The pinto bean is the bean most commonly used for refried beans (fresh or canned) and in many dishes. This variety is often used in chili con carne, although kidney beans, black beans, and many others may also be used in other locales (see below).he pinto bean is a variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). It is the most popular bean in the United States and northwestern Mexico, and is most often eaten whole in broth or mashed and refried.