What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A vibrant vegetarian taco filling with smoky chipotle, black beans, and corn, topped with avocado and lime crema. This mexican-inspired vegetarian (vegetarian) ready in about 27 minutes turns (15 oz) black beans, corn, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 2, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

★ 3.9 (8 ratings) Prep: 15 min Cook: 12 min Serves 2 Mexican cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rinse and drain black beans, then transfer to a small saucepan with 1/4 cup water. Add chipotle sauce, cumin, and chopped red onion. Simmer gently for 8 minutes until thickened and flavors melded, stirring occasionally.
  2. Step 2: Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add corn and cook for 3-4 minutes until kernels are slightly charred and crispy.
  3. Step 3: Warm tortillas in a dry skillet for 15 seconds per side until pliable. Assemble tacos: spread 1 tbsp bean mixture on each tortilla, top with 2 tbsp corn, 1/4 sliced avocado, and 1 tsp cilantro.
  4. Step 4: Squeeze lime juice over each taco and drizzle with 1 tsp sour cream.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with extra lime wedges on the side.

Equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions

How long does What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos take to make?

Total time is about 27 minutes (15 min prep + 12 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.

Can I substitute ingredients in What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

Is What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos vegetarian?

Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.

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