In Tex-Mex cuisine, what beans are traditionally used to make charro beans?

In Tex-Mex cuisine, pinto beans are the traditional beans used to make charro beans.

Charro beans, or frijoles charros, are cooked pinto beans prepared in a savory broth with ingredients such as bacon, onion, garlic, tomato, and chile peppers. Tex-Mex versions often serve them as a side dish alongside grilled meats, enchiladas, or combination plates.

The name refers to Mexican horsemen, or charros, and the dish is associated with northern Mexican and border-region cooking. Beans may be simmered from dry or prepared from cooked beans, depending on the recipe.

Charro beans differ from refried beans: they remain whole in a seasoned broth rather than being mashed and fried into a paste.