Black Beans vs Pinto Beans at Chipotle: Which Should You Get?
It is the fastest decision on the Chipotle line and the one people overthink most: black beans or pinto? Here is the part nobody tells you, nutritionally they are effectively identical. Same calories, same protein, same fiber. The real difference is flavor and texture, and which one suits the build you are making. Both are also fully vegan, which was not always true.
Nutritionally they are the same: both run about 130 calories, 8g protein, and 7g fiber. The difference is character, pinto is smokier and softer and melts into rice, while black beans are cleaner and firmer and hold their shape. Both have been vegan since 2013, when Chipotle removed bacon from the pinto recipe.
- Identical macros: 130 calories, 8g protein, ~7g fiber, ~22g carbs each.
- Pinto: smokier and softer, blends into rice, suits burritos and bowls.
- Black: cleaner and firmer, holds shape, suits salads and layered builds.
- Both vegan since 2013, when bacon was removed from the pinto recipe.
- You can order both, free at most locations (roughly a half scoop of each).
Where They Are Identical
| Nutrient (per serving) | Black Beans | Pinto Beans |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 130 | 130 |
| Protein | 8g | 8g |
| Fiber | ~7g | ~7g |
| Carbs | ~22g | ~22g |
| Fat | ~1.5g | ~1.5g |
| Price | Free on any entrée | |
Both are also vegan, gluten-free, and among the highest-fiber items on the menu. And both are, functionally, free protein, 8 grams for nothing, which is why double beans is the standard move on plant-based orders. The full calorie context is in our bean calories breakdown.
Where They Differ
Pinto beans are simmered with chipotle chili, bay leaf, cumin, garlic, and onion, and the result is noticeably smokier and softer. They break down a little at the edges, which means they bind into rice and create a more integrated, stew-like bowl.
Black beans read cleaner and slightly earthier, and they hold their shape under a scoop of hot rice. In a salad or a build where you want to taste each component distinctly, that structural integrity matters.
The Bacon Question
Worth addressing because the rumor persists: Chipotle pinto beans used to contain bacon, and the ingredient was not disclosed on in-store menus. After the issue surfaced publicly in 2011, Chipotle first posted notices and then removed the pork entirely in 2013, specifically so the beans would be vegetarian.
Today both varieties are plant-based, cooked in rice bran oil rather than lard, with no stock or animal fat. The full ingredient list and history is on our pinto beans guide.
Which to Pick
- Choose pinto for burritos and bowls with braised meats, barbacoa and carnitas especially, where you want everything to melt together.
- Choose black for salads, grilled proteins like chicken and steak, and any build where distinct textures are the point.
- Choose both if you genuinely cannot decide, most locations will do a half scoop of each free.
- Choose double of either if you are going meat-free and want the protein.
More on how beans fit into complete builds is on the black beans guide and across the toppings lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chipotle black beans or pinto beans healthier?
Neither, they are nutritionally equivalent. Both provide about 130 calories, 8 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 22 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Choose based on flavor and texture rather than nutrition.
What is the difference between Chipotle black and pinto beans?
Flavor and texture. Pinto beans are smokier and softer, with chipotle chili and bay leaf coming through, and they break down slightly into rice. Black beans are cleaner tasting and hold their shape better.
Are Chipotle pinto beans vegetarian?
Yes. Chipotle removed the bacon from its pinto bean recipe in 2013, and both bean varieties have been fully vegetarian and vegan since. Neither contains pork, lard, or animal stock.
Can I get both black and pinto beans at Chipotle?
Yes, at no extra charge at most locations, though you will typically receive about a half scoop of each rather than two full portions.
Which beans go better with which protein?
Pinto suits richer, braised meats like barbacoa and carnitas where everything integrates. Black beans suit grilled chicken and steak, and any salad or layered build where distinct components matter.
Do the beans have much protein?
Eight grams per serving each, which makes them the cheapest protein at Chipotle since they are free. Doubling the beans is the standard way to boost plant-based orders to roughly 24 grams total.
Methodology
Nutrition figures reflect Chipotle official per-ingredient data as of October 2026, where both beans report equivalent values. The 2013 recipe change removing pork from pinto beans is documented in Chipotle public statements.
