Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchilada Skillet

When the goal is to eat more veggies, our Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchilada Skillet has your back. Antioxidant-rich butternut squash, sweet bell peppers and onions are sautéed briefly and then mixed with flavor bombs—enchilada sauce, taco seasoning and corn tortillas. Corn and black beans are the fiber-boosters, and the entire skillet is topped with melty cheese. As if it couldn’t get any better, we recommend garnishes for even more flavor—salsa, fresh cilantro, refreshing sour cream, and the kick of lime is perfection. Keep reading for our expert tips on technique, ingredient substitutions and more. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• This dish takes advantage of store-bought enchilada sauce. We chose mild green sauce, but red enchilada sauce would work too—feel free to use your favorite!
• To save time, use pre-chopped butternut squash, or you can get a jump on the recipe by prepping the squash, bell peppers and onion in advance and storing them in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• This recipe includes black beans, but you can substitute any beans or vegetables you have on hand. Pinto beans would work well, and sweet potatoes could replace the butternut squash.
• We really like the flavor from the Mexican cheese blend, but other cheeses such as pepper Jack, Monterey Jack or white or yellow Cheddar would also be delicious.

Nutrition Notes

• Butternut squash is packed with an antioxidant called beta carotene, which is converted in our body to vitamin A—essential for good vision, healthy skin and to maintain healthy immune and reproductive systems. 
• Black beans are full of fiber, which is essential for digestive health and regularity. They are also a source of plant-based protein, but aren’t a complete protein because they’re low in one amino acid. Fortunately, when you pair beans with corn, you get all of the essential amino acids you need. 
• Bell peppers are brimming with vitamin C, even more than in an orange. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it can help reduce oxidative stress in the body, which is essential for cancer prevention. 
• Corn may be considered a starchy vegetable, but it contains fiber and resistant starch, which may help with weight maintenance. In addition, corn contains two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been shown to be very important for healthy vision.