Healthy Tacos made with seasoned black beans, an easy corn salsa, fresh avocado, and a delicious cilantro “pesto.” Made with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients, these are the BEST healthy tacos ever! These tacos are vegetarian but trust me, you won’t be missing the meat!
Pair these tacos with an easy Cucumber Salad, roasted Brussels Sprouts, or some cilantro-lime rice.
The BEST Healthy Tacos Recipe
It’s no secret I’m a taco addict (these Chicken Tacos, Vegetarian Tacos, Asian Tacos, or Quinoa Tacos give you an idea of my taco affinity). While I’d say most of those taco recipes are pretty healthy (compared to what you’d get at your local restaurants), the recipe today is the healthiest taco recipe I’ve ever shared. Coincidentally, it might just be my favorite!
Saucy spiced black beans, charred corn relish, fresh and creamy avocado, a cilantro “pesto,” and charred corn tortillas. No junk food there, amIright??
Wait a minute…are tacos healthy to eat?
Typically, an order of restaurant or fast food tacos is loaded with fat and calories WITHOUT the ingredients that will keep you satisfied. This leads to overeating and weight gain. That said, tacos CAN absolutely be healthy to eat, depending on the ingredients you use and how you prepare those ingredients. And the best news? They do not have to be even a little bit bland!
While there are a good amount of taco recipes that are not going to make your trainer thrilled, these tacos hit it out of the park in nutritional stats. Plus, they’re delicious.*
So, let’s talk process for these tacos, the healthiest tortillas to use, and what vegetables you can add to these tacos.
Since these tacos are meatless (and you won’t have to wait for marinating and then cooking/grilling meat), they are exceptionally fast to make.
How to make Healthy Tacos:
- Corn salsa: Start with the corn salsa to let the flavors meld a bit. I like to char the corn on the stovetop (or grill fresh corn on the cob– yum!). Let that cool and then toss with radishes, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, olive oil, and a few seasonings.
- Black beans: Use the same skillet you used to make the corn salsa! Sauté onion and garlic and then add in some black beans, salsa, and seasonings. Simmer a bit and mash some of the beans as desired.
- Cilantro “pesto”: Add a few ingredients (cilantro, shallot, garlic, oil, and vinegar) to a blender and pulse to combine. (This mixture is somewhere in between a saucy thick dressing and pesto, but whatever you want to call it, it’s amazing!)
- Assemble: Char/grill/or warm the tortillas and layer them with the black bean mixture, corn salsa, fresh avocado (or guacamole), and plenty of the cilantro pesto/sauce. Optional: add a sprinkle of cheese, fresh lime, and cilantro.
With so many types of tortillas available, it pays to read the labels and choose the healthiest ones. And, if you’d prefer to not use tortillas at all, you can serve all these fillings/toppings over rice, quinoa, or another grain as desired. To make this meal lower carb, you could serve it all in a lettuce wrap!
What are the healthiest tortillas?
As far as nutritional stats go, corn tortillas are typically the healthiest, followed by whole-wheat tortillas. In last place for healthy stats, we’ve got plain white-flour tortillas. You can read more about the nutritional breakdown of tortillas here.
Quick Tip
What’s in a word? Labels are confusing and when you read the term “wheat flour,” that might sound like a good choice. Keep in mind that wheat flour is just plain old white flour. Think about it: white flour is indeed made from wheat, but it has been refined and bleached. The healthy term to look for is “100% whole wheat.” That type of flour contains all the nutrients and is a whole grain health bonanza. 100% whole wheat flour does contain plenty of carbohydrates, but they’re not the empty, simple carbs that are in white flour products.
The healthiest fillings for tacos? Plenty of vegetables and lean proteins!
What vegetables can you put in tacos?
- For lean protein, beans are a protein-packed healthy choice. Beans provide your body with soluble and insoluble fiber. Both will help you stay fuller for longer.
- Along with the beans, we add in some salsa, which is packed with vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, and onions to name a few. All of those vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals your body needs.
