Black Bean Wonton Taco Cups: A Small Bite Appetizer

These Black Bean Wonton Taco Cups make the perfect small-bite vegetarian party appetizer! This super simple version of a seven-layer dip will impress your party guests.  

Even if it’s not football season that doesn’t mean you can’t still have Sunday Funday parties. While I’m not as big of a fan, there is always hockey or basketball to watch on Sunday.  Even if it is just as an excuse to hang out with friends and enjoy good food.  These vegetarian wonton taco cups are a great small bite appetizer that works for just about any type of party or casual gathering.  

And as an added bonus they are ready in just over 30 minutes and most of that time goes to cooking up the seasoned black beans.

When you’re hosting a party you end up with a lot of work to do, from cooking to getting else everything ready, so you want to have a couple of really quick and easy appetizers on your menu.  This saves you time, will help reduce stress, and lets you focus on a few “signature” items that you really love to make!

How to make taco cups

This vegetarian appetizer is basically a mini version of the Seven Layer Dip that you often see at parties.  I love that dip but it tends to be heavy, and a little messy, so I made a few updates and put it all into these little “taco” cups for a one-bite appetizer.  

The taco cups are actually made with wonton wrappers, which are another one of my favorite ingredients.  Wonton wrapper appetizers are really easy to make and are great when you want to add a little extra crunch to something without making it really heavy.  They can be baked or fried, though I prefer baking, and because they are thin, they cook really quickly which makes them a great option when you are short on time.

Bake the wonton wrappers: You’ll start by lightly brushing both sides of the wrappers with oil and then pressing them into the cups of the mini muffin pan.

Make the seasoned black beans: Start by sautéing the onions and garlic. Then add the spices and cook until fragrant. Next, add the black beans and salsa. Simmer until heated and bubbly around the edge of the pan.

Make the cilantro-lime sauce: This is one of my favorite sauces for Mexican-inspired dishes. It’s a simple mix of greek yogurt, cilantro, lime, green onion, jalapeno, salt and a touch of sugar.

Ingredient Notes

• Wonton wrappers: These are typically found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
• Black beans: Canned black beans work well for this recipe. Rinse and drain the beans before adding them to the pan.
• Onion + garlic: You can chop the onions ahead of time. I often do this during my weekly meal prep. Freshly minced garlic is your best option for this recipe.
• Greek yogurt: Plain low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt is the recommendation for this recipe.
• Lime zest: Use a fine grater or zester to ensure freshness
• Green onion + cilantro: Green onions can be chopped ahead of time during weekly meal prep, however fresh cilantro is best chopped immediately before using.
• Guacamole: Use your favorite recipe or buy a pre-made version at your local grocery store
• Pico de gallo: I normally use pre-made pico de gallo as I typically have some in my refrigerator. If you want to make your own check out this Salsa from The Chunky Chef
• Spices: ground cumin, dried oregano + ground chipotle
• Pantry staples: olive oil, sugar, sea salt

What goes with black bean taco cups

These taco cups are a great choice for any game day party or casual gathering. Some other ideas to pair with them include:

• Instant Pot Queso Dip
• Baked Avocado Wontons (a great way to use up the rest of the wonton wrappers!)
• Baked Chicken Flautas
• Grapefruit Margaritas

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tools you may want for this recipe

Mini Muffin Pan – I love making mini versions of muffins, including egg muffins, so this pan comes in handy. It also works really well for all kinds of mini appetizers, like these wonton tacos cups, and is also great for a variety of mini desserts.

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This post was originally published in January 2016. It was updated in January 2021 with some additional information. No changes were made to the original recipe.