Vegetarian Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas — Warm sweet potatoes, slightly spicy corn and beans, all smothered in cheese and red sauce. They’re satisfying, hearty, and you’ll never miss the meat!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas Recipe
These sweet potato and black bean enchiladas are pure comfort food. But on the healthier side. Warm sweet potatoes, slightly spicy corn and beans, all smothered in cheese and red sauce.
They’re satisfying, hearty, and you’ll never miss the meat. My family didn’t even realize they were vegetarian until I told them. And to keep the enchiladas vegan, just swap the cheese for vegan cheese.
The vegetarian enchiladas are fast, easy, and ready in less than an hour. You can’t beat that.
To make the filling, simply combine a cooked and diced sweet potato with your favorite corn and bean salsa, and shredded cheese. Top with sauce, more cheese, and you’re ready to bake.
The sweet potatoes add bulk, body, and provide a meat-like heft to the enchiladas, minus the meat. The subtle sweetness is the perfect complement to the tangy sauce and spicier corn and beans.
There’s so much texture in every bite. Juicy corn, firm black beans, gooey cheese, drippy sauce, and chewy enchilada shells. It’s a comfort food party in your mouth with every bite.
The recipe is easily doubled for larger families, planned leftovers, or parties. It’s a great recipe for events where there’s a mixed crowd and at least one vegetarian or vegan in the group. Finally, a vegetarian dinner option that’s not an iceberg lettuce salad or fettucine alfredo.
I put a leftover sweet potato black bean enchilada in my daughter’s lunch, and while she rarely comes home and exclaims how great her lunch was (what kid does?), she did after these.
She asked when I’m making them again.
What’s in Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas?
To make this veggie enchilada recipe, you’ll need:
- Sweet potato
- Corn and black bean salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Red enchilada sauce
- Corn tortillas
- Red peppers and onions (for garnish)
- Fresh cilantro
How to Make Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Place a scrubbed and fork-pierced sweet potato in the microwave and cook on high power for about 10 minutes, or until done and fork tender.
Once cooked, skin and dice the sweet potato. Add the diced potato, salsa, and shredded cheese to a bowl and mix to combine.
Add about 1 cup enchilada sauce to the bottom of an 8×10-inch baking dish. Then, assemble the veggie enchiladas and place them inside the dish.
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas, then sprinkle with more cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly. I garnished mine with chopped peppers, onions, and cilantro.
How to Store Enchiladas
These sweet potato black bean enchiladas will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I Make These Vegan Enchiladas?
Yes, simply use a vegan cheese substitute.
Tips for Making Vegetarian Enchiladas
I used Trader Joe’s Cowboy Caviar, but most any chunky, corn-heavy or bean-heavy salsa will work. You can use corn and beans, but I prefer salsa because everything is already cooked, seasoned, and there’s less steps.
I’m sure you could add extra veggies to these sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. Just note that the more filling you make, the more enchiladas you’ll need to roll.
If your corn tortillas are prone to breaking, try gently warming them in a skillet to make them a little more flexible. Just be sure not to toast them by accident, they just need a few seconds over some heat to loosen up!
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Sweet Potato, Corn, and Black Bean Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 large/extra large sweet potato, cooked, peeled, and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- ½ cup corn and black bean salsa (I used Trader Joe’s Cowboy Caviar Salsa
- 2 to 2 ½ cups shredded cheese, divided (I used a Mexican blend; use vegan cheese to keep vegan)
- 2 cups red enchilada sauce, divided (I used Trader Joe’s; use storebought or homemade)
- 6 to 8 yellow or white corn tortilla shells
- finely diced red peppers or tomatoes, optional for garnishing
- cilantro, optional for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and spray an 8×10-inch baking dish or similar with cooking spray; set aside.
- Place a scrubbed and fork-pierced sweet potato in the microwave and cook on high power for about 10 minutes, or until done and fork tender. Potato can be cooked in the oven at 400F for about 45 to 60 minutes if preferred.
- Remove potato from microwave, slice lengthwise, and the skin should slip off easily; discard skin.
- Dice potato into 1/2-inch cubes and place cubes into a large bowl.
- To the bowl, add the salsa, about 1 1/2 cups cheese (measure it loosely packed in the cup), and gently stir to combine; set filling aside.
- Evenly add about 1 cup enchilada sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish; set aside.
- Place about 1/3 cup filling in a tortilla shell, roll up, and place seam side down in prepared dish; repeat with additional shells until all filling mixture is gone.
- Evenly pour remaining 1 cup enchilada sauce over the enchiladas.
- Evenly top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optionally garnish with red peppers, cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Enchiladas are best warm and fresh, but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Vegetarian Mexican Recipes:
Cheese, Black Bean, and Corn-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Crema — A healthy, filling, vegan, and gluten free meal by way of a sweet potato. There’s protein from the beans and cheese, and fiber in the corn, beans, avocado, and sweet potato keep you full and satisfied for hours.
Mexican Sweet Potato and Black Bean Buddha Bowl – A HEALTHY and EASY alternative to a salad!! Loaded with Mexican-inspired ingredients and topped with a light lime-cumin vinaigrette! Ready in 20 minutes and perfect for MEAL PREPPING!!
