Vegan Taco Pot Pie (Print)

A cozy plant-based casserole featuring seasoned black beans and a golden cornbread topping.

# Components:

→ Taco Filling

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
08 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
14 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained if using canned
15 - 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
16 - 1/2 cup vegetable broth

→ Cornbread-Style Topping

17 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
18 - 1 cup fine cornmeal
19 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
20 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
21 - 2 tablespoons organic sugar
22 - 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (soy, almond, or oat)
23 - 1/4 cup neutral oil (canola or sunflower)
24 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic, bell peppers, and zucchini, and cook for 5 additional minutes.
03 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with juices, and vegetable broth. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Pour the taco filling evenly into the prepared baking dish.
06 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine plant-based milk, oil, and apple cider vinegar.
07 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
08 - Spoon the cornbread batter evenly over the taco filling, spreading gently to cover.
09 - Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh cilantro, avocado, or salsa.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent and cozy without requiring dairy or eggs, which means everyone actually wants seconds.
  • You build real flavor in the filling first, so every bite tastes intentional rather than assembled.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining and rinsing your canned beans, or the filling becomes watery and the cornbread won't bake evenly on top.
  • The apple cider vinegar isn't optional—it reacts with baking powder to create the lift that makes the topping fluffy rather than dense.
03 -
  • Toast your spices for exactly 1 minute—long enough to release their essential oils but not so long they lose nuance to bitterness.
  • The secret to a fluffy cornbread topping is not overmixing and using plant-based milk mixed with vinegar so the rise comes from the chemical reaction rather than relying solely on baking powder.
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