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Sharing my vegetarian twist on a classic Mexican dish with these Chipotle Cheddar Cauliflower Black Bean Enchiladas. I’ve swapped the meat for nutrient packed cauliflower, but kept things authentic (and delicious) with smoky chipotle powder, hearty black beans, and a nice amount of cheddar cheese. These cauliflower enchiladas are the perfect healthy, yet still delicious, alternative to more traditional versions. The best part? They’re super easy, require just 1 sheet pan, 1 baking dish, and 1 hour! Best for when you’re craving Mexican, but just want to stay in and enjoy a healthy home cooked meal.
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I’ve been working on perfecting these enchiladas for weeks now. They started off as something completely different, then moved onto something a bit more green (and very unappealing to the eye), and then they finally developed into the recipe you see today.
It might have taken me a while to get here, but I’m finally so happy with these enchiladas…5 or so trials later. Enter the side eye emoji here.
Normally it doesn’t take me this long to get a recipe right. But there are times, very annoying times, that a recipe just takes a while to develop. When this happens I always find it helpful to step away from the recipe for a week, or sometimes even longer, and then revisit with a fresh mindset. This kind of applies to most things in life that are giving us a hard time, right?
Many times I’ll just forget about the recipe and move on, but if it’s something I really want to get right, revisiting it usually works. So glad I didn’t give up with these enchiladas! Not only are they incredibly easy to make, but they’re healthy and delicious too.
Also, it’s often the recipes that I keep coming back to that I end up loving the most. Well, those and my last-minute throw together what’s in my fridge recipes!
Anyway, a while back I made some cauliflower tacos that to this day (700 or so recipes later) I still love so much. Granted, I really don’t get to make them enough, since I’m always making new recipes. But it was these tacos that inspired this enchilada recipe.
I started with tossing the cauliflower in a good amount of smoky paprika and spicy chipotle powder. Then I added a poblano pepper and roasted everything together in the oven until the cauliflower was charred. I then added some red enchilada sauce and black beans, to create a bit of a sauce.
I then assembled the enchiladas, added them to a skillet, added a little more sauce, a good amount of cheddar (ok and pepper jack too), and baked the enchiladas until the cheese was melted and the sauce was bubbling up…
SO GOOD.
Since I had 10 minutes to spare while the enchiladas baked, I mixed up a quick mango salsa for topping. If you’re a frequent reader, then you know I can’t resist a good fruity salsa. Some people love a classic tomato salsa, but me…I’m all about a fruit based salsa. Especially in the winter months when fruits like pineapple and mangos are in season, and tomatoes are not.
As soon as the enchiladas come out of the oven I like to top them with fresh cilantro and green onions. Be sure to serve these warm, as the gooey cheese and steaming hot sauce are what makes these enchiladas so delicious…
Well, that and the cauliflower. Which if I’m being honest, I much prefer over chicken or beef. Honestly, the cauliflower is just as filling, and just as tasty, so be sure to give these a try! Hope you all have a lovely Valentines Day fill with cookies, cakes, chocolates, and pasta too!
If you make the cauliflower enchiladas, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chipotle Cheddar Cauliflower Black Bean Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 poblano pepper, sliced
- 2 cups red enchilada sauce, homemade or store bought
- 1 can (14 ounce) black beans drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 10-12 corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack
- 2 green onions, chopped
Mango Avocado Salsa
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. 2. On a baking sheet, toss together the cauliflower, olive oil, chipotle chili powder, paprika, cumin, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Add the poblano and toss to combine. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking until charred on the edges. Remove from the oven stir in the black beans, cilantro, 1/4 cup enchilada sauce, and about half of the cheese. Toss to combine.3. Reduce the oven to 375 degrees. Pour 3/4 cup of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish or 12-inch round skillet.4. Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for one minute. Spoon a little of the cauliflower mixture down the center of each tortilla, tuck and roll, placing the tortilla, seam side down, into the baking dish. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over top of the enchiladas and then top with the remaining the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove and top with the mango avocado salsa and green onions.4. To make the salsa. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Season with salt.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
These enchiladas is where it’s at! I actually substituted lean beef for the cauliflower- just because and honestly, so good. So much flavor, so easy & I think the poblano pepper in the mix adds so much yumminess. We cannot wait to make these again!
Thank you so much Lauren! xTieghan
Absolutely loved these!! I’ll be sad when the leftovers run out. Even my husband who is skeptical about anything without meat said these were very tasty. Thank you!
I am so happy to hear that you both enjoyed these Victoria! Thank you! xTieghan
Delicious! Your halloumi and cauliflower tacos will forever be #1 for my family. This is a close second! Really easy and big payoff. Thanks as always!
I am so glad you love both of these recipes, Lori! Thank you so much! xTieghan
These were great, thanks! I added quinoa to the mix to make them more filling. I also didn’t have time/ingredients to make the mango salsa but they were delicious without it.
Hi Colleen! I am so happy to hear that you loved this recipe! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Easy and delicious! Loved the roasted cauliflower. Definitely a keeper
Thank you Allyson! xTieghan
Amazing! A welcomed change from my usual chicken enchiladas. Great taste. Will make again.
Thank you so much Brooke! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
Full disclosure, I made these without the black beans, so I didn’t follow the recipe 100%. But the base recipe is great! Loved the spice mix for the cauliflower/pepper, and I ended up making a simple vegetarian enchilada sauce too. Delish! Very rich tasting and a great meatless meal. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Rose! I am so glad this turned out amazing for you! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Another incredible recipe!! Cannot get enough of your food. Enchiladas are always #1 in my heart and trying new recipes is so fun and rewarding. I added a few chilis in adobo to the cauliflower/bean mixture just for some more spice 🙂
The mango salsa pairs perfectly!! As always ….. thank you!
Thank you so much Jennifer! I am so glad you loved this recipe! xTieghan
This was super good! I used a green enchilada sauce instead of red. It has a great flavor and I didn’t miss the meat at all. Definitely a keeper!
Thank you so much Brad! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Just finished my plate of cauliflower enchaladas. This recipe was wonderful. Really liked the spice mix on the cauliflower. I backed off a little on the Chili powder and it was just right for us. Since my Safeway did not have ripe mangos I thawed some frozen pieces from Costco and thought it worked fine. Thanks, Tieghan. Another fun recipe. Good job!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Nancy! Thank you so much! xTieghan
perfect friday night fare
`YES! xTieghan
This is such a great idea for enchiladas if you are vegetarian (or not!), my neighbor would love these! I’ll be passing this one along, thanks!
I hope you try these Tara! Thank you! xTieghan
I love easy dinner recipes, especially when they turn out to be something my whole family loves!. This one also looks tasty.Thanks for sharing a great recipe.
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I am so glad you like this and I hope you try it! Thank you so much! xTieghan
These enchiladas sound so delicious! I love cauliflower in all forms so this recipe is right up my alley 🙂
I hope you love these Sarah! Thank you! xTieghan
This was amazing. Came out perfectly and looked as good as the photos. I can’t wait to catch up with all your ‘news’!!
Thank you so much Ajay! xTieghan