Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos with Avocado-Pepita Dip
These roasted sweet potato tacos feature spicy black beans and avocado-pepita dip. Delicious! This taco recipe is vegetarian (easily vegan) and gluten-free.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 5, 2024
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Confession: last week, when I shared some of my favorite savory sweet potato recipes, I intentionally omitted this one because the photos made me cringe. These tacos totally deserved to be included!
I photographed them again yesterday afternoon under gorgeous fall sunlight, and thought I’d share the recipe with you today in case you’ve skimmed past their original photos. I’m not sure these photos quite do them justice, but they’re definitely an improvement. Orange and green are a garish color combination, which might make these a fun Halloween dinner, now that I think about it.
When I originally shared this recipe well over two years ago, Cookie was healing after her accident (we don’t like to talk about it) and we were just getting settled into my current little house. I was thrilled to finally have my own dishwasher and washer and dryer, which I still appreciate to the moon and back.
Now, Cookie’s back in tip-top shape and I’m gearing up to move us to a more functional living space. I’m surrounded by fabric samples and can’t stop waffling back and forth between bed frame options. Help!
Watch How to Make Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos
My love for tacos remains unchanged, and these tacos are as delicious as ever. This hearty taco recipe features spicy roasted sweet potatoes, black beans for protein, and a pretty spectacular avocado spread made with freshly toasted pepitas for texture and savory notes. Top them off with some salty crumbled feta, more toasted pepitas and some crunchy pickled jalapeños (not shown, but highly recommended) and you have a well-balanced fall dinner.
These tacos are the taco version of my beloved sweet potato burritos, and the cold weather variation of my summer squash tacos. When I remade the recipe, I tweaked the spices a bit and made a few little edits for clarity, so this recipe is better than ever. I hope you love it, and please do let me know how it turns out for you in the comments!
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
These roasted sweet potato tacos feature spicy black beans and avocado-pepita dip. So delicious! This taco recipe is vegetarian (easily vegan) and gluten-free (see recipe notes for details). Recipe yields 8 to 10 hearty tacos, enough for at least 4 servings.
Ingredients
Roasted sweet potatoes
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes (3 to 4 medium sweet potatoes), peeled and sliced into 1-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit if sensitive to spice)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Spicy black beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow or white onion, finely chopped
- Fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained (or 3 cups cooked black beans)
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar or lime juice
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Avocado-pepita dip
- 2 avocados, pitted
- 1 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro (mostly leaves, some small stems are ok)
- ½ cup pepitas
- 1 small jalapeño, seeded and roughly chopped, or ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (go easy if sensitive to spice)
- 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 medium lime) or 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Everything else
- 8 to 10 small corn tortillas
- Crumbled feta
- Suggested garnishes: Pickled jalapeños or pickled radishes or pickled red onions, torn cilantro, hot sauce, etc.
Instructions
- Roast the sweet potatoes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Toss the prepared sweet potatoes with the olive oil, cayenne pepper (if using) and salt. Arrange in a single layer and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway, until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelizing at the edges.
- Prepare the black beans: Warm the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and a sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the cumin and chili powder and cook for about 30 seconds while stirring. Pour in the beans and water. Stir, cover and reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and use a potato masher or a fork to mash up at least half of the beans. Remove from heat, stir in the vinegar, season with salt (I added over ¼ teaspoon) and pepper, and cover until you’re ready to serve.
- Make the avocado dip: First, toast the pepitas in a skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until they are fragrant and starting to make little popping noises, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Scoop the avocado flesh into a food processor or blender. Add the cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, water and salt. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the processor/blender as necessary. Add almost all of the pepitas (reserve a few tablespoons for garnish) and process just until the pepitas are chopped into small pieces (some remaining texture is desirable). Taste, and add more salt if necessary. Transfer the dip to a small bowl for serving.
- To warm the tortillas, heat a large skillet over medium heat and warm the tortillas in batches, flipping to warm each side. Alternatively, you can warm them directly over a low flame on a gas range. Stack the warmed tortillas on a plate and cover with a tea towel to keep warm.