- The next vegetables: corn and radishes. Corn is associated with the production of red blood cells in the body and enhancing your energy. Radishes are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.
- The “pesto” is packed with good ingredients:
- Cilantro supports the health of your heart and helps balance blood sugar levels.
- Shallots are rich in potassium and other vitamins/minerals.
- Olive oil is loaded with healthy fats that help protect your body against strokes, heart disease, and weight gain.
*While I have my background in Exercise and Wellness (B.S.), all the content in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult a doctor or dietician for any specific dietary needs/questions.
More Healthy Taco Recipes
- If you’re looking for healthy tacos with chicken, try this Chicken Tacos recipe.
- For healthy tacos with ground turkey, try this Turkey Taco Salad. (You can serve the filling in tortillas!)
- To make healthy tacos with ground beef, use the recipe below, but replace one can of black beans with 1/2 pound of ground beef.
- For a healthy taco bowl, try these Sweet Potato Taco Bowls (vegetarian) or these Navajo Taco Bowls.
- For healthy fish tacos, try shrimp instead of breaded/fried fish (like these Shrimp Tacos here).
- And here are some sweet potato Healthy Vegetarian Tacos.
Healthy Tacos: Black bean, Corn, & Avocado
Ingredients
Overlapping Taco Ingredients
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, separated
- 3 fresh limes (3 tablespoons fresh lime juice + 1 teaspoon lime zest, separated)
- Tortillas (corn, whole wheat, or flour), fresh avocado or guacamole, additional fresh lime and/or cilantro
Corn Topping
- 2 cups frozen corn (or use fresh corn on the cob)
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
- 1 tablespoon jalapeño pepper, finely minced
Beans
- 1 small (2/3rds cup) yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces EACH) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup mild salsa
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Cilantro "Pesto"
- 1 cup tightly packed cilantro leaves (no need to remove every stem, just cut most the stems off in one cut)
- 1/2 of 1 small shallot, coarsely chopped (1-2 tablespoons)*
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
Corn Topping
- Method #1: Use pre-roasted canned corn -- drain and allow to dry. Method #2: Use frozen corn -- Sauté in a preheated large cast-iron skillet (cast iron chars better and won't ruin your pan) 3 to 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until kernels are lightly charred. Avoid stirring too often as this will keep the corn from getting a good roast. Method #3: Grill some fresh corn on the cob and cut it from the cob.
- When the corn is fully cool, combine it with chopped cilantro, thinly sliced radishes,minced jalapeño pepper, a generous pinch of salt and pepper (add to taste; I add about 1/4 teaspoon each), 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and 1 teaspoon lime zest. Stir, adjust seasoning to taste, and let stand to marinate while preparing the rest of the tacos.
Beans
- In the same skillet used for the corn, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the chopped onion; sauté for 3 minutes over medium-high heat. Add in the garlic and stir for another 30 seconds. Stir in the drained and rinsed black beans, salsa, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer the mixture for about 5 -10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slightly mash half of the beans if desired--this will thicken the filling. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cilantro "Pesto"
- Add all the ingredients except the olive oil and pulse in a blender until combined. Once it is well-mixed, add olive oil and pulse a few times quickly until combined. (Overmixing olive oil can create a metallic taste, so it is important to add the olive oil in last.) Season to taste with salt and pepper. (I use about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.)
Assemble
- Char/grill/warm tortillas and add a generous amount of the black bean mixture, followed by the corn topping, some fresh avocado (or guacamole), and a spoonful of the pesto. If desired, add cheese, additional chopped cilantro, and fresh lime juice. Enjoy as soon as assembled
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is the dish that FINALLY made my husband be OK with meatless Monday – I make them every few weeks! Don’t skip the cilantro lime pesto or the corn, these two things are what makes the tacos so good. I prep them in advance in the morning and then the rest of the dish comes together quickly. Highly recommend!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much Chris!
these were so delicious. thanks for the recipe!
SO happy you enjoyed! Thanks Melissa! 🙂