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These sweet potato black bean tacos are the perfect healthy vegetarian option when you are craving tacos, but don't want to feel guilty eating them.
Yes it's another taco recipe, and yes it's another meatless taco recipe, but when I talk about meatless recipes, this one might be #1 and that's for ANY meatless recipe I make. Well that and my crispy tofu tacos or potato tacos.
Thinking back, it gets a little hazy, but I really believe these sweet potato and black bean tacos were the recipe that made me love sweet potatoes as much as I do. And as you can tell I really love sweet potatoes nowadays, as about every fourth recipe calls for them somewhere.
Why This Recipe Works
- They are nutrient-rich due to the abundance of vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber found in sweet potatoes and black beans.
- These tacos are a vegetarian and vegan-friendly option that offers a complete protein source and can be easily customized to accommodate different dietary preferences.
- They quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
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Ingredient Notes
- Sweet potatoes - Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and without any bruises or soft spots. You can use orange-fleshed sweet potatoes or white sweet potatoes, depending on your preference.
- Olive oil - Coats the sweet potatoes so the spices stick and also adds some necessary fat.
- Spices - The combination of spices enhances the flavor of the sweet potato tacos. You can adjust the seasonings according to your taste preferences.
- Aromatics - Onion and garlic are the base for the taco mixture.
- Black beans - Opt for canned black beans for convenience or cook dried black beans if you prefer. Rinse and drain canned beans to remove excess sodium.
- Corn - You can use fresh, frozen, or canned corn, depending on what's available and your preference. If using fresh corn, it's best to cut the kernels off the cob.
- Honey - Give the dish some sweetness to offset the spice.
- Lime - The acid complements the other flavors of the tacos.
- Tortillas - Choose your favorite type of tortillas for the tacos but my go-to is corn tortillas.
- Garnishes - Common garnishes include cilantro, feta cheese and avocado for a pop of freshness and flavor.
Ingredient Swaps
Like any recipe, you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:
- While it is called sweet potato tacos for a reason, you can sub Russet potatoes or even butternut squash.
- If you don't have sweet onions, white, yellow, red onions or shallots will work too. They all high slightly different flavors.
- I like pairing black beans with the sweet potatoes for added protein, but garbanzo or cannellini beans are good substitutes.
- Honey is great for some added sweetness to offset the spice, but maple syrup works as well.
- Feta cheese has some saltiness that works well with these tacos, but cotija or pepper jack cheese can be used too.
- I'm a fan of corn tortillas, especially my blue corn tortillas, but you can use flour tortillas.
Step-by-Step Photos
Please note full ingredient list and instructions of these tacos can be found in recipe card below.
Toss sweet potatoes with spices and olive oil and roast at 425°F in a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the onions over medium-high heat with some olive oil for 5 minutes and then add the garlic the remaining 30 seconds.
Reduce the heat and stir in the black beans, corn, honey and lime juice before adding the cooked sweet potatoes and cilantro. Prepare and serve the tacos.
FAQs
Yes, these tacos can be a healthy option, especially if you use whole grain tortillas, load up on vegetables and go easy on cheese and sour cream if using. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and fiber, while black beans provide protein and additional fiber.
Yes, you can make certain components ahead of time to make assembly easier. Cook the sweet potatoes and black bean mixture in advance, and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Assemble the tacos just before serving to prevent the tortillas from becoming soggy.
Yes they can easily be made vegan. Just omit any dairy-based toppings like the cheese or sour cream, and ensure that your tortillas are free from any animal products. You can also use vegan cheese or cashew cream as dairy alternatives.
Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and cook for the tortillas 30 seconds on both side. You can also add a dash of olive oil when cooking them.
I like to have a little texture with these sweet potato and black bean tacos so I always use oil when cooking the tortillas.
Every taco should have cheese and I like feta. But you also want some fat, so avocado or even some homemade guacamole works well. You can also add some raw onion to get a sharp burst of flavor.
You can store the leftover taco mixture in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 day or in the freezer for 3 months. Just microwave when ready to eat.
Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are super popular these days and there is good reason for it. Some of the health benefits of sweet potatoes include:
- Great source of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
- Promotes gut health.
- Regulates blood pressure and sugar levels.
- Helps with keeping healthy vision.
- May improve brain function.
Equipment
The equipment you use is important to how the tacos turn out. What is needed is the following:
- Bowl - Need a bowl to be able to mix together the sweet potatoes with the spices.
- Baking sheet - Used to roast the sweet potatoes.
- Skillet - You can use a non-stick or cast iron skillet.
- Wooden spoon - Mixes together all of the ingredients.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Be consistent when cutting the sweet potatoes so it will cook evenly.
- Be mindful not to overfill your tacos, especially if you're using soft tortillas. Overfilling can make them difficult to eat and may cause the filling to spill out.
- It may seem like a strange addition, but feta cheese works great with the sweet potato black bean tacos. You can of course use any cheese you like, but the saltiness from the feta is perfect.
- These tacos are so flavorful that they don't need toppings, but avocado is essential to get some healthy fat.
- Warm your tortillas before assembling the tacos. You can warm them in a dry skillet, microwave, or oven until they're soft and pliable. Warm tortillas are more flexible and less likely to tear when you fold or roll them.
Similar Recipes
If you’ve tried these sweet potato black bean tacos or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½ inch cubes
- 4 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (15.5 oz can) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 2 limes, juiced + more for garnish
- 3 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 avocados, diced
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 10-12 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Place diced sweet potatoes in medium bowl and add 3 tablespoon olive oil, cumin, paprika, chili powder, ground coriander, salt and pepper. Mix until everything is coated. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and add sweet potatoes. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tender, tossing halfway through.
- While sweet potatoes are cooking, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until slightly caramelized which should take about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the black beans, corn, honey and lime juice. Add roasted sweet potatoes and cilantro and mix.
- For tortillas, heat small skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 30 seconds on both side. Serve sweet potato mix over warm tortillas with some avocado and feta cheese or desired toppings.
Notes
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- Be consistent when cutting the sweet potatoes so it will cook evenly.
-
- Be mindful not to overfill your tacos, especially if you're using soft tortillas. Overfilling can make them difficult to eat and may cause the filling to spill out.
-
- It may seem like a strange addition, but feta cheese works great with the tacos. You can of course use any cheese you like, but the saltiness from the feta is perfect.
-
- These tacos are so flavorful that they don't need toppings, but avocado is essential to get some healthy fat.
-
- Warm your tortillas before assembling the tacos. You can warm them in a dry skillet, microwave, or oven until they're soft and pliable. Warm tortillas are more flexible and less likely to tear when you fold or roll them.
Chris says
Sounds delicious!