These sweet potato tacos are easy to make & thoroughly delicious. Gently spiced sweet potato, a crunchy, zesty slaw & a kick from chipotle cream, they're comforting and so good.
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Tacos, to me, are very much warm weather food. So I think I made these sweet potato tacos as much to tell myself it's spring, even if the weather outside isn't totally cooperating.
Our snow pile has at least largely melted, but the last couple days it's fleeted between sleet and rain. Not exactly encouraging spring fever.
But really, I think I would use any excuse to have these tacos again as they were that good. Quick to make, great flavors and both vegetarian and pretty healthy, if you needed another excuse.
One of the fun things with tacos is you can play around with the filling as much as you like. You can keep it traditional, like pork carnitas with tomatillo salsa verde or chicken mole. Or you can get a bit more creative like jerk shrimp tacos or bang bang shrimp tacos.
Here I have kept things relatively simple, though not exactly traditional, but everything works so well. The sweet potato is warm, gently spiced and soft. The slaw is crisp and zesty and the chipotle cream is smooth with a kick. All wrapped up in warm soft tortillas, they are delicious in every bite. You won't even notice there's no meat (if you have a dedicated carnivore around).
How to make sweet potato tacos
While there are three different things in the filling, they are all really easy and quick to make. The slaw just takes a quick few chops, add in some lime juice and seasoning then it's left to mingle. Then grate the sweet potato, slice the onion and saute both for a few minutes with cumin and paprika to get nice and soft.
Meanwhile, chop up the chipotle pepper and mix with the sour cream and warm the tortillas. After that, it's a quick assemble and serve them up.
Why a Brussels sprout slaw?
The slaw is made with Brussels sprouts rather than the more typical cabbage for a few reasons - first, I hate finding part of a cabbage in the fridge after a week or two of me not getting round to using the rest of it (which is often inevitable) whereas you can easily buy a small amount of sprouts.
Secondly, raw Brussels sprouts have a nice sharpness which work really well with the rest of the flavors, in particular the slight sweetness from the sweet potato.
I for one think I'll be making them a few times over the coming months as a nice easy, light and delicious lunch. Hopefully the sun and warmth will come to join me soon. In the meantime, I'll happily immerse myself in warmth through my tastebuds with these.
These sweet potato tacos make for a delicious lunch, appetizer or even a light main meal, maybe served up with some rice and beans, fried plantain or a salad. They don't take long to make but have that complexity of the mingling flavors and textures that they seem like they've taken much longer. Give them a go too; you won't regret it.
Try these other tasty taco recipes:
- Salmon tacos
- Tacos al pastor (spice-marinated pork and pineapple)
- Jerk shrimp tacos
- Lobster tacos
- Plus get more 30 minute meals and vegetarian meals in the archives.
Sweet potato tacos with sprout slaw and chipotle cream
Ingredients
- 5 oz Brussels sprouts 140g
- 4 spring onions green onions
- 2 tablespoon cilantro coriander, chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoon lime juice
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil or canola/sunflower
- 2 cups sweet potato coarsely grated, from 1 medium sweet potato, approx 8 ½oz/ 240g
- ½ onion or 1 small, halved then thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo chopped canned, approx 1 pepper
- 4 tablespoon sour cream
- 8 small-sized corn or flour tortillas
Instructions
- Chop the end off the brussel sprouts and peel off any tough outer leaves. Halve the sprouts lengthwise then slice thinly. Chop the end off the spring onions and thinly slice.
- Put the sprouts, sliced spring onions, chopped cilantro/coriander, lime juice and some salt and pepper in a small bowl and mix well then set aside.
- Heat the oil in a skillet/frying pan and add the grated sweet potato and sliced onion. Add the ground cumin and paprika and mix together.
- Cook, stirring now and then, for around 10 minutes until softened and starting to brown slightly.
- Meanwhile, chop the chipotle pepper (remove seeds if you want to make a little less hot) and mix with the sour cream.
- Warm the tortillas - this is best done in a dry skillet/frying pan but can also be done under the grill or in the microwave.
- Assemble the tacos by putting some of the sweet potato mixture on each, followed by some slaw and drizzle over the chipotle cream. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
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melve says
Another taco recipe on my taco list. I already tried fish and pork taco and now I am excited to try these Sweet potato tacos.
Caroline's Cooking says
These are a little less typical but no less tasty. Hope you enjoy!
Syama says
Never tried sweet potatoes in a taco. As it happens I am the only one who loves sweet potatoes around here .. This seems perfect for me on family taco nights !
Caroline's Cooking says
It is a little different, but if you like sweet potatoes it's definitely worth a try!
Tristin says
Oh my gosh, yum!! Sweet potatoes and brussels and green onions and all so much deliciousness wrapped into one! Great recipe!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Tristin, it's such a wonderful combination, both light and tasty.
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
I love sweet potatoes but never tried them in Tacos! These tacos look delicious and perfect for a vegetarian meal!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Dini. Yes they make for a great vegetarian meal, lots of variety and flavor in there.
Liz says
I think my vegetarian friends would love this recipe. I've pinned it to use as an option at a taco party this summer. Shredding the sweet potato is a wonderfu idea.
Caroline's Cooking says
I hope you get a chance to try it and enjoy it, Liz. The shredding makes it nice and quick to cook and easy to work with.
Loretta says
What a great taco recipe Caroline. I'm just loving all the flavors, and I definitely agree with you about the leftover cabbage in the veggie bin. Brussels sprouts makes a nice substitute. I can't wait to try these. Light, appetizing and flavorful. Great combinations.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Loretta, I hope you manage to try them and like them. I really liked all the flavors so I hope you will too!
Frugal Hausfrau says
I just had to stop by and check your blog out too! I can't wait to explore more, but these tacos look so good! I make a Rajas taco with peppers and sometimes add a little sweet potato to them.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, that's very kind of you to say! Peppers sounds good too, but sweet potato works really well.
Amanda Batcher says
These. Look. AMAZING!! I'm a big fan of sweet potatoes in tacos, and I love the idea of a brussel sprout slaw!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Amanda, yes it's really tasty, I hope you manage to give it a try!
Ginger says
I saw them earlier and simply had to come back for more - they look stunning! What a wonderful range of flavours!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Ginger, that's very kind! Yes there's a good range of flavors that all work well together. I hope you manage to try them!