20-Minute Easy Vegan Pozole Verde – Think pozole needs meat? Think again! You’ll never miss the meat in this EASY, hearty, and satisfying pozole that’s full of authentic Mexican flavors!!
Black Bean Burrito Bowl Salad – Your favorite burrito ingredients minus the meat and extra carbs to keep things HEALTHIER!! Ready in 10 minutes and keeps you satisfied but not stuffed!
Loaded Vegetarian Burritos — HEALTHY Mexican comfort food that’s loaded with black beans, rice, and more before being topped with salsa and CHEESE!! You’ll never miss the meat in these EASY burritos that you can make-ahead and are freezer-friendly!!
Very Veggie Rice and Beans — EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and amps up rice and beans with an abundance of vegetables!! Healthy, Mexican-inspired food that tastes like comfort food and keeps you satisfied for hours!!
Taco Pasta Salad — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with great Mexican-inspired ingredients including corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and more!! Perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks!!
Sweet potatoes + black beans are one of my all time favorite flavor combos. I have no doubt these are amazing and your photos are simply stunning as usual!
Thanks for the compliments!
I love sweet potatoes in savory dishes, in brings out such a unique flavor. Can’t wait to try this!
These look absolutely delicious and I love that they are vegetarian! I need to make these soon!
Absolutely AH-mazing!! Love it. I’ve gotta make it soon ;-)
Hi Averie! Totally saw this all over my pinterest yesterday, so I HAD to stop by and check it out. The sweet potato just makes this enchilada recipe plus all that sauce. Nothing worse than a dry enchilada haha! Enchiladas is one of my favorite mexican dishes…and I seeing this reminds me I haven’t made them in forever! Guess I have to change that real soon! Beautiful pictures :D Thanks for sharing, pinned for later!
Thanks for stopping by, for pinning, and for the great comment! I appreciate all your kind words :)
These look amazing!
Your photos are insane…love the enchiladas against the white dish looks like a commercial…I’m going to TJs today to find that salsa..I’ve never tried it as I’m pretty addicted to their pineapple salsa but I have to make these enchiladas they look so good.
Oh their pineapple salsa is good too! This one is great because it adds a bit of sweetness and a tiny bit of heat. Like heat that’s a good amount for kids :) But if you like something stronger, go with your fave. It would also be good with the pineapple salsa – I love that stuff :) If you try these, or even the salsa, LMK what you think! And thanks for the photography compliments. Things were working out well that day :)
I made these last night following your recipe and using the Cowboy Caviar which I could eat straight from the jar…I have a thing for salsas…but anyways the enchiladas were a huge hit..and with a recent mad cow recall at whole foods in CT I was greatful for a vegetarian meal…thanks Averie!
Thanks for trying these, Lisa, and glad there was no chance of Mad Cow with this recipe :) And yes to just eating Cowboy Caviar from the jar. I’ve been known to :) I love salsas too! So glad you enjoyed your meal!
Potatoes as a filling-grand! I haven’t done that…yet:)
I did however recently make enchiladas and use hard-boiled egg in the filling which I highly recommend!
Oh interesting twist!
Just off the plane from Kauai – did I miss your birthday?! If so, have/had a lovely day – you deserve a special celebration! XO Liz
Hope you had an awesome trip!! :)
I love everything about this recipe: sweet potatoes, black beans, tortillas, enchilada sauce – yumminess all around! Love enchiladas without meat! :)
Thanks for always pinning my stuff, too :)
Love love love this! What a fabulous vegetarian dish, Averie! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning, Anna!
These look like some of the best enchiladas ever, and I can guarantee I wouldn’t miss the meat!
Glad you feel that way – me too :)
These look fantastic–can’t wait to try them for dinner tomorrow night. I know they’ll taste as good as they look–thanks for a great menu idea!!
Oh I had a feeling you’d make these! Ok cool! LMK what you think!
These are every bit as good as they look!! Easy and very tasty–the sweet potato is a great addition. I made 12 so we have leftovers….and Jon is digging out another one as I type this. I need to make sure I buy several jars of T’S cowboy caviar..all I have left is their pineapple salsa.
Thanks for making these, Paula, less than 24 hours after the post went live – I can always count on you :) Glad you loved them and that Jon is digging another one out right now! While you’re at it with the Cowboy Caviar, buy another one called Tomato-Less Corn Salsa. It’s just corn, tiny bit of onions, no tomatoes. Really good and I have a recipe coming up with that one too – ha! I know you don’t live 5 mins from 3 different TJ’s like I do so you have to plan ahead. Unlike me who goes literally 5x a week. Whoops.
Averie, I am making these coming weekend!! So colorful and tasty looking!
Cool! LMK what you think!
Looks like the perfect vegetarian dinner! Love enchiladas, and yours look amazing :)
Well thank you, Denise!
oh my gosh Averie! These look UNREAL. I mean, the lighting and photography are spot on, as always. And I swear I can just taste these through the screen!!! You’ve totally turned me on to sweet potatoes, and they are one of my fave comfort foods now! These look crazy good and will be on our menu for next week! pinned!
I (of all people!) turned you on to sweet potatoes? Surprising that I didn’t turn you onto say….frosting or something like that :) But seriously that’s awesome and if you try these, LMK. Thanks for pinning and for the sweet compliments about my images. Totally appreciated!