Sweet potato black bean enchilada skillet
Sweet potatoes, black beans, and corn tortillas in a smoky tomato sauce.
Tortilla strips soften directly in tomato sauce, giving this skillet some of the texture of enchiladas without filling and rolling each one. Small sweet potato cubes cook in the same pan, and black beans go in once they are tender. The finished meal is soft and saucy, with strips of corn tortilla throughout.
Make the sweet potato pieces even
Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into roughly 1 cm cubes. Large chunks take longer to soften and can leave the tomato sauce reducing before their centers are ready. Keep the skillet covered during this stage so the measured water stays available for cooking. Stir occasionally to move pieces away from the bottom and return the lid promptly.
Check one of the larger cubes with the tip of a knife before adding the beans. It should be tender through the middle. If the cubes still resist, continue cooking and add a little water if the sauce is becoming too dry. This check matters because the tortillas have a much shorter useful cooking window once they enter the liquid.
Fold the tortillas in at the end
The tortilla strips absorb sauce and gradually lose their separate, firm edges. Add them only after the sweet potatoes have softened, together with the cooked black beans. Fold gently so some recognizable strips remain. Vigorous stirring can break the tortillas down until the skillet is closer to a thick porridge.
Use small corn tortillas made without animal fat or dairy, and check the label on unfamiliar brands. A stale but otherwise sound tortilla can be useful here because crispness is not the goal. Tortillas with visible spoilage should be discarded. Kidney beans can replace black beans, provided they are already fully cooked and drained; the final simmer only heats them through.
Keep the sauce and seasoning in balance
Sweet potatoes contribute orange carotenoids, some of which the body converts to vitamin A, as described by NIH’s vitamin A guide. Their sweetness also affects the flavor of the pan. Cumin, smoked paprika, and mild chili powder keep the tomato sauce savory, while lime added off the heat gives it a sharper finish. Check the heat level of the chili powder before using a different brand.
Let the skillet stand briefly before dividing it into three bowls. Any portion saved for lunch will become thicker as the tortillas continue taking up liquid. Refrigerate it promptly, then loosen it with a little water while reheating. Stir from the bottom and check the sweet potato pieces as well as the surrounding sauce for even heating. Extra tortillas or toppings served separately change the stated portions and calculations.
Sweet potato black bean enchilada skillet
Sweet potatoes, black beans, and corn tortillas in a smoky tomato sauce.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 32 min
- Rest / soak
- 2 min
- Total
- 49 min
- Makes
- 3 servings
One serving: one generous bowl
Equipment
Deep skillet with lid
Ingredients
Instructions
Storage & reheating
Cool promptly in shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours. Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat until steaming hot throughout.
Substitutions
- Use kidney beans in place of black beans.
- Choose tortillas made without animal fat, dairy, or other animal ingredients.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 543 kcal
- Protein
- 20.9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 102.8 g
- Fat
- 7.1 g
- Saturated fat
- 1.1 g
- Fiber
- 23.7 g
- Sugars
- 14.0 g
- Sodium
- 806 mg
For one original serving, excluding optional ingredients and suggested sides. How we estimate nutrition.
Ingredient nutrition sources
Estimates use the required ingredient weights above and these food references. Brands, water content, and label rounding can change the result.
- sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes: USDA SR Legacy April 2018 CSV: Sweet potato, raw, unprepared (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program). Nutrient values from food_nutrient.csv joined through nutrient.csv; kcal energy, grams nutrient masses, and mg sodium per 100 g edible portion. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- cooked black beans, drained and rinsed: USDA SR Legacy: Beans, black turtle, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt. All eight tracked fields were read directly from official food_nutrient.csv per 100 g edible food; sodium mg, other nutrients g except energy kcal. Generic food estimates vary by variety and preparation. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- small plant-based corn tortillas, cut into strips: USDA SR Legacy: Tortillas, ready-to-bake or -fry, corn. All eight tracked fields were read directly from official food_nutrient.csv per 100 g edible food; sodium mg, other nutrients g except energy kcal. Generic food estimates vary by variety and preparation. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- canned crushed tomatoes: Kroger plain diced tomatoes including tomato juice per 121 g half-cup: 25 kcal, 1 g protein, 5 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 1 g fibre, 4 g sugars, 210 mg sodium. Ingredients include tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, citric acid and calcium chloride. Recipe weights include the juices. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- onion, diced: USDA SR Legacy: Onions, raw. All eight tracked fields were read directly from official food_nutrient.csv per 100 g edible food; sodium mg, other nutrients g except energy kcal. Generic food estimates vary by variety and preparation. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- garlic, minced: USDA SR Legacy: Garlic, raw. All eight tracked fields were read directly from official food_nutrient.csv per 100 g edible food; sodium mg, other nutrients g except energy kcal. Generic food estimates vary by variety and preparation. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- olive oil: Flora Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil retailer reference explicitly states 14 g of oil per serving. Panel: 120 kcal, 14 g fat, 2 g saturated fat; protein, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars and sodium explicitly 0. Values normalized to 100 g; label rounding retained. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- ground cumin: USDA SR Legacy: Spices, cumin seed. All eight tracked fields were read directly from official food_nutrient.csv per 100 g edible food; sodium mg, other nutrients g except energy kcal. Generic food estimates vary by variety and preparation. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- smoked paprika: Spice Islands Smoked Paprika retailer Nutrition Facts reference per 2.3 g teaspoon; all eight tracked values observed. Plain smoked paprika, not a seasoning containing oil or salt. Values normalized to 100 g; sodium in mg, other nutrients in g except kcal energy. Retailer figures and label rounding are estimates. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- mild chili powder: It's Delish Chili Powder retailer Nutrition Facts reference per 2.7 g teaspoon; all eight tracked values observed. Salt and spice proportions vary by blend. Values normalized to 100 g; sodium in mg, other nutrients in g except kcal energy. Retailer figures and label rounding are estimates. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- water: Aquafina purified water retailer panel explicitly lists all eight tracked nutrients as 0 per 500 mL. Zero quantities remain 0 independently of volume-to-mass scaling. This purified-water reference is not a measurement of every municipal supply. Water cost is excluded as a utility; no bottled-water price is used. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- fine salt: Hain Sea Salt retailer panel per 1.5 g quarter-teaspoon: 590 mg sodium; calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, fibre and sugars explicitly 0. Measure fine salt by mass; teaspoon weight varies with crystal size. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- lime juice: USDA SR Legacy April 2018 CSV: Lime juice, raw. Nutrient values from food_nutrient.csv joined through nutrient.csv; kcal energy, grams nutrient masses, and mg sodium per 100 g edible portion. Accessed 2026-10-28.
Ingredient cost breakdown
Estimated cost of the amount used; optional extras are separate.
| Ingredient | US · USD | Canada · CAD |
|---|---|---|
| sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes | $0.97 | $1.60 |
| cooked black beans, drained and rinsed | $1.62 | $1.99 |
| small plant-based corn tortillas, cut into strips | $0.24 | $1.39 |
| canned crushed tomatoes | $1.17 | $1.24 |
| onion, diced | $0.28 | $0.24 |
| garlic, minced | $0.18 | $0.09 |
| olive oil | $0.18 | $0.16 |
| ground cumin | $0.04 | $0.11 |
| smoked paprika | $0.08 | $0.11 |
| mild chili powder | $0.03 | $0.03 |
| water | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| fine salt | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| lime juice | $0.05 | $0.08 |
| Recipe total | $4.81 | $7.05 |
| Per serving | $1.60 | $2.35 |
Price references: US 2026-10-27; Canada 2026-10-27. Regional prices vary. Pantry ingredients included; taxes, delivery, and utilities excluded.
Price sources & package sizes
United States · USD
- sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes: Walmart US, US online listing; store not independently selected; $0.88 / 362.8736g. Price source (observed 2026-10-27). Observed promotional rate USD$0.88/lb; 453.592 g purchased. USDA 80% raw peeled yield used as a common costing proxy; skin-on recipes may retain more. Expiry was not stated.
- cooked black beans, drained and rinsed: Walmart US, US online listing; store not stated in captured result; $0.92 / 284.79566809g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Net ounces are converted at 28.349523125 g per ounce before the separate drained-yield adjustment. USDA Food Buying Guide: 109 oz purchased canned black turtle beans yields about 73 oz unheated, drained beans; this general yield is scaled to the reference can. Nutrition uses a separately identified cooked/drained reference; sodium and water content vary with brand and rinsing. No unmeasured sodium reduction for rinsing is applied.
- small plant-based corn tortillas, cut into strips: Walmart US, US online listing; store not independently selected; $2.97 / 1890.06270674g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Net avoirdupois ounces converted at exactly 28.349523125 g per ounce.
