What Was the Best? Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Tacos

By , Test Kitchen Director · 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 12 min Serves 2 Mexican cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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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.

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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