Black Bean Quesadillas are my go-to dinner when I just want something quick and easy, yet super delicious and healthy. Sometimes that means I make a Niçoise salad or a flatbread pizza with hummus. But let’s be honest sometimes you just want something that’s a little eewie gooey cheesy delicious too.
On nights like those I try to just listen to my body and I make something healthy like this black bean and butternut squash quesadilla. I up the protein by adding one of my favorite ingredients, quinoa! I also added some arugula because adding something green always makes a dish feel just a little bit healthier. Arugula is great for this dish, since it has a peppery bite that goes perfectly with the Monterey Jack cheese. These quesadillas paired perfectly with my pineapple coleslaw, have you tried it yet?
As always, if you have a favorite food that you love to add to your quesadillas by all means throw it in there. This would be great with some added chopped chicken or grilled shrimp but I was aiming for quick and healthy and this fits the bill perfectly just as it is.
I talked about how much time and energy doing a Sunday night meal prep saves me. I highly recommend doing this every week. It doesn’t take very much time, and it really saves you time during the week when we are all running around busy and hungry. Practicing meal prep can really help you take fast food off the table.
I hope to show you that with a little bit of creativity you can repurpose any of the meal prep items you may choose to make. I love to have quinoa, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and of course protein cookies on hand during the week. This really saves a ton of time and can open up the possibilities for dinner any night.
Black beans are powerhouse food if you ask me. Not only are they full of heart healthy fiber but they’re also packed with protein. The starch and black beans is called insoluble fiber which is great for gut health. Black beans can be a bit tough on the digestive system, but if you soak them in hot water for a bit before using them, you will find that the beans don’t give you as much tummy troubles.
I was able to find gluten-free flour tortillas from Wrap-it’z gluten free wraps. They were reasonably priced and had a really good texture and taste. These quesadillas held up to be my lunch the next day so I give them a big thumbs up. If you don’t do dairy or are practicing vegan you can of course choose Daiya brand cheese it’s a great alternative.
- 4 gluten free flour tortillas
- 1 cup butternut squash, roasted and cooled*
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled*
- 1 can of black beans, drained and rinced
- ½ tsp season salt
- 2 tbs. chopped red onion
- 1 cup arugula
- ½ - 1 cup shredded Monterary jack cheese
- 1 tomato chopped
- 1-2 tbs. red onion chopped
- cilantro, chopped
- Prepare black beans by draining can of organic black beans and letting the beans sit in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain this water.
- Add soaked beans to small pot, add ¼ cup water, chopped red onion and season salt. Simmer over medium heat 5-6 minutes. Turn down to lcw and cook 2 more minutes.
- Once black beans are done, preheat a large pan. Pray the pan with nonstick spray. Place tortilla on the pan. Add 2 tbs. cheese to ½ of tortilla. Add ¼ cup black beans, ¼ cup butternut squash, ¼ cup quinoa, handful of arugula, a few chopped tomatoes, a sprinkle of red onion and optional cilantro. Top with another 2 tbs. of cheese.
- Close the other side of the tortilla over the beans/veggies.
- Let cook 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook 2-3 more minutes on other side.
- Serve with your favorite guacamole and salsa.
What about you?
- What is your favorite ingredient in Mexican food?
- Do you make your own guacamole or buy store bought?
- Mild, medium or hot salsa?
If you liked this recipe please make sure to “share the health” below with your friends and family!
Homemade guacamole of course! I love black bean anything -it’s one of my go to’s for sure. Thanks for linking up with us again today for MM. Would you mind adding our button to the bottom of your post so others can find us too thanks!
These look great! We have been eating a lot of quesadillas lately but I haven’t tried them this way. The filling sounds like it would be good on it’s own. (found you on Marvelous Mondays).
I love-love-love quesadillas…this sounds like a delicious and not-too-heavy variety!
I sure do wish these were sitting on my dining room table right about now so I didn’t have to cook dinner. You know those days where you are just exhausted from the very beginning? Yep? Well today is one of those for me. Oh & throw in a migraine.. yuck!
