You know those days when you’re lethargic and exhausted and sorely tempted to order take-out or pick up something for dinner on your way home? These sweet potato enchilada bowls are a perfect solution for days like those! They’ve not only become my go-to meal when I don’t really feel like cooking, but also one of my favorite comfort food meals: quick, flavorful, and satisfying! Since these bowls are packed with color and a smattering of veggies (and *not* smothered in a blanket of cheese), they’re also guilt-free – something I can’t say for my favorite take-out dishes, which often leave me feeling like I should have just sucked it up and cooked something at home.
Like many people around this time of year, I’ve been trying to incorporate more and more servings of vegetables into my meals, like with last week’s broccoli pistachio pesto, but it’s not always so easy. The unfortunate reality is that vegetables aren’t the sorts of foods wintry weather makes us crave. I mean, when I’m standing at the bus stop, freezing my buns off in 0 degree weather (don’t even get me started on wind chill!) and thinking about what I’m going to cook when I get home, salads full of cold vegetables or green smoothies are the exact opposite of appealing. Okay fine: in my case, green smoothies are never appealing, no matter what season, but the point is, winter and cold veggies do not go together naturally.
Luckily, though, meals like these sweet potato enchilada bowls make it easy to eat lots of veggies – and you can always add whatever other veggies you have around, too! Tomatoes, zucchini, jicama, or even broccoli would probably go well. You can also add some meat or cheese if you’d like, but I promise that the dairy-free, vegetarian version is not at all lacking in flavor or heartiness!
What are your favorite ways to get your fill of veggies in the winter?
Note: Depending on the enchilada sauce you use, this meal can also be gluten-free. Many enchilada sauces use flour as a thickener (like the Trader Joe’s one that I used), so be sure to check the label if you’re trying to avoid gluten. If you have trouble finding a gluten-free sauce, there are plenty of recipes online for making your own at home. Alternatively, you could omit the enchilada sauce entirely and use a bit more guacamole instead.
- 1 1/2 cups rice (white, brown, or a combination of the two)
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 bell pepper (any color), cut into strips
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 2-3 tablespoons enchilada sauce
- 1/2 cup guacamole or avocado chunks
- salt and pepper
- Cook the rice according to the directions on the package.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the sweet potato cubes with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges are starting to brown.
- While the sweet potatoes are baking, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes. Add the bell pepper and onion and sauté for 10-15 minutes, until the onion is translucent and the bell pepper is softened.
- Warm the black beans and corn in the microwave (the time will depend on the power of your microwave).
- Assemble individual enchilada bowls: rice, sweet potatoes, onions and peppers, beans, and corn. Drizzle 2-3 teaspoons enchilada sauce over each bowl, then top with guacamole.
This looks delicious! I found my dinner recipe for tonight :))
Thanks! Let me know how it goes if you make it 🙂
I love bowls and you’re so right about the cold and food! 🙂 These look marvelous!
There’s something inexplicable about eating food from a bowl that’s more fun than from a plate, isn’t there? Thanks!
Not only do these look delicious, but your photo is gorgeous!
Thank you so much! I’m loving the Mexican/southwestern food you’ve been posting 🙂
what a delicious looking dish! love the colors
Thanks! Me too – the more colorful, the better 🙂
Yum! I’m all over this. So my thing!
Glad to hear it! Enjoy 🙂
This does look satisfying and I like it without cheese! I try and get my veggies via soup in the winter, but I will have to try this!
Thank you! I really should make more soup recipes…I’ll have to give your chicken sausage, white bean, and kale soup a try! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
The perfect scoop of guac!!
I think *my* perfect scoop would be a tad bigger, but I didn’t want the guac to take over the picture 😉
Sweet potatoes and black beans are so, so good together. Love this!
A match made in food heaven, right?! Thanks 🙂
This looks fantastic, absolutely will give this a go! Fresh & healthy! Please visit my page:
http://mamabeesimple.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks – let me know how it goes if you try the recipe! I’ll be sure to check out your blog 🙂
This is soooo the kind of food that I’m craving lately! I love roasted veggies, especially sweet potatoes, and especially when they’re spiced up with Mexican flavors. This is basically my perfect meal, right here 😉
Me too – I think I’ve been craving it lately because it reminds me of warmer weather!
Amazing recipe–it looks super delicious!! I love Mexican food, and this is everything I’d want all in one bowl!
Thank you! I hope you get a chance to try it 🙂
This looks so satisfying and totally delicious! I looove sweet potatoes with Mexican flavors.
Thanks! Me too – I’ve also made a Mexican breakfast scramble and breakfast tacos, both with sweet potatoes…I’m sensing a theme 😛
Mmmmm, this is the exact type of eating I love…. and I’m totally obsessed with these flavors. I could eat Mexican food every single day and be extremely happy 🙂 YUM!
I bet I could too! The funny thing is, I never really too much notice of Mexican food until I moved away from California (that must be some sort of Murphy’s Law, right?!).
I like the colors in the dish and how healthy it is. Peter of Feed Your Soul Too.
Thanks! I wasn’t originally even aiming for healthy with this meal (more like, clean out the fridge and make something tasty), but I’m glad it turned out that way 🙂