- canned crushed tomatoes: Walmart US, Atlanta, Georgia; 30301 page context; $0.96 / 411.06808531g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- onion, diced: Walmart US, Phoenix E Thomas Rd Supercenter, Arizona page context; $2.76 / 1197.4838568g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Edible package mass uses USDA Food Buying Guide yield: 1 lb purchased mature whole onions yields 0.88 lb raw ready-to-cook onion; actual trimming loss varies.
- garlic, minced: Walmart US, Sacramento Gerber Rd Supercenter, California page context; $3.07 / 170.09713875g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- olive oil: Walmart US, US online listing; store not stated in captured result; $5.94 / 469.23333572g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Package mass is estimated from the olive-oil label reference of 14 g per 15 mL (0.933333 g/mL); retailer package quantity is volume, not measured mass. US fluid ounces converted at 29.5735295625 mL per fl oz.
- ground cumin: Walmart US, US online listing; store not independently selected; $1.37 / 70.87380781g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Net avoirdupois ounces converted at exactly 28.349523125 g per ounce.
- smoked paprika: Walmart US, Atlanta Gresham Rd S E Supercenter, Georgia page context; $2.14 / 56.69904625g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Avoirdupois ounces converted using 28.349523125 g per ounce. Smoked dried paprika powder, not a meat-flavoured seasoning blend.
- mild chili powder: Walmart US, US online listing; store not independently selected; $1.08 / 85.04856937g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Net avoirdupois ounces converted at exactly 28.349523125 g per ounce.
- fine salt: Walmart US, Sacramento Gerber Rd Supercenter, California page context; $0.94 / 737g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- lime juice: Walmart US, US online listing; store not independently selected; $1.37 / 443.602943g. Price source (observed 2026-10-27). 15 US fl oz = 443.602943 mL. Density assumed 1 g/mL for costing only. Bottled reconstituted juice reference; freshly squeezed juice may cost more.
Canada · CAD
- sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; retailer default context, checkout not verified; $0.32 / 80g. Price source (observed 2026-10-27). Observed rounded rate CAD$0.32/100 g purchased. USDA 80% raw peeled yield used as a common costing proxy; skin-on recipes may retain more. Reference quantity is 100 g, not a whole potato.
- cooked black beans, drained and rinsed: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; store not stated in captured result; $1.44 / 361.65137615g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). The volume-labelled Canadian can's gross contents mass is estimated at 1 g/mL before the separate drained-yield adjustment; neither this density nor the resulting drained mass was measured by the retailer. USDA Food Buying Guide: 109 oz purchased canned black turtle beans yields about 73 oz unheated, drained beans; this general yield is scaled to the reference can. Nutrition uses a separately identified cooked/drained reference; sodium and water content vary with brand and rinsing. No unmeasured sodium reduction for rinsing is applied.
- small plant-based corn tortillas, cut into strips: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; store not independently selected; $4.17 / 450g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- canned crushed tomatoes: Walmart Canada, Mississauga Heartland, Ontario; L5V 2N6 page context; $1.97 / 796g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Package mass is estimated at 1 g/mL for this liquid food, with all juices included; the retailer label supplies volume, not measured grams.
- onion, diced: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; store not stated in captured result; $2.44 / 1197.4838568g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Edible package mass uses USDA Food Buying Guide yield: 1 lb purchased mature whole onions yields 0.88 lb raw ready-to-cook onion; actual trimming loss varies.
- garlic, minced: Walmart Canada, Mississauga Heartland, Ontario; L5V 2N6 page context; $3.97 / 453.59237g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- olive oil: Walmart Canada, Mississauga Heartland, Ontario; L5V 2N6 page context; $10.97 / 933.33333333g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Package mass is estimated from the olive-oil label reference of 14 g per 15 mL (0.933333 g/mL); retailer package quantity is volume, not measured mass.
- ground cumin: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; store not independently selected; $4.47 / 85g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- smoked paprika: Walmart Canada, Mississauga Heartland, Ontario; L5V 2N6 page context; $6.27 / 116g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28). Retailer ingredients: smoked paprika, silicon dioxide, ethoxyquin. This is smoked dried pepper seasoning; no animal ingredient listed.
- mild chili powder: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; store not independently selected; $2.27 / 150g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- fine salt: Walmart Canada, Mississauga Heartland, Ontario; L5V 2N6 page context; $1.63 / 1000g. Price source (observed 2026-10-28).
- lime juice: Walmart Canada, Canada online listing; retailer default context, checkout not verified; $2.48 / 440g. Price source (observed 2026-10-27). 440 mL bottle; density assumed 1 g/mL for costing only. Bottled reconstituted juice reference, not freshly squeezed juice.
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