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These stuffed sweet potatoes with black bean salsa are loaded with fiber, plant-based protein, and tons of flavor to satisfy as a quick, hearty, meat-free meal! It’s Gluten-free, Dairy-free, WFPB, Vegan + ready in just 15 minutes!

completed Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes against a white surface
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Simple Sweet Potatoes with Black Bean Salsa

Iโ€™ve made no secret that I love Southwestern flavors and ingredient combinations. Theyโ€™re splashed all over this blog, including with southwest vegan stuffed peppers, southwest quinoa salad, and fresh southwestern lettuce wraps. This time, itโ€™s the turn of these super simple, nutritious, delicious veggie-loaded southwest stuffed sweet potatoes. You may recognize it from the cover of my cookbook, Plant-Based on a Budget.

This sweet potato recipe loads up tender, creamy cooked sweet potatoes (microwave, air fryer, and oven baked methods included below) with a simple, tasty black bean salsa combining beans, corn, tomato, and green onions with cumin and optionally some chili powder.

Top that with optional garnishes like guacamole and vegan sour cream for a simple โ€˜comfort foodโ€™ meal thatโ€™s the perfect blend of sweet, savory, tender, and firm. The combination also makes for a hearty, wholesome, nourishing, and satisfying meal.

Best of all, when making microwave sweet potatoes, you can enjoy these stuffed sweet potatoes in as little as 15 minutes. Plus, the toppings and potatoes store well for a quick and delicious meal-prep lunch or dinner on the go and throughout the week and a crowd-pleasing appetizer for game days and taco Tuesdays!

The Ingredients

These black bean stuffed sweet potatoes require just 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) for the base ingredients, plus 3 optional but highly recommended garnishes. Most of which are simple-to-find, pantry-friendly ingredients!

ingredients for Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes measured out against a white surface
  • Sweet potatoes: I used medium microwaved sweet potatoes. However, you could also roast or air fry whole sweet potatoes (methods below).
  • Beans: I use canned black or pinto beans. Use low-sodium if preferred, or cook the beans from dry.
  • Corn: Use canned or frozen and thawed.
  • Tomato: Use regular tomatoes in-season and cherry tomatoes out of season. Alternatively, use a quick tomato salsa like Pico de Gallo.
  • Green onion: I love the mild flavor, though finely diced regular onion/ red onion will work, too.

If you use sweet/red onion and want to reduce the intense raw flavor, soak the chopped onion in ice water for 10 minutes.

  • Spices: I used a simple combination of cumin, salt, and black pepper for these black bean stuffed sweet potatoes. However, add more flavor with chili powder and/or smoked paprika and chipotle powder. Or even use taco seasoning instead of individual spices.
  • Garnishes: I love to garnish these stuffed sweet potatoes with store-bought or homemade guacamole (or a creamy avocado aioli), vegan sour cream, and minced cilantro.

What Else Could I Add to The Stuffed Sweet Potatoes?

These sweet potatoes are also fairly versatile. Here are a few optional ingredients you could add to your stuffed potatoes.

  • Vegan butter: Thereโ€™s something addictive about a buttered baked potato, so optionally fluff up the flesh with some vegan butter before topping it with the black bean salsa.
  • Finely sliced chili or jalapeรฑos: To add to the black bean salsa for spice.
  • Hot sauce: To drizzle over the stuffed potatoes for extra heat.
  • Bell pepper: Add finely chopped red bell pepper to the black bean salsa topping for extra crunch and freshness OR turn it into a cooked topping (FAQ for method).
  • Vegan cheese: My favorite way to add cheese is to sprinkle a melty dairy-free cheese over the black bean salsa stuffed sweet potato and heat it until melted. Then top with any remaining garnishes. Alternatively, use a vegan cheese sauce.
  • Shredded cabbage: Or a simple homemade slaw will work to add extra โ€˜crunch.โ€™
  • Pickled red onions: For tangy crunch.
  • Lemon/Lime wedges: To serve as a garnish to the black bean stuffed sweet potatoes. The lime juice works wonders for adding depth.

How to Make Stuffed Sweet Potatoes?

The simplicity of these stuffed sweet potatoes makes them a great, last-minute meal any day of the week, in just 3 simple steps.

  • 1) First, rinse, dry, prod, and prepare the sweet potatoes. I used microwaved sweet potatoes for a quick meal. Check below for alternative cooking methods.
  • 2) Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing. To do so, rinse and drain the beans and corn, dice the tomato, and slice the green onion. Then, in a small bowl, combine all the above with the spices and mix well.
ingredients for Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes added to bowl
  • 3) Once the sweet potatoes are ready, slice them in half and use a spoon to mash the sweet potato within. Top them with the bean and corn mixture, and then optionally garnish with guacamole, vegan sour cream, and minced cilantro. Enjoy!

How to Cook the Whole Sweet Potato?

While microwaved sweet potatoes are certainly quick and simple, they wonโ€™t provide you will the super crispy, lightly caramelized skin that some people prefer. For that, youโ€™ll need to turn to alternative methods, like air fryer whole sweet potatoes or traditional oven-baked ones.

No matter which method you use, start by washing and drying the sweet potatoes, prodding them with a fork several times all over the potato, and brushing them with oil.

