Black Bean Tacos

When you need to make dinner but don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand, these black bean tacos are a lifesaver. They are fast, simple, and ultra-flavorful using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

(If possible, don’t skip the creamy cilantro sauce. It makes this recipe shine!)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“I had not prepped dinner today and needed something quick. I remember seeing your post about this on Instagram so I decided to give it a try and WOW! So quick, so easy, so delicious!” -C

Why You’ll Love This Black Bean Taco Recipe

It tastes amazing. Featuring sautéed onion, garlic, black beans, and spices, this taco filling is ultra-flavorful. When you pair it with a tangy cilantro sauce, it’s hard to resist!

It’s easy to customize. Taco night is one of my favorite family-friendly meals, because you can lay out the various toppings and let everyone add their favorite toppings. My kids aren’t quite brave enough to try the green sauce yet, but they loved the black bean filling with some shredded lettuce and cheese on top!

It’s fast to prepare. When you use canned beans, this taco filling is ready to serve in just about 20 minutes. All you have to do is chop an onion and some garlic to get started.

It’s allergy-friendly. This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan as written, as long as you use gluten-free taco shells. Corn tortillas are gluten-free, but be sure to check the label to confirm there’s no other flour added.

There’s very little oil required. The cilantro sauce uses avocado + water as the base, instead of oil, for a healthier taco night. All you need is a drizzle of oil in the pan to sauté the veggies, but if you follow an oil-free regimen, you can use water or broth instead.

Ingredients for Black Bean Tacos

Here’s what you’ll need for the taco filling:

• Canned black beans. This recipe calls for canned beans for convenience, but if you keep other cooked beans on hand, that should work, too. You’ll need approximately 3 cups of cooked beans for this recipe.
• Red onion. I love the sweetness that red onion adds, but yellow onion or shallot would work here, too. You could also use a half teaspoon of onion powder, if you’re low on fresh ingredients.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic adds flavor, but you can use a half teaspoon of garlic powder in a pinch.
• Spices. Smoked paprika, ground cumin, and salt add enough classic flavor that you’d get from a packet of taco seasoning, without measuring too many ingredients.

I also highly recommend making a quick cilantro sauce for serving, but you can stick with your standard taco toppings, like shredded lettuce, salsa, or guacamole. The filling is so delicious, it goes well with practically anything.

How to Make Black Bean Tacos

Step 1: (Optional)

To prepare the cilantro sauce, add the water, avocado, cilantro, shallot, garlic, vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and maple syrup to a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and blend until very smooth

Pour the sauce into a storage jar with a lid, then set it aside until ready to serve. You can make this sauce up to 3 days in advance, if you want to plan ahead.

Step 2:

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and chopped red onion. Stir until it softens, about 5 minutes.

Add in the minced garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika, and stir for one more minute, just until they smell fragrant.

Step 3:

Rinse and drain the black beans well, then add them to the pan. Season with a 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and add in a 1/4 cup of water, to make sure none of the spices are sticking to the bottom of the pan.

The water will evaporate as the beans warm up.

Stir often until the beans are warmed through. I like to use a potato masher to mash some of the beans, so they aren’t all whole. (I find this prevents them from falling out of the taco shell so easily.) Feel free to mash as many beans as you like, or leave them all whole.

The texture is up to you!

Taste the bean mixture, and add a squeeze of lime juice, if you like, to brighten the flavor. You can also add more salt, if needed. Then, this filling is ready to serve.

How to Serve Black Bean Tacos

Serve the cooked black bean mixture in soft or crunchy tortillas, with the avocado cilantro sauce on top, along with any other toppings you like.

I like to offer shredded lettuce or cabbage, sliced tomatoes, sour cream, hot sauce, shredded cheese, and salsa as topping options.

More Recipes to Try

• Jackfruit Tacos
• Cauliflower Tacos with Slaw
• Vegan Tacos

If you try this black bean tacos recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them!