Easy Cheesy Calabacitas

large pan of finely diced veggies with queso fresco on top, calabacitas

5 from 3 votes

Looking for a healthy side dish for taco night? Well, look no further! This zesty Mexican-inspired vegetarian side dish is one of my favorite ways to spice up veggies and pairs perfectly with tacos.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: servings

Calories: 196kcal

Author: Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN

Ingredients

1 cup zucchini finely dicd
1 cup yellow squash finely diced
1 cup yellow corn (kernels off the cob)
1 cup yellow onion finely diced
1/2 cup green bell pepper finely diced
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper finely diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper finely diced
1 cup fresh tomato chopped
1 tbsp fresh jalepeño finely diced
3 cloves fresh garlic minced
1/2 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh black pepper
2 tsp dried cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup queso fresco

Instructions

Dice all vegetables evenly, keeping the onion, garlic, and jalapeños separated.
If using fresh - remove corn from the cob.
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive or avocado oil over medium heat.
Add the onion to the skillet and sauté until softened, approximately 5 minutes. Once the onion is soft and translucent, add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add bell peppers, zucchini, and squash and sauté until softened approximately 5 minutes.
Add jalapeños and corn to the mixture and sauté for an additional 5 minutes, until corn is fully warmed through.
Add tomatoes, cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, mixing the veggies to fully blend and season.
Crumble in queso fresco, and stir to incorporate into the vegetable mixture.
Remove from heat and cover to allow the cheese to soften.
Garnish with fresh cilantro and/ or green onion.

Video

Notes

You can adjust the spice level of the dish by using more or less jalapeno or swapping the jalapeno for canned green chilis

I prefer fresh corn to have texture and a sweet pop, so I cook it for far less time. If you are using frozen corn you can add it earlier in the cooking process.

Nutrition