- To assemble the tacos, spread black beans down the middle of each tortilla, then top with some sweet potatoes and avocado-pepita dip. Garnish with feta, pepitas, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Repeat with remaining tortillas and serve.
Notes
Make it dairy free/vegan: Skip the feta, and definitely add something pickled to make up for it.
Make it gluten-free: Make sure your tortillas are 100 percent corn/certified gluten free.
Serving suggestions: These tacos would be awesome with a side of simple seedy slaw (which you could also pile onto your tacos for some more crunch). If you’d like to serve a simple green salad with these tacos, try topping this lime-marinated kale with feta and pepitas.
Storage suggestions: Leftover taco components should keep well for a few days. Store them individually in the fridge, covered. Press plastic wrap against the surface of the avocado-pepita sauce to help prevent oxidation. Add a splash of water to the beans if they dry out during reheating.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Love these so much. I thought they sounded weird at first, but after trying them, they are my go to Taco Tusdays. I prefer to make my own tomatillo salsa with sliced avocado, sour cream and Mexican blend cheese for ‘everyday tacos’ and make the yummy avocado sauce for company. Thank you!
MMMM! I love these and am currently enjoying them. I pretty much followed the recipe to a T except wasn’t sure whether to use small or large avocadoes but just kept tasting as I made the sauce. I had most of these ingredients just had to get the fresh produce. I put some coleslaw on top to cut the spice as my jalapeno was spicier than I thought!
Now I’ve made this twice and it’s my new favorite vegetarian taco recipe! The Pepitas in the avocado topping are so perfect!
Great to hear, Ann! I appreciate your review.
Sounds delicious! Do you think refried black beans would work as a substitute?
You could try it. Let me know what you think!
I made this tonight as a try out as I am looking for a vegetarian taco recipe for my daughters reception. Bland and tasteless. I would add smoked paprika and cumin to the sweets, much much more chili powder to the black beans and more lime juice. Skip that avocado mush and just make a good guacamole recipe. The pickled slaw or radishes is a must. Not sure I even want to attempt a remake or just find something else.
I’m sorry you didn’t love this one. I appreciate your feedback, Virginia.
Can’t wait to make this tomorrow for my book group….oh no I forgot the cilantro! Any way I can skip it or sub basil or parsley? I’ll go to the store tonight if I have to
You can omit if you need to.
Thanks so much I’ll keep you posted
I recently converted to a plant-based diet and am in search of yummy and fun new recipes. I came across then one and ran to the store to get everything I needed. I absolutely loved them!!! Being plant-based and trying not to eat cheese I didn’t use feta. I topped them with a little sauerkraut instead!! These were delicious and FUN! Thank you for sharing ❤
Wonderful recipe. I made it last night. I almost doubled the flavorings for the bean part, and since the avocados at my grocery were not cooperating, I bought some guac and sprinkled the pepita’s on top.
Just awesome. We loved it! Thanks.
You’re welcome, Patti!
Hello, could this be made in a crock pot?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure. Sorry!
Holy smokes this recipe is FANTASTIC! It really is next level. The sweetness of the roasted sweet potato is such a lovely contrast to the complex tangy creaminess of the avocado sauce and the earthiness of the black beans. It is truly a winning combo, if you’re on the fence about trying it, DO IT! You won’t regret it! This is probably the best thing I’ve eaten in months!
I’m excited you loved it, Jack! Thank you for your review.
Loved the tacos! Used the leftover avocado sauce on toast in the morning. Added more lime juice. Great recipe!
I don’t usually leave recipe reviews but I had to!! These are absolutely amazing and so simple and easy to make!!! My husband loves tacos but because of recent concern for his heart has had to stop eating meat regularly. These tacos made his day and they are safe for him! Love love love! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Katy!
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Fantastic recipe. Everyone really loved it! Will definitely be making them again.