Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls
on Jan 14, 2015, Updated Feb 27, 2025
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These sweet potato and black bean quinoa bowls are a hearty vegetarian main dish loaded with southwest flavor! Cilantro lime quinoa is topped with seasoned roasted sweet potatoes, black beans and a delicious cilantro cream sauce. They’re perfect for an easy weeknight dinner and great for meal prep!
If you love sweet potatoes and black beans, try this reader favorite Southwest Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Rice Skillet.
Why You’ll Love Sweet Potato Black Bean Quinoa Bowls
Gluten-free -If you’re looking for a delicious gluten-free lunch or dinner, try these quinoa bowls! Every ingredient in these bowls is naturally gluten-free.
Hearty and healthy – Quinoa is a great source of plant-based protein. Top it with protein and fiber packed black beans and sweet potato and you’ve got a vegetarian dinner that will keep you full and satisfied.
Vegetarian dinner – Both vegetarians and omnivores will love these sweet potato bowls. The flavors and textures work well together and are nutrient dense making them satiating without the used of meat. vegan by omitting the cilantro cream sauce or using a plain vegan yogurt instead of Greek yogurt.
Ingredients Notes
Sweet Potato – Use a large sweet potato for this recipe. You can peel it or leave the skin on.
Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder – These spices will be used in all the elements of the bowl. Be sure the chili powder you are using is “American” chili powder, which is mild and usually a blend containing other spices.
Quinoa – Any color of quinoa can be used. I usually use white or red quinoa. Be sure to rinse the quinoa before cooking it.
Cilantro and lime – Fresh cilantro and lime juice are used to flavor the quinoa and cilantro cream sauce.
Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt is used as the base for the cilantro cream sauce. It’s a great high protein alternative to sour cream.
Honey – A touch of honey sweetens the cream sauce. You can also use maple syrup.
How to Make Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowls
Toss the sweet potato together with the oil, salt, pepper, and spices. Dump it onto a sheet pan and roast for 12-18 minutes or until it’s tender.
While the sweet potato is roasting, cook the quinoa. Once cooked, add in the lime juice, cilantro, and spices and stir together.
In a blender or food processor, add all of the ingredients for the cilantro sauce. Puree until it’s smooth and then pour it into a jar or bowl.
Add some of the quinoa to a bowl and top it with a portion of the sweet potato and black beans. Drizzle on some of the cilantro cream and garnish with cilantro.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap quinoa with white or brown rice or another type of whole grain such as farro.
- Add veggies. Sauteed peppers and onions, zucchini, and corn would all be amazing!
- Add protein. If you don’t want the bowls to be vegetarian, add shredded chicken, steak, grilled salmon, or shrimp to them.
- Instead of, or in addition to the cilantro sauce, add a dollop of guacamole.
Storage and Reheating
Storage – You can store the quinoa, black beans, and sweet potato together or separately. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The cilantro cream sauce should be stored in a separate container. It will keep for 4-5 days.
Reheating – Reheat in the microwave until warm or you can heat them in a saucepan or skillet on the stove over medium heat.
Freezing – You can freeze the sweet potato black bean quinoa bowls for up to 3 months. I don’t recommend freezing the cilantro cream sauce.
More Bowl Recipes You’ll Love
If you love bowl recipes, you’re sure to love my rice bowl, noodle bowl, quinoa bowls, and salad bowl recipes!
- Bang Bang Salmon Bowls
- Southwest Steak Bowls
- Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowls
- Spring Roll Bowls
- Barbecue Chicken Quinoa Bowls
Did you make these sweet potato and black bean quinoa bowls? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls
Ingredients
Roasted Sweet Potato
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
Quinoa
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Half a lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Cilantro Cream Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, or to taste
- Half of a lime, juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Roasted Sweet Potato
- Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the diced sweet potato to a bowl along with the oil, salt, pepper and spices. Toss until coated then dump it out onto the baking sheet. Spread it out into a single layer.
- Bake for 12-18 minutes or until the potato is fork tender.
Quinoa
- Rinse and drain the quinoa. Add it to a saucepan with the water and salt. Bring it to a boil then cover with a lid and turn the heat down to medium-low. Simmer the quinoa for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy.
- Stir in the spices, lime juice, and cilantro. Taste for seasoning.
Cilantro Cream Sauce
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Puree until the sauce is smooth. Taste for seasoning then pour it into a jar or bowl.
Assembling
- Add a 1/4 of the quinoa to each bowl. Top with some of the roasted sweet potato and black beans. Drizzle with the cilantro cream and garnish with cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks so yummy , feed me!
Haha! Thanks Charlene! :-)
Love the quinoa bowls! They just look so aromatic, flavoursome and delicious. I have to try the recipe out.
Thanks Thalia! They are definitely flavorful!
This looks so incredibly awesome! I’m definitely putting it on my must make list! Yum :)
Thanks Megan! I hope you love it!
I love sweet potatoes, so of course I need to make this! It looks amazing!!
Well of course! Thanks so much Sandra!
Danae, your photos are beautiful! And this looks beyond delicious! I can’t wait to try.
You are so sweet Jenna! Thank you! :-)
What a great combo of flavors! The images are lovely, too! Yum!
Thank you Patricia! :-)
This looks amazing, Danae! I love quinoa bowls like this especially when they have sweet potatoes! The southwest spices sound perfect with everything!
Thanks so much Kelly! :-)
These photos are beautiful!
Thank you Lindsay!
I love it when healthy meals taste as amazing as this one looks! Sweet potatoes and black beans go so well together, and quinoa is a great base for these bowls. That cilantro cream drizzle looks like the perfect finishing touch!
Thanks Kristine! Eating healthy is definitely easier when the food looks and tastes delicious!
My friends and I were just talking about doing meatless Mondays, or just eating less meat in general, so we’ll certainly be devouring this bowl like crazy! Looks so tasty! Heading to Spoonful of Flavor to check it out!
Thanks Julia, It’s probably a good habit to get ourselves into!