Here's a super easy, comforting, and nutritious One pot Mexican lentils recipe for the whole family! Made with pantry staples like lentils, black beans, frozen corn, and sweet potatoes, this hearty vegetarian meal is sure to become your next go-to busy weeknight meal.

Mexican lentils in a large skillet topped with cheese and handle wrapped in blue and white striped kitchen towel

A Healthy Pantry Meal

There are a TON of Mexican skillet recipes online that involve rice. Delish! But we've been eating a lot of rice during this time when we're encouraged to stay home as an act of love and obedience, to make our communities and this world a safer place once again.

So I knew I was feeling Mexican food, and as I was staring into my pantry trying to get my creative juices running, my eyes landed on several bags of lentils that were begging to see the light. And there were also plenty of canned black beans and tomato products. Hello, vegetarian Mexican lentils.

a very close up shot of the finished dish

I'm telling you. I think even after all this is said and done and we are able to go to the stores freely (or anywhere for that matter!), I don't think I'll be making as frequent visits as I once did. I'm en route to becoming the queen of resourceful and scrappy cooking ;).

Ingredients

Broth: you really can use whatever you have on hand. I always recommend low-sodium. If you don't have any, water will work too, although not as flavorful.
Lentils: Any variety will work besides red lentils. It will disintegrate too much and turn into mush.
Cheese: I personally LOVE cheddar cheese in this dish, especially the ones from Cabot Creamery. Don't do dairy? Feel free to swap out with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese.

Lentils for babies and toddlers

Step By Step Instructions

You won't believe how something so flavorful could be this easy to whip up!

Cook the onion, garlic, sweet potatoes in chili powder, cumin, and tomato paste.
Add the rest of the ingredients - lentils, canned beans, corn, broth (or water) and bring to a boil. Simmer (covered) for 30 minutes or so, until lentils are cooked through.
The liquid should be absorbed and lentils cooked through.
Top with cheese!

Crazy simple, right? You'll most definitely appreciate the minimal dishes you'll end up with too!

A close up look at the Mexican lentils in a skillet with a large wooden spoon

Serving Tips for Babies

This dish is PERFECT to serve to your baby because it is:

Soft textured (if you're nervous about the corn kernels, even though they do get really soft, you can take them out).
A great source of iron, which is SUPER important during this age.
Bursting with flavor! Baby's food doesn't have to be bland! Introduce them to herbs, spices, etc. from early on, which is important for the development of food preferences.

Because you want to be mindful of their sodium intake, once the lentils are done cooking, set aside a portion for your baby and then add the cheese to the rest. It's fine to add a little bit to your baby's plate. Just not a lot.

Do you want to minimize picky eating and set a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits?

Check out this 3 month mastering self-feeding program! It’s the closest thing to me being in your kitchen

Find out more!

Cook's Tips

Skillet size: a 10 to 12 inch deep skillet will work best (linked my favorite below). You can also use a dutch oven.
Don't rush cooking the vegetables. It's important for flavor development.
You can use another grain, like rice, farro, barley. Just be sure to adjust the amount of liquid and the cooking time accordingly.
If your child is able to handle some heat, try adding more chili powder or some green chiles.
If you want to add extra protein and iron to this dish, cook some ground beef, chicken, or turkey along with onion and garlic. Then add the sweet potatoes and follow the rest of the instructions. You can also fold in whatever cooked protein you have on hand (meat, poultry, seafood, tofu, tempeh) towards the end.
To make this vegan, leave out the cheese or use nutritional yeast or vegan cheese.

Best Iron-Rich Foods for Babies and Toddlers

Serving Suggestions

Mexican lentils in a white bowl with a fork and a side of tortilla chips in a red bowl

This meal would be really yummy with some avocado, fresh cilantro, lime juice...we don't have any of those at the moment. BUT we have tortilla chips! YASSSS nachos! Alas, all is well with the world ;).

You can also enjoy on a bed of salad greens or as a filling for tacos, burritos, burgers, potatoes....what else would you add to this list?

Storage Suggestions

Fridge: transfer to a closed container for 3-5 days.

Freezer: I recommend not adding the cheese if you know you're going to freeze all or some (e.g. add cheese to ½ of the dish). Fresh cheese is ALWAYS best! Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Will keep for up to 3 months.

Here's everything you need to know to safely store leftovers!

Other Baby-Friendly Pantry Meals

a collage of cover pages for all my three ecookbooks

Looking for more baby-friendly recipes that the entire family can enjoy? My cookbooks are packed with quick and easy, veggie-forward, freezer-friendly recipes!