Vegetarian Enchiladas bring all the flavor, no meat needed! Black beans, corn, and peppers, all wrapped in saucy tortillas with plenty of cheese.

Or try my vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas!

Vegetarian Enchiladas fresh out of the oven, loaded with avocado, tomatoes, jalapeño, and cilantro.

Vegetarian Enchiladas

Enchiladas are one of my go-tos for an easy dinner, and this veggie version is even quicker! No meat to prep, hardly any chopping—just fast, cheesy, and full of flavor. Spices, melty cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime bring it all together, and wow, these are good! Even meat lovers won’t miss it.

I got the idea from my popular vegetarian chili—bold seasonings, veggies, and beans—then wrapped it up in tortillas with enchilada sauce and lots of cheese. These are really the best!

All the ingredients prepped for easy assembly, including veggies, tortillas, sauce, corn, cheese, seasonings, and beans.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make Vegetarian Enchiladas:

  • Olive oil: Adds flavor and helps cook the veggies.
  • Red onion & red bell pepper: Dice small so the flavor spreads better.
  • Salt, pepper & garlic: Simple but key for boosting flavor.
  • Paprika, cumin & chili powder: These spices add deep, warm flavor.
  • Frozen corn & beans: A hearty, filling swap for meat. Pinto and black beans add texture and protein.
  • Red enchilada sauce: Store-bought is easy, homemade if you’re feeling up to it!
  • Lime: A squeeze of fresh juice makes everything pop.
  • Flour tortillas: TortillaLand tortillas taste extra fresh—I use them when I have time since they need cooking first.
  • Cheese: Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or a mix (my favorite!). Freshly grated melts best.

Vegetarian Enchilada Topping Ideas

  • Avocado or guac: Creamy and rich to help bring down the spice.
  • Cilantro: Fresh for a pop of flavor. Swap for green onions if you’d rather!
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt: Cool and tangy to balance the heat.
  • Diced cherry tomatoes: Adds freshness and a little sweetness.
  • Pickled onions: A tangy crunch that goes great.
  • Hot sauce or salsa: Add a little extra kick!
Veggies sautéing in the skillet before adding beans and corn for these vegetarian enchiladas.

Variations

Easy Vegetarian Enchilada Swaps

  • Make a Casserole: Try my Enchilada Bake or Crockpot version instead!
  • Add a Grain: Mix in cooked quinoa or rice (2-3 tbsp per enchilada). Add more spices if needed.
  • Swap the Cheese: Try Colby Jack or Pepper Jack.
  • Add Spinach: Cook chopped spinach with the veggies and beans.
  • Use Refried Beans: Spread 2 tablespoons on each tortilla before adding the filling.

What to Serve with Vegetarian Enchiladas

Stuffing, rolling, and placing each tortilla in the pan before covering with cheese and baking.

Storage

  • Fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat: Heat in the oven at 350°F or microwave until warm.
  • Freeze: Wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before heating.

More Easy Meatless Meals:

5 from 7 votes

Vegetarian Enchiladas

Vegetarian Enchiladas are packed with bold flavors! Black beans, corn, peppers, and fresh lime bring the perfect balance, while melty cheese ties it all together. Load up on toppings and dig in!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings (2 enchiladas per person)

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 small red onion diced, 1/2 cup
  • 1 red bell pepper diced, 3/4 cup
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 (10-ounce) cans red enchilada sauce divided, see note 1
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups freshly grated Monterey Jack cheese or sharp Cheddar cheese, or a combo of both, divided
Optional Toppings
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1/4 cup finely diced cilantro
  • Sour cream

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and pepper, season with salt and pepper (1/4 tsp each), and sauté for 4–6 minutes, until onion is tender. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in paprika, cumin, and chili powder, cooking for 1–2 minutes until fragrant (lower heat if needed to prevent burning).
  • Add frozen corn, black beans, 1/2 cup enchilada sauce, and lime juice. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, for about 4 minutes, until the corn is fully defrosted.
  • Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
  • Place a slightly heaping 1/2 cup of the veggie filling and 2 tablespoons of cheese onto each tortilla. Roll tightly and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat until all the filling and 1 cup of cheese have been used, filling 8 tortillas.
  • Evenly spread remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Keep corners uncovered by enchilada sauce so they get a little crispy in the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese evenly over the enchiladas.
  • Bake uncovered for 15–18 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve immediately with diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sour cream, and extra lime juice if desired.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Use a mild enchilada sauce you know you like! My family loves mild red enchilada sauce by Old El Paso best.
Storage: Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F or microwave until warm. To freeze, wrap well and store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 60.7mg | Sodium: 2159.6mg | Fiber: 10.6g | Sugar: 9.4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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29 Comments

  1. Faye says:

    5 stars
    Have made these several times. Best enchiladas ever!!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m so happy you love these Vegetarian Enchiladas! Thanks so much for your comment Faye! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Kelly says:

    5 stars
    I’ve never left a food blog review before, but I made these 3 times in the 10 days after trying them (& several times since), so I couldn’t not comment! Such an easy, tasty, and healthy recipe. To make it even easier I started using jarred minced garlic and half a jar of roasted red peppers (drained & diced) so the only “real work” is dicing the onion (which I’ve also been using a whole yellow onion since that’s what I always have on hand, but I’ll definitely give it a try with red soon!). The filling is just so delicious that I’ve been making only that recently and using it for burritos throughout the week – makes for an easy lunch option!

    Thanks so much for the recipe – looking forward to trying some of your others!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m so, so thrilled these have been such a hit! Thanks for the comment Kelly!

  3. Susan says:

    Can you make this the night before??

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’m sorry I’m not sure, I’ve never tried that!

  4. Kirsti says:

    I love veggie enchiladas, and it’s been way too long since I’ve made some! Making these soon! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yay!! I’m so excited for you to try these! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Elna says:

    I’ve been wanting to find a good veggie dish that my twins will like! Thank you for this recipe!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Oh good! I hope they love it! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Debbie says:

    Hi Chelsea!
    I love your recipes! I can’t wait to try this one! Do you have a store bought enchilada sauce that you recommend?

    1. Andrea says:

      Las Palmas is good.

  7. Kelly says:

    These look wonderful! My hubby loves chicken enchiladas but I tend to eat more veggies so I love this vegetarian version. Pinning to try and thanks so much for sharing Chelsea and hope you have a great week ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Diane says:

    5 stars
    You have combined all of my favorite foods in this recipe! Cannot wait to make this today. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thanks Diane!! You’ll have to let me know what you think ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Micha @ Cookin' Mimi says:

    I love enchiladas but have never made them vegetarian before. These look fabulous.

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thanks Micha! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Ginnie says:

    Great recipe! I love everything in these – will definitely be trying:)

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thanks so much Ginnie!