Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet

Featured in: Rustic One-Pot Recipes

This Tex-Mex skillet delivers a colorful blend of sautéed vegetables, tender black beans, and warm tortilla strips, all enhanced by earthy chili powder and smoked paprika. Topped with melted cheddar and fresh cilantro, it’s finished with a luscious avocado yogurt sauce made from ripe avocado, lime, and Greek yogurt, adding a fresh, creamy touch. Ready in just 40 minutes, it's perfect for easy, flavorful weeknight meals.

Updated on Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:39:00 GMT
Steaming Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet with avocado yogurt: a colorful Tex-Mex feast with melting cheese and fresh cilantro. Save
Steaming Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet with avocado yogurt: a colorful Tex-Mex feast with melting cheese and fresh cilantro. | amberladle.com

A vibrant one-pan Tex-Mex dish loaded with colorful vegetables black beans and spices topped with a creamy avocado yogurt sauce. This veggie-packed taco skillet is quick to make vibrant on the table and sure to satisfy everyone at dinner time.

A couple years ago I started making one-pan taco skillets to keep weeknights simple. This veggie-loaded version became an instant favorite thanks to its creamy avocado topping and satisfying combination of beans cheese and fresh corn.

Ingredients

  • Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
  • Yellow onion: 1 medium diced
  • Garlic: 2 cloves minced
  • Red bell pepper: 1 diced
  • Zucchini: 1 diced
  • Corn kernels: 1 ear kernels removed or 1 cup frozen corn
  • Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup halved
  • Baby spinach: 2 cups chopped
  • Black beans: 1 (15 oz) can drained and rinsed
  • Corn or flour tortillas: 4 small cut into strips
  • Chili powder: 1 tablespoon
  • Ground cumin: 1 teaspoon
  • Smoked paprika: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Dried oregano: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground
  • Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese: 1 cup
  • Fresh cilantro: 1/4 cup chopped plus more for topping
  • Lime: 1 cut into wedges
  • Avocado: 1 ripe peeled and pitted
  • Plain Greek yogurt: 1/2 cup
  • Lime juice: Juice of 1 lime
  • Fresh cilantro (sauce): 2 tablespoons chopped
  • Salt and pepper (sauce): To taste

Instructions

Prep and Sauté Vegetables:
Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic bell pepper and zucchini. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
Add Remaining Veggies:
Add corn cherry tomatoes and baby spinach. Sauté until spinach wilts about 2 minutes.
Mix and Season:
Add black beans tortilla strips chili powder cumin smoked paprika oregano salt and pepper. Mix well so everything is evenly coated and distributed.
Melt Cheese:
Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the mixture. Cover skillet with lid or foil and let cheese melt about 2 minutes.
Make Avocado Yogurt Sauce:
In a blender or food processor combine avocado Greek yogurt lime juice cilantro salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
Serve:
Remove skillet from heat. Top with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges and avocado yogurt sauce spooned generously on each serving.
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| amberladle.com

My kids ask for this veggie skillet almost every taco night and fight for the last scoop. Topped with lime and avocado sauce everyone gets their own favorite flavors.

Variations & Swaps

Use pinto beans instead of black beans or add cooked quinoa for extra protein. Diced jalapeño adds heat and you can swap zucchini for squash or whatever is in season.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with tortilla chips for crunch or spoon into crisp lettuce leaves for fresh taco wraps. A side of Spanish rice or extra lime wedges completes the meal.

Nutrition

Each serving provides about 380 calories and 15 g protein making this a balanced meal. For lighter options use part-skim cheese and low-fat Greek yogurt.

Bright, flavorful Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet with avocado yogurt, ready to spoon from the pan with creamy topping. Save
Bright, flavorful Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet with avocado yogurt, ready to spoon from the pan with creamy topping. | amberladle.com

Enjoy this easy skillet for weeknights or meal prep. The avocado yogurt sauce makes every bite creamy and fresh.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use different beans in this dish?

Yes, pinto beans or cooked quinoa are great alternatives that complement the texture and flavors well.

How can I make the avocado yogurt sauce spicier?

Add diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for an extra kick without overpowering its creaminess.

What is the best way to melt the cheese evenly?

Cover the skillet with a lid or foil after sprinkling cheese and let it sit off the heat for a couple of minutes to allow gentle melting.

Can I prepare this dish gluten-free?

Use gluten-free tortillas or omit them to keep the dish gluten-free without sacrificing flavor.

What vegetables work best in this skillet?

Bell peppers, zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes, and spinach provide a great balance of texture and taste, but feel free to add your favorites.

Veggie-Packed Taco Skillet

A vibrant Tex-Mex skillet with colorful veggies, black beans, spices, and a creamy avocado yogurt sauce.

Prep time
20 min
Cook time
20 min
Overall time
40 min
Created by Rachel Hayes


Skill required Easy

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Makes 4 Serving size

Diet preferences Meat-free

What you need

Vegetables

01 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 1 medium zucchini, diced
06 1 ear corn, kernels removed or 1 cup frozen corn
07 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 2 cups baby spinach, chopped

Beans & Grains

01 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
02 4 small corn or flour tortillas, cut into strips

Seasonings

01 1 tablespoon chili powder
02 1 teaspoon ground cumin
03 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
05 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Toppings

01 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
02 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
03 1 lime, cut into wedges

Avocado Yogurt Sauce

01 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
02 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
03 Juice of 1 lime
04 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
05 Salt and pepper, to taste

How to make it

Step 01

Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.

Step 02

Cook Vegetables: Add minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and zucchini. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.

Step 03

Add Corn and Greens: Stir in corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, and chopped spinach. Cook for approximately 2 minutes until spinach wilts.

Step 04

Incorporate Beans, Tortillas, and Spices: Add black beans, tortilla strips, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine.

Step 05

Melt Cheese: Evenly sprinkle shredded cheese over the mixture. Cover skillet with lid or foil and allow cheese to melt for about 2 minutes.

Step 06

Prepare Avocado Yogurt Sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Step 07

Serve: Remove skillet from heat. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges and a generous dollop of avocado yogurt sauce.

Equipment needed

  • Large oven-safe skillet with lid
  • Cutting board and knife
  • Can opener
  • Blender or food processor
  • Spatula

Allergy info

Always review ingredients for allergens. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're unsure.
  • Contains dairy from cheese and yogurt; use dairy-free alternatives as needed.
  • Contains gluten if wheat tortillas are used; substitute with gluten-free tortillas for gluten-free preparation.
  • Contains corn in tortillas and kernels.

Nutrition details (each serving)

Nutritional details are for reference and aren't a substitute for healthcare guidance.
  • Calorie Count: 380
  • Fat content: 17 g
  • Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein amount: 15 g