5 Ingredient Black Bean Enchiladas

These 5 ingredient black bean enchiladas only take a few minutes to assemble, so they’re a perfect vegetarian weeknight recipe!

The other day, I was craving Mexican food, and I decided to whip up these enchiladas. I’m always surprised and how simple this recipe is and I’m so excited to share it with you!

Why I Love This Recipe

These black bean enchiladas are only 5 ingredients. Yep, that’s it! Plus, they’re a great meatless meal because they have lots of protein and fiber thanks to the black beans. The cheese and avocado make these extra satisfying and the enchilada sauce adds tons of flavor. There are also plenty of variations to this recipe. Try it with red enchilada sauce or use a combination fo black beans and refried beans. You can also add any toppings you like. These are delicious with sour cream and fresh cilantro or your favorite pico de gallo.

Black Bean Enchilada Ingredients

• Tortillas– I recommend using corn tortillas, which are traditionally used in enchiladas. If you’re looking for a more study option, look for a corn and flour blend. They have a taste that is similar to corn but with the flexibility and strength of flour tortillas.
• Black beans– I like to use canned black beans. Look for beans without added salt. Since enchilada sauce can be high in sodium, choosing lower sodium beans can help keep things in check. For even more flavor, try using these Mexican Black Beans inside the enchiladas.
• Shredded cheese– I’ve made this with sharp cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend. Either one works great!
• Enchilada sauce– Because this recipe is only a few ingredients, it’s important to choose high quality ingredients. I like the Herdez brand of green enchilada sauce.
• Avocado– Be sure your avocado is ripe! If it’s not, it won’t have much flavor.

The Best Tortillas for Enchiladas

Enchiladas are traditionally made with corn tortillas. To make sure your tortillas don’t crack, it can help to warm them up for just a few seconds in the microwave. I like to heat them up with a damp paper towel on top for just 10-15 seconds. When they’re warm, they’re a little more pliable. You can also use a corn and flour blend for a softer and more pliable tortilla. Curious about the difference between tortillas? Read this post to learn the differences between corn and flour tortillas.

How to Get Perfectly Ripe Avocados

• I like to pick out avocados before they’re close to being ripe. Most of the time, if they’re already ripe in the store, they’re like to be bruised.
• To ripen avocadoes quicker, keep them in a bowl with bananas! The ethylene gas released from the bananas will help soften the avocados faster.
• Once the avocados are soft, put them in the fridge. This will keep them at their peak of ripeness for much longer!

Tips for Perfect Enchiladas

• It helps if the enchiladas are packed pretty tightly within the pan. Don’t worry if they don’t line up perfectly, but I find that sometimes it’s easier to use two smaller baking dishes rather than one large tray.
• When placing the stuffed tortillas in the pan, make sure to place them seam side down, so they stay rolled.
• Don’t stuff your tortillas too full, or they’re crack, and the filling will spill out—err on the side of less filling. If you have some leftover, you can always stuff a few additional tortillas!

Best Enchilada Sauces

I like green enchilada sauce for this recipe. I usually buy the Herdez brand of salsa verde or Frontera’s green enchilada sauce. Feel free to use whatever brand or type you like but be careful of the spice level because this requires quite a bit of sauce. I’d recommend mild or medium.

How to Store Leftover Enchiladas

If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Wait to add avocado and salsa toppings for any enchiladas you plan to eat later. To reheat, microwave on 50% power for 1 minute at a time until heated through.

How to Freeze Enchiladas

If you prefer to make these black bean enchiladas in advance, follow steps 2-5. Then wrap the enchiladas in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month. When ready to serve, top with salsa verde and cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes until browned. Add toppings and serve!

Substitution Suggestions

• If you want to keep these vegan, substitute shredded vegan cheese, or leave the cheese off and add additional avocado. Or you can try these vegan black bean enchiladas, without any cheese at all!
• You can swap pinto beans or vegetarian refried beans in place of the black beans if you prefer.
• You can also add corn if you want to add a hint of sweetness.
• If you wanted to make this with red enchilada sauce, go for it! You can even use my homemade enchilada sauce recipe.

Enchilada Variations

Obviously, this recipe is simple with only 5 ingredients, but feel free to add additional ingredients if you like! Try a combination of black beans and refried beans, or add some corn to the filling. You could also add additional toppings like diced red onion, fresh cilantro, sour cream, or salsa.

More Enchilada Recipes

• Vegan Black Bean Enchiladas
• Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
• Vegetarian Enchilada Soup

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Side Dish Ideas

Round out your black bean enchiladas with one of these simple vegetarian side dishes!

• Black Bean and Corn Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Easy Black Bean Dip

What’s your favorite easy dinner recipe?