Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos (Printable)
Hearty vegetarian burritos with spiced roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, and melty cheese.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (approximately 1.1 lb)
02 - 1 red onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
→ Beans & Cheese
05 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
06 - 1 1/3 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (5.3 oz)
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Tortillas & Extras
13 - 4 large flour tortillas (10 inches)
14 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
16 - Optional: sour cream, salsa, avocado slices for serving
# How-To:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F.
02 - Toss diced sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper on a baking tray. Spread evenly and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
03 - Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and bell pepper, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add black beans and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
05 - Remove sweet potatoes from the oven and add them to the skillet. Mix thoroughly and adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable.
07 - Place the sweet potato and black bean mixture in the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and chopped cilantro.
08 - Fold the sides of the tortilla inward, then roll up burrito-style to enclose the filling.
09 - Optionally, place burritos seam-side down in a skillet over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side to crisp the exterior and melt the cheese.
10 - Serve immediately with lime wedges and optional toppings such as sour cream, salsa, or avocado slices.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Sweet potatoes caramelize in the oven while you prep everything else, making dinner feel effortless.
- The filling is naturally vegetarian but hearty enough to satisfy anyone at the table.
- You can make these ahead and crisp them up in a skillet whenever hunger hits.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the black beans; canned beans are packed in thick liquid that makes filling soggy if you don't drain them properly.
- Sweet potatoes continue cooking slightly after you remove them from the oven, so pull them out when they're just tender, not mushy.
03 -
- Dice your sweet potatoes as evenly as possible so they roast uniformly and finish at the same time.
- If cheese starts leaking out when you roll, you've used too much; a small sprinkle is all you need since it melts and spreads during cooking.