from eating more of. So this is a case where the healthiest choice is the one you’ll eat more often (or both).

The Main Differences Between Black and Pinto Beans

It’s not surprising that both types of beans are pretty similar when it comes to nutrition.

Beans and legumes are all pretty healthy and high in protein (green beans and to a lesser extent peas are the only exceptions).

I found similar things when looking at black beans vs kidney beans and pinto beans vs kidney beans. Both black and pinto beans are similar to red beans in general.

Overall, we saw that the biggest difference is in the taste. So if you like one bean over the other, you don’t need to worry about the nutritional aspects, just use the one you like best in your dishes.

In terms of cooking time from the original dried unsoaked beans, I’ve found that they both take about the same time as well, so I don’t think that’s a significant factor here.

If you need help finding a recipe for either, refer to my page of high protein vegan recipes, there are many for each type of legume (including other bean varieties like soybeans, adzuki beans, etc.).

About the author

Dale Cudmore

Your friendly neighborhood vegan from Toronto. I've spent over 6 years as a freelance nutrition writer and researcher. During this time, I've tested over 50 vegan protein powders, and over 100 other types of vegan supplements.