House Favorite Bean and Cheese Tacos

Name: House Favorite Bean and Cheese Tacos
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend; 8 corn tortillas (see notes for subs); 14.5 oz can refried black beans; toppings: shredded romaine lettuce, guacamole, favorite hot sauce

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These easy bean and cheese tacos (made crispy in a skillet!) are a must-make. The most satisfying 15-minute vegetarian dinner, topped with crunchy romaine lettuce and fresh guacamole. The whole family will love them!

plate of three bean and cheese tacos with lettuce and guacamole and a lime wedge on the side

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These tacos have become a bit of a favorite in our house! Any meal that goes from start to finish in 15 minutes or less is a huge win on weeknights. Bonus points if it’s actually something I get excited about eating.

This is the type of meal I make when I don’t have much energy to cook, am short on time, low on fresh ingredients or just want a delicious vehicle for (basically) a salad. My kids also devour them! Even the one who is normally lukewarm on anything with beans will happily eat them in this form.

Besides being super easy to make, I just love that you can serve them straight up, no toppings, if that’s all you have on hand. OR, you can elevate them with everything from microgreens to cilantro and minced white onion if you want. A slaw would be fantastic here! I chose to write the recipe with the basics that I almost always have because this is how we eat them most often but you guys, the options are truly endless.

Enjoy and get creative!

Here are the basics:

Ingredients for Bean and Cheese Tacos

shredded Mexican cheese blend (usually a mix of cheddar, Monterey jack and queso blanco)
corn tortillas (see below for subs)
refried black beans, or pinto if that’s all you can find
lettuce (something crunchy, such as romaine or shredded iceberg)
guacamole (can also sub store-bought)
optional: your favorite hot sauce, I like Frank’s on these

griddle with three tacos, side of lettuce and guac

Step-by-Step Instructions

First, heat a cast iron skillet or griddle (or nonstick skillet) over medium heat.
Place about 1/4 cup of the cheese on the skillet and let it melt and bubble.
Meanwhile, spread refried beans on a tortilla and season with a pinch of salt.
Place the tortilla on top of the bubbly cheese, bean side down, and press lightly to adhere. Let it hang out for a few minutes undisturbed to get a really nice crispy cheese round. See photo below.
Flip and just warm the other side for a minute. Remove to a plate and add toppings.

bean and cheese taco on a plate with a side of guac and lime

The key to these is resisting the urge to flip them too soon. If your cheese is melty and pulls when you try to lift it up, it’s TOO SOON. Wait until you get a nice crisp piece of cheese, which really adds the perfect textural element.

Once your taco is topped and ready to eat, just pick it up and fold like a taco to eat. I love that you can squeeze in a bunch of vegetables and it always tastes great. A squeeze of lime is always a great finish!

FAQs and Substitutions

Can I use a different type of tortilla if I don’t like corn?

Yes – I’ve successfully made these with the Sieté almond flour tortillas and standard flour tortillas. I prefer street taco size flour tortillas because if you go any bigger it gets hard to flip. These are best made small.

What if I can’t find refried black beans?

You can use refried pinto beans which you should be able to find everywhere. I’ve made these with both, but like the black beans just slightly better, but both are great.

What other toppings would work?

I think a slaw would be great! Pico de gallo, corn or mango salsa would be a refreshing summer pick. You could top them with grilled chicken or shrimp if you wanted more protein.

What should I serve these with?

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s a complete meal as written. I never make extra sides to go with these. Of course a margarita or margarita mocktail would be very nice. Just saying!

closeup of a bean and cheese taco with toppings

Give these a try and they may become a house favorite for you too! Make sure you leave a rating and review if you enjoy.

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