Air Fryer Whole Sweet Potato

Transfer the prepared sweet potatoes to your air fryer basket and cook them for 35-45 minutes at 390F/200C, flipping halfway. Theyโ€™re ready when the outside is crisp, and the inside is tender and easy to poke with a sharp knife/skewer.

I recommend initially checking on the sweet potatoes at 30 minutes as their size and your air fryer model can affect the cooking time.

Baked Sweet Potato

Spread the prepared sweet potatoes on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 425F/220C for 40-50 minutes or until theyโ€™re crisp outside and tender in the middle. No need to flip halfway.

If you cut them in half before baking (rub the interior with olive oil, too), and bake them cut-side-up. These should take around 20-30 minutes instead.

FAQs

Is it okay to eat sweet potato skins?

Not only are they edible, but I highly recommend eating them as theyโ€™re packed with vitamins, fiber, and even antioxidants.

If you find the skin unappealing when microwaved, turn to the air fryer or oven method instead, which makes it wonderfully crispy and lightly caramelized.

Could I substitute sweet potato for a regular potato?

The sweetness in sweet potatoes pairs amazingly with the black bean salsa topping and creamy guacamole. However, you can definitely use a regular potato (I recommend Russet potatoes) for this baked potato recipe.

Are stuffed sweet potatoes healthy?

The short answer is yes, full stop. Longer answer: Sweet potatoes provide excellent vitamin A, C, B6, and potassium levels and contain plenty of antioxidants. Black beans contain iron, folate, plant-based protein, and fiber. Tomatoes also contain several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Meanwhile. guacamole adds heart-healthy fats and further antioxidants.

In fact, with the combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, these stuffed sweet potatoes are great for your macros, too!

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

  • Use even-sized sweet potatoes: So they cook at an even rate.
  • Donโ€™t forget to prod the potatoes: This helps the heat permeate the potato and also stops steam from building up within and causing potato explosions.
  • Finely dice the veggies: So you can eat a bit of everything in each bite of these black bean stuffed sweet potatoes.
  • If you have leftover toppings: Black bean salsa will work with tacos, vegan tostadas, in a rice bowl, burritos, etc.
completed Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes against a white surface

Serving Recommendations

These stuffed sweet potatoes are hearty enough to be enjoyed as a stand-alone meal. However, they will also work as a hearty side dish alongside:

How do you enjoy eating these stuffed sweet potatoes?

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can prepare the baked sweet potatoes and the black bean salsa topping in advance and store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge for 4-5 days. Only make guacamole when serving, as it browns quickly.

Store: Once assembled, I recommend enjoying the southwest-loaded sweet potato immediately or within a day (especially when garnishing with guac and fresh cilantro).

Reheat: You can reheat the sweet potato in a microwave for 2-3 minutes, air fryer for 5-7 minutes, or in the oven for around 10-15 minutes, then load them with the toppings and enjoy.

If you try this easy stuffed sweet potato recipe, Iโ€™d love to know what you think in the comments below. Iโ€™d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

completed Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes against a white surface

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

5 from 7 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
These stuffed sweet potatoes with black bean salsa are loaded with fiber, plant-based protein, and tons of flavor to satisfy as a quick, hearty, meat-free meal! It's Gluten-free, Dairy-free, WFPB, Vegan + ready in just 15 minutes!

Video

Ingredients 

  • 2 microwaved sweet potatoes cut in half (recipe here)
  • 1 can of black or pinto beans (15 ounces), rinsed and drained
  • 1 can of corn, rinsed and drained
  • ยพ cup of diced tomato
  • ยผ cup of chopped green onion
  • 2 teaspoons of cumin
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Guacamole, for garnish (optional)
  • Minced cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Using a spoon, mash the insides of the sweet potato while still leaving them in their skins.
  • In a large bowl, combine beans, corn, tomato, green onion, cumin, salt, and pepper.
  • Top sweet potatoes with bean mixture and optionally top with garnishes.

Notes

  • Use even-sized sweet potatoes: So they cook at an even rate.
  • Donโ€™t forget to prod the potatoes: This helps the heat permeate the potato and also stops steam from building up within and causing potato explosions.
  • Finely dice the veggies: So you can eat a bit of everything in each bite of these southwest black bean stuffed sweet potatoes.
  • If you have leftover toppings: Black bean salsa will work with tacos, vegan tostadas, in a rice bowl, burritos, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 185mgPotassium: 592mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 16441IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Toni Okamoto
Course: Appetizer, Lunch
Cuisine: Spanish
Method: Microwave
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto
5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Loved this recipe so much. I found it perfectly filling without being heavy.
    We topped it with guac and chili lime seasoning.

  2. 5 stars
    Just made this,
    I have never microwaved sweet potatoes but they turned out perfect. very tasty and a nice coloufull meal to look at . very tasty.

  3. 5 stars
    I made this for a dinner dish. I microwaved 2 sweet potatoes. While the potatoes were cooking, I heated 1/2 of the topping ingredients listed above (black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, chopped green onion, cumin, salt, and pepper). Although I served it with sour cream as the topper, I am sure a Greek yogurt would work as well. Each one half slice of potato along with the stuffing is a healthy hearty meal! Everyone loved it!
    For the other one half…I plan to add it to wild rice and stuff peppers with it