Bean and Cheese Burritos

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Easy Bean and Cheese Burritos are a breeze to whip up! They start with creamy refried beans and from there, we jazz them up! A myriad of spices, red enchilada sauce, and gooey, melty cheddar, get all snuggled up in a soft flour tortilla and then baked to crispy perfection. From there, you can go wild with your favorite toppings!

Image of Bean and Cheese Burritos

This Bean and Cheese Burrito recipe is part of our Back-To-School Lifesavers — a series of recipes that are intended to have little (or no) veggie chopping, minimal prep time, around 10 ingredients or less (not including pantry staples), and use kid-friendly ingredients. Click here to see all the recipes in the series! 

The Quickest Burritos

Here we go again, diving into another one of my mom’s “famous” recipes from my childhood — the speediest Bean and Cheese Burritos. They shared a spotlight in our dinner rotation with her delicious Tortilla Pie and a mouthwatering variation of these Vegetarian Nachos.

I absolutely adored these burritos, and still do, mainly because, as you may already know, I’m all about toppings and sauces! Digging through the fridge and decking out my burrito with every enticing topping I could find was always a blast. Guacamole, sour cream, salsa — you name it, I added it!

Ingredient shot-- image of all the ingredients used in this dish

Bean and Cheese Burritos Ingredients

  • Olive oil: It’s the secret to sautéing your spices and making them release their full flavor!
  • Spices: This is where the magic happens. Make sure your spices are fresh for the best flavor.
  • Refried beans: Go for a brand that you know you love or try our incredible Pinto Beans recipe.
  • Chicken broth: For a vegetarian option, veggie broth works just as well.
  • Flour tortillas: Choose a good quality tortilla. Look for soft, flexible, and fresh tortillas.
  • Red enchilada sauce: Enchilada sauce can vary greatly in flavor and heat from brand to brand. I recommend Old El Paso® mild red enchilada sauce.
  • Sharp Cheddar cheese: Feel free to mix it up with some Monterey Jack for a bit of a twist!

Process shots of Bean and Cheese Burritos-- images of the seasonings being sautéed and then the beans and broth being added

QUICK TIP

Why do we recommend sharp Cheddar? The sharpness of a cheese corresponds to its age, and a well-aged cheese promises a deep, robust, and richer flavor. If you’ve ever felt like your cheesy dishes are a bit bland, it might be because the cheese you used wasn’t aged enough. Or, perhaps, your dish needed a sprinkle of more salt to really make that cheesiness sing!

Process shots-- images of the beans being layered in, then the enchilada sauce, and finally the cheese

How To Make Bean and Cheese Burritos (Tips)

  • Spice it up: Feel free to add a little more heat if you like your burritos spicy. A pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce can really turn up the heat.
  • Cooking spray: Don’t forget to spray your burritos with cooking spray before baking. This gives them a golden, crispy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the soft, creamy interior.
  • Rolling burritos: When rolling your burritos, make sure to fold the sides in first and then roll up from the bottom. This keeps all the yummy fillings inside the burrito and not on your baking sheet.
  • Customization: This is a flexible recipe. Feel free to add other ingredients to your burritos like cooked chicken, beef, rice, or veggies.
  • Grate your own cheese: Instead of buying pre-shredded cheese, we recommend grating your own. Not only is it usually cheaper, but fresh-grated cheese also melts better and doesn’t contain added anti-caking agents.
  • Toast the spices: Before adding the spices to the beans, we toast them briefly in the pan. This helps release their essential oils and brings out a much deeper flavor.

Process shots of Bean