• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Lotus

simple clean eats + healthy treats

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
  • Resources
  • Safe Skincare
    • BEAUTYCOUNTER
    • PRIMALLY PURE
  • MEAL PLANS

By Katja Heino 2 Comments
Savory Lotus may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Ranch Slaw

Jump to Recipe
black bean tacos on sheet pan

Roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, mashed avocado, + a cilantro ranch slaw all wrapped in your favorite charred tortilla = the BEST taco night EVER. Gluten free with a vegan option.

This one is for all the taco lovers out there (me, me, me!!!).

I’m coming at you with a super simple taco dinner that you’ll want to make again and again.

I’m pretty excited to share this recipe because there was a time when my body didn’t tolerate beans. But since spending time healing my body and my gut, I can eat beans again. Yay!

three black bean tacos on cutting board

What I LOVE about these sweet potato black bean tacos:

  • so many flavors – cilantro, lime, avocado, sweet potato, taco seasoning
  • loaded with veggies
  • the cilantro ranch slaw (such nice texture)
  • easy to throw together
  • can be prepped ahead of time

Summer is here, and that means I’m spending less time in the kitchen and more time outside in the garden and swimming at the river. So having easy meals I can meal prep ahead of time and quickly throw together is so helpful.

And who doesn’t love a good taco night?

These sweet potato black bean tacos have been a huge hit in our family. They’re hearty and filling and loaded with flavor. And the secret to these tacos really is the charred tortilla.

How to Char a Tortilla

For this recipe you can use any tortillas that you like. My current fav are THESE.

My favorite way to warm up tortillas is by charring them. They look and feel like authentic handmade tortillas, have an added smoky flavor and it gives them a touch of texture.

Simply turn on the flame of your gas stove to low medium and place the tortilla on the burner. As the tortilla begins to char, move the tortilla around so you get a nice char all around. Use metal tongs if it’s too hot on your fingers. Flip and char the other side, being careful not to over cook it so you don’t end up with a dry tortilla.

Once you get better at the technique, you can do multiple tortillas on multiple burners. Place charred tortillas inside a clean tea towel as you work to keep them warm.

charred tortillas on a sheet pan

A Word about Black Beans

Beans are notorious to creating gas and digestive upset. But you can increase the digestibility of beans by soaking them for at least 12 hours before cooking and then cooking them until they are very soft and well done.

I highly recommend cooking your own beans instead of using canned beans for this reason. Canned beans are often hard and not cooked enough for my liking. It’s also good to avoid canned foods because the cans are often lined with BPA (bisphenol-A), which has been linked to many health issue.

My Favorite Way to Cook Black Beans

I like to cook my black beans in my Instant Pot. It’s easy, mostly hands off, and my beans are perfectly cooked every time.

After soaking 2 cups of beans overnight, drain and rinse well. Add beans to Instant Pot insert along with 5 cups of water. Add in 2 bay leaves, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp oregano. Lock lid on IP and turn the vent valve to “sealing.” Cook on HIGH for 10 minutes then slow release for 20 minutes. Salt to taste after cooking.

Beans are easy to store in the freezer for later. I use THESE jars to freeze individual portions that are perfect for my family’s taco nights. The trick to freezing them is to not overfill them and to not tighten the lid until they are frozen solid because this keeps the jars from cracking under pressure as the beans will expand as they freeze.

black beans in a glass jar
sweet potatoes on a sheet pan

DID YOU MAKE THIS AND LOVE IT? I WANT TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. SHARE THE LOVE ON INSTAGRAM AND TAG @savorylotus AND USE THE HASHTAG #savorylotus FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED. FOLLOW SAVORY LOTUS ON PINTEREST AND FACEBOOK TO KEEP UP WITH LATEST CONTENT AND UPDATES.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Ranch Slaw

  • Author: Katja Heino
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: feeds 3-4 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil (like this)
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp taco seasoning (like this)
  • salt to taste
  • 1 and 3/4 cups cooked black bean (or a 15 ounce can)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • your favorite tortillas (I use THESE)

 

FOR CILANTRO RANCH DRESSING

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain dairy free yogurt (I use THIS)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • juice from one lime
  • 1/2 – 1 clove garlic (depending on your garlic preference)
  • pinch of cumin powder
  • salt to taste
  • water to thin, if necessary

 

FOR MASHED AVOCADO

  • one avocado
  • juice from 1/2 of a lime
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425’F.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, toss cubed sweet potato in avocado oil and taco seasoning until well coated.  Spread single layer and evenly onto baking sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes, until sweet potatoes are are soft and tender.  Remove from oven and salt to taste.
  3. While sweet potatoes cook, make cilantro ranch dressing by blending mayonnaise, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and cumin in a food processor or blender until creamy smooth.  Salt to taste and thin with water to a salad dressing consistency if necessary. Combine shredded cabbage and 1/4 cup cilantro leaves in a small bowl drizzle on cilantro ranch dressing and toss until coated.  Set aside.
  4. To make mashed avocado, use a fork to mash avocado, lime, and salt together.  Set aside. 
  5. Warm black beans in a small pot. 
  6. Char tortillas in the open flame of a gas stove until lightly charred.  Stack them under a clean tea towel as you work. 
  7. TO ASSEMBLE TACOS:  Add a small amount of mashed avocado to each tortilla, load on sweet potatoes and black beans, and then some cilantro ranch slaw. Enjoy! 

Notes

If you don’t have taco seasoning, you can make a mix of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and oregano. 

This meal can be prepped ahead of time by cooking sweet potatoes, making cilantro ranch slaw, and mashed avocado ahead of time.  Simply warm up beans and tortillas just before serving. 

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @savorylotus on Instagram and hashtag it #savorylotus

CLICK HERE to PIN THIS!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: Main Course Tagged With: black beans, sweet potato black ban tacos, sweet potatoes, tacos, vegan, vegetarian

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin says

    July 1, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    It’s so good! My family would take this version for taco night every week!

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      July 7, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      Mine too! We love black bean tacos. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I’m Katja!

And this is how we do healthy in our family. Just REAL food. Simple. Easy. Gluten free. More about Savory Lotus

Follow Me on Instagram

after age 30, you begin to lose as much as 3% to 5 after age 30, you begin to lose as much as 3% to 5% per decade • loss of muscle mass as you age is known as sarcopenia 

in the US, between 35-45% of people over age 65 have sarcopenia • sarcopenia can make daily activities difficult and ultimately reduce the quality of life

less muscle means greater weakness and less mobility, which may increase your risk of falls and fractures • less muscle also means a less robust metabolism 

muscle  is literally the currency of longevity • if you lose muscle, you lose your metabolism 

going into your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond with lots of lean muscle is where it’s at 

i’m turning 50 this year and feeling better than EVER 💪
🫐 BLUEBERRY LEMON CAKE (GLUTEN FREE + GRAIN FRE 🫐 BLUEBERRY LEMON CAKE (GLUTEN FREE + GRAIN FREE)

🫐🫐 moist and delicious blueberry lemon cake loaded with juicy berries and bright lemon flavor • just in time for Easter and Mother’s Day 

🫐🫐 this is a simple and humble “coffee cake” type of cake • with a sweet and slightly crunchy streusel topping • and it’s gluten + grain free 

🫐🫐 grab recipe link in  my bio 

https://savorylotus.com/blueberry-lemon-cake-gluten-free-grain-free/

Or search “savory lotus blueberry lemon cake ” in your fav search engine
🌽 EASY GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD 🌽 now that we 🌽 EASY GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD

🌽 now that we live in south, i needed to make the perfect gluten free corn bread • soft, moist, and buttery • giving you that comfort food feeling

* lightly crisp edges
* fluffy on the inside
* slightly sweet
* has the perfect crumb

🌽 if you like a more cake-like cornbread, use a  fine ground cornmeal. If you like a more crumbly, rustic cornbread, go for a more course cornmeal 

🌽 grab recipe link in  my bio 

https://savorylotus.com/easy-gluten-free-cornbread/

Or search “savory lotus gluten free cornbread” in your fav search engine
🥕🥕 GLUTEN FREE CARROT CAKE MUFFINS 

🥕🥕 a moist + delicious version of traditional carrot cake but without the gluten, grains, or refined sugar • plus a dairy free option • perfect for healthy spring time snack or dessert 

🥕🥕 the flavor is spot on with warm cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg • carrots, raisins, and pecans bring in the classic carrot cake vibes • i added a bit of fresh grated ginger to kick things up a bit

🥕🥕 grab recipe link in  my bio 

https://savorylotus.com/carrot-cake-muffins-gluten-free-paleo/

Or search “savory lotus carrot cake muffins” in your fav search engine
Load More... Follow Me!

Follow Me on Pinterest

Don't Miss These!

  • Crustless Garden Vegetable Quiche (gluten free + dairy free)
  • Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo) | savorylotus.com Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten and grain free, paleo)
  • dry heels, cracked heels, how to heal, DIY Easy Home Remedy for Dry Cracked Heels
  • Loaded Veggie Turkey Meatballs )gluten free, paleo, whole30) | www.savorylotus.com Loaded Veggie Turkey Meatballs (gluten free, paleo, whole30)

Clean Swaps

Clean Swaps

My Cookbook!

My Cookbook!

Footer

Get More Recipes on Pinterest

Visit Savory Lotus' profile on Pinterest.

Get More Recipes on Facebook

The Savory Lotus on Facebook

Stay Connected

Copyright © 2023 Savory Lotus    ·    Affiliate Disclosure     Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Terms of Service