Earlier this week I shared my homemade easy enchilada sauce, which is ready in about 10 minutes and so flavorful! And so of course I wanted to share some fun ways to use it! Since it’s January and I’m happily doubling down on all the healthy foods and veggies I can get on my plate, I thought I’d start off with these sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. They are full of roasted sweet potatoes, black beans and green chilies that have been seasoned to perfection and rolled in tortillas. They all get covered with a delicious homemade red enchilada sauce and covered in melty cheese. Swoon!
I love these vegetarian enchiladas so very much. In fact, I can’t stop eating them. I made these to photograph and had them that day for lunch. I had them for dinner with my husband and kids that night, then ate them again for lunch the next day. And a couple of days later, I finished off the rest of the leftovers. (After they were all gone, I realized I should have warmed some up for breakfast and topped them with a fried egg. Still kicking myself on that one. Next time for sure!) I miss them already. I may have to make on entire batch just for me and divvy it up into containers for a ready to heat-and-eat lunch. Particularly for Veganuary or if you’re doing meatless Mondays or just trying to incorporate more plant-based meals, these will be a new favorite. (Or, if you love all things chicken like we do, check out these easy and delicious chicken enchiladas.)
(If you love the sweet potato + black bean combo as much as I do, definitely try this sweet potato, black bean and spinach sauté.) Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. Just tryin’ to be helpful. If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Notes on sweet potato black bean enchiladas:
Roasting the sweet potatoes in the oven is a really easy, hands-off way to make them, and the oven is needed for the enchiladas anyway. However, you could certainly cook the sweet potatoes in a pan on the stove if you prefer. I use my homemade enchilada sauce, but you can definitely substitute store-bought. You’ll need 1 (10-ounce size) can. Want extra veggies? You know I support that. Add a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach to wilt down with the bean mixture in the pan.
Like it spicy? You can add a diced jalapeño when you sauté the onion or you can opt for Pepper Jack for your cheese. You can also substitute cayenne for the black pepper. Or you can just drizzle some hot sauce or sriracha on top of the enchiladas when serving. (I do this so my kids can have it not spicy and I can add a little kick just to mine.) Also, as I suggested, these reheat really well so they are great for meal planning and prepping. Or just to save and use up any leftovers after you enjoy them the first time. I store the leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator. They’ll be good for up to 5 days. I prefer to reheat mine in the microwave. Start with 1 minute, then check and add additional time as needed.
Want to prep these ahead? Totally do-able.
Make-ahead tips for vegetarian enchiladas:
- Roast the sweet potatoes and make the black bean mixture. Get everything mixed together and store the filling until you’re ready to bake them.
- Roll the enchiladas and assemble the casserole dish just before baking. This ensures the tortillas don’t get soggy. The filling for these is gluten-free as is, so you would just need to choose gluten-free tortillas to make these enchiladas gluten-free.
Want to make these vegan enchiladas? Easy to do. Just choose a vegan cheese to use. Something that’s similar to Monterey Jack or cheddar would be good here. And choose a vegan cheese that either comes already shredded or can be shredded. And lastly, let’s not forget toppings. While these enchiladas are plenty flavorful and certainly don’t really need another thing, toppings are fun and can certainly add to the dish.
Topping ideas for sweet potato black bean enchiladas:
Chopped fresh cilantro Sliced green onions or chives Sliced avocado or a dollop of guacamole Sour cream or Greek yogurt Extra Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese Hot sauce or sriracha
So much deliciousness! I really hope you give these a try; I think you will love them! I’m off to make a batch just for me. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. You may also enjoy my southwest vegetarian quinoa skillet, easy vegetarian curry and my Instant Pot lentil soup for more meatless meals. Or browse all of my easy vegetarian recipes for more inspiration!
Roasting the sweet potatoes in the oven is a really easy, hands-off way to make them, and the oven is needed for the enchiladas anyway. However, you could certainly cook the sweet potatoes in a pan on the stove if you prefer. I use my homemade enchilada sauce, but you can definitely substitute store-bought. You’ll need 1 (10-ounce size) can. Want extra veggies? You know I support that. Add a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach to wilt down with the bean mixture in the pan. Like it spicy? 🌶You can add a diced jalapeño when you sauté the onion or you can opt for Pepper Jack for your cheese. You can also substitute cayenne for the black pepper. Or you can just drizzle some hot sauce or sriracha on top of the enchiladas when serving. (I do this so my kids can have it not spicy and I can add a little kick just to mine.) Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days. They reheat great in the microwave. To prep this recipe ahead, roast the sweet potatoes and make the black bean mixture and mix it all together then store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature (or microwave for a minute or two) then roll the enchiladas and assemble the casserole dish just before baking. This ensures the tortillas don’t get soggy. The filling for these is gluten-free as is, so you would just need to choose gluten-free tortillas to make these enchiladas gluten-free. Want to make these vegan enchiladas? Just choose a vegan cheese to use. Something that’s similar to Monterey Jack or cheddar would be good here. And choose a vegan cheese that either comes already shredded or can be shredded.