Hmm a favorite, well that is a silly question there are all so many favorites and not one can make a delicious Mexican meal alone! 😉
Homemade guac of course and salsa depends on my mood. Sometimes I like it mild, sometimes hot, and sometimes I need all 47 salsas on my salad, nachos, or whatever it is I’m making!!
I love quesadillas and they’re such a great weeknight dinner option since they only take a few minutes to throw together. Great idea on adding quinoa to up the protein — I haven’t done that before, but it sounds good!
I Love Black beans and I Love Quesadillas! I have beans already made that might just be lunch! Great recipe!
Those look so good! I love quesadilla’s and so do my kids. I might have to try this one with the kids!
I love homemade guacamole, but sometimes I will buy it for convenience sake or just slice an avocado. It probably is the best part of a Mexican-style meal to me!
I learned in a nutrition class in college how good beans are for you; how full of fiber they are. I’ve never been a big bean person but since then I’ve been trying to sneak them in nachos, tacos, and salad just to get the nutrition. Your food always looks so delicious!!
These look delicious – I’ll have to try them soon!
Mmmm. Quesadilla on the griddle. Great idea!
This looks soooo delicious !!
I haven’t purchased gf tortillas but I have made my own. Love quesadillas!
Sounds delicious! I love Mexican food, with medium salsa and homemade guacamole. We have burritos almost every week. Another favorite is Mexican Pizza which is easy to make and versatile.
I always love your recipes. Keep ’em coming!!!
I love this. I’ll have to add these to my meatless Monday list.
I am so digging these for my meatless Monday! I love black beans and that they are packed with protein!!
Your food always looks delicious! Now, if I could only master quinoa…we’d be in business! I love the idea of meal prepping with these. Looks like I need to pull my griddle back out!
So many yummy veggies in the is quesadilla! Beats my plain tortilla and cheese ones :P. Thanks for sharing!!
Love these! They sound tasty and filling and you’re right — bet you’re pineapple coleslaw would be fab with them!
Love, love, love the idea of butternut squash in these! Yummy! I’ve been craving tex-mex lately too.
Perfect for meatless Monday. I love the combo of black bean and squash.
Gosh, these sound delish! And I have the best guacamole recipe ever.
yum! that looks really delicious. i love quesadillas 🙂
Mexican food isn’t complete without guacamole!
I love quesadillas, and black beans, and black bean quesadillas. The addition of quinoa is a great idea! Must try these soon.
I am a huge fan of quesadillas and love adding black beans. The quinoa is a new twist that I will have to try!
Yummmm! Friday night dinner! Looks great!
I love love quesadillas! If only I could find a good gf tortilla. Black beans are my favorite filling.
This looks like a winner. It has black beans, quinoa and is a quesadilla. Doesn’t get any better than that. I am going to try this.
This looks delicious! I love that you added the quinoa. Everything is better with quinoa!
I love quesadillas and those look tasty! Thanks for the recipe!
I definitely love making my own guac but I find it’s tough finding good avocados here. When I do, I end up eating them before making anything with them.
I can’t help but say quesadilla like Napolean Dynamite in my head 🙂
Quesadillas are one of my favourite quickie dinners and they’re so easy to make healthy!
Ooh, this looks like something everyone in our family would eat! Awesome sounding recipe!
I wish my BF liked black beans so I could make these! Maybe on a night where he won’t be home for dinner 😉
Yummy and easy! This recipe takes me back to my vacations in the Mexico. Thank you for sharing your healthy and delicious Black Bean Quesadilla recipe with us at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop! I’m pinning and sharing!
Those sound really good! I actually make my quesadillas in my George Foreman grill. =P It’s so fast and hands-off.
I miss quesadillas so much! That’s probably my biggest issue about having to go dairy free. I can do burritos without cheese no problem, but the cheese kinda makes the quesadilla haha
Either way, this looks good!!
Quesadillas are my go to dinner too! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
These look delicious! Pinning them to try. I like my salsa medium with just enough heat that it doesn’t drown out the other flavors.
Thanks for sharing,
Suzanne
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Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared. I will have to check out your slaw recipe too.