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If you’re in the mood for crispy black bean tacos drizzled with an avocado cream sauce, you’ve stumbled across the right recipe!

Meat-based tacos are overrated. It’s time you switch to the dark side.

Black Bean Tacos
These black bean tacos have your name written all over them

📖 About

We’re about to make your life a whole lot easier with these simple black bean tacos. Seriously, they only require 7 ingredients that you probably already have.

We’re going to level with you. Since moving to Mexico, we’ve been enjoying “taco Tuesday” on the daily. Finally making our own corn tortillas has given us expert-level taco status.

We want to give a special thanks to Glen Bell (the founder of taco bell) for making crispy tacos popular. Initially starting in Southern California, they’ve now nestled their way into households all across the globe.

Although not authentically Mexican, you cannot go wrong with a crispy taco. They’re one of our favorite foods because of how quick and easy everything comes together.

Plus, it’s always good to try new things.

Serving

Black bean tacos taste great on their own, but they’re also really easy to add things to. An avocado cream sauce just feels right, but we’ve also enjoyed these tacos with spicy chili aioli on top (we’re still deciding which one we like better).

If you prefer more tang, add a little salsa verde into the mix. Need some heat? Give salsa roja a whirl. Are you a cheese person? Crumble from vegan queso fresco into the mix!

We want everyone to be able to enjoy this meal, so we kept it vegan & gluten-free. Plus, you can easily make these black bean tacos oil-free.

Beans, Spices, Garlic, Onion, and Corn Tortilla
We love simple meals

🍲 Key ingredients

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

Black beans

Taste: black beans are soft, creamy, and have a mild bean flavor. They are best enjoyed when cooked from dry.

Health: black beans are one of the best sources of plant-based protein (15 grams per cup). That same cup also has 15 grams of fiber, which helps keep you full for longer.

Corn tortillas

Taste: when freshly made, corn tortillas are irresistibly soft, tender, and slightly sweet. If you’re on team flour, it’s most likely because you haven’t had a homemade corn tortilla before.

Health: only containing 2 ingredients, corn tortillas are vegan, gluten, and oil-free. Masa also contains a higher amount of fiber than wheat.

Black Beans on a Corn Tortilla
The star of the show

Cumin

Taste: this spice carries a warm, earthy flavor along with both sweet and bitter notes (talk about complex). We use ground cumin in this recipe to meld all the ingredients together.

Health: cumin is very beneficial to the digestive system. Some effects have even been proven in clinical studies! Those give cumin had more protection from colon cancer.

Paprika

Taste: sweet and relatively mild compared to its relatives in the spicy chili family. Paprika carries fruity notes and lifts the flavors in this dish without overpowering it. Plus, the color is pretty unreal!

Fun fact: paprika comes in flavors such as sweet, hot, or smoked and in different colors like red, orange, and yellow.

Sautéed Onions With Spices
Cook down the onions, garlic, and spices

🔪 Instructions

If you have questions about this vegan black bean taco recipe, don’t forget to check out our FAQ section at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: sauté the onion, garlic, and spices in a little olive oil to soften them up. Then, add your cooked black beans to a large mixing bowl and roughly mash them (you don’t have to go crazy).

Mashed Beans With Vegetables in a Bowl
Mix the filling ingredients together

Step 2: combine the beans and onion mixture together, then grab out your corn tortillas! Cook each of your tortillas in a single layer for a few seconds (the amount of tortillas you can cook at a time will depend on your pan).

Corn Tortilla With Black Bean Filling
Fill half of each tortilla with your bean mixture

Step 3: add enough bean mixture to cover one half of each tortilla. If you’re using grated cheese, now would be the time to add it. Using a spatula, fold each tortilla in half and press down to shape the tacos.

Crispy Black Bean Taco
Crisp the tacos up on each side

Step 4: cook the tacos for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Continue this process until all the tacos are done, making sure to top up the oil as your pan dries out.

Step 5: serve your black bean tacos immediately with a side of vegan avocado cream sauce!

🌡️ Storage

Fridge: if you’re planning for leftovers, the bean mixture will keep in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Try to avoid storing the whole taco in your fridge since the tortillas will become less crisp the longer they sit.

Freezer: freeze the bean mixture for up to 3 months if you’re not going to eat the tacos within a week. If you’re making corn tortillas, refer to our post on how to store homemade tortillas.

Reheat: ensure you thaw the bean mixture overnight in your fridge, then follow the same cooking instructions.

Black Bean Tacos With Avocado Sauce Drizzle
Smother these black bean tacos in a creamy avocado sauce!

💭 Pro tips

Time to share our tips and tricks we learned while perfecting this recipe for you:

  • Using a cast-iron pan gives the tacos a perfect char and taste.
  • Don’t overfill your taco to avoid spillage on the pan.
  • Cook your beans from scratch to ensure they’re optimally creamy.
  • Use freshly made corn tortillas for the best results.
  • Add different vegetables inside to further customize the tacos.
  • Serve these with a chunky pico de gallo to add extra zest.

🍴 Tasting notes

These black bean tacos are too good for you to miss out on. They’re:

  • Crispy
  • Simple
  • Comforting
  • Creamy
  • Cheap

If you try this vegan taco recipe, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!

Black Bean Tacos

Crispy Black Bean Tacos

Mitch and Justine
Crispy corn tortillas surround a soft, perfectly-seasoned black bean filling. These tacos are super easy to make and taste even better with a drizzle of avocado cream sauce.
4.91 from 21 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Mains
Cuisine American, Gluten-Free, Mexican, Vegan
Servings 8 tacos
Calories 160 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 

Filling

  • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided ($0.33)
  • ½ medium white onion, diced ($0.14)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced ($0.12)
  • 1 tsp cumin ($0.02)
  • ½ tsp paprika ($0.02)
  • Salt & pepper to taste ($0.02)
  • 2 cups cooked black beans ($0.32)
  • ½ – 1 cup Grated vegan cheese optional

Tortillas

For dipping optional

Instructions
 

Filling

  • Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low. Add in the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until turning translucent. Add in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Season with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste, then remove from heat. Add the cooked black beans to a large mixing bowl and roughly mash them. Stir in the onion mixture and combine well.

Tacos

  • Once the filling is mixed together, add about ½ – 1 more tbsp of oil into the skillet and turn it to medium heat. Add 1-2 corn tortillas in a single layer and cook on the first side for about 10 seconds (the amount of tortillas you can cook at a time will depend on your pan).
  • Then, scoop about 3-4 tbsp of bean mixture onto one half of each tortilla. You can also add some grated vegan cheese on top if you want. Using a spatula, fold the tortillas in half and press down to shape the tacos. Cook on each side until golden brown, about 1-3 minutes.
  • Continue cooking the tacos following this process until all the bean mixture is gone. Make sure to top up the oil as your pan dries out.
  • Serve these black bean tacos warm with a side of vegan avocado cream sauce or Mexican crema. Happy eating!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • This recipe tastes best with freshly cooked black beans and homemade corn tortillas, but canned beans and store-bought tortillas also work (and save time)!
  • Optional ingredients are not reflected in the price or calories of our recipes.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate.
  • Recipe cost calculations are based on ingredients local to us and may vary from recipe-to-recipe.
  • All prices are in USD.

Nutrition

Serving: 1taco | Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.1g | Protein: 5.4g | Fat: 6.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.9g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 219.6mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 0.8g | Vitamin A: 76.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 37.4mg | Iron: 1.5mg
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♻️ Similar recipes

For more recipes made with black beans, check out our:

💬 FAQ

Can these be baked in the oven?

Yes! These bake nicely in the oven at 375 degrees F for 7-8 minutes per side. Just make sure to check on them frequently as every oven is slightly different.

Can I use flour tortillas?

You can definitely use flour tortillas. We prefer the taste of corn tortillas in this recipe, but you do you!

Do I need a cast iron skillet?

You definitely do not need a cast iron skillet for this recipe. Although we prefer the flavor cast-iron provides, these tacos can be made in any frying pan or oven.

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just had the tacos and avocado sauce for lunch and it exceeding my expectations. Simple ingredients but lots of flavor. Will definitely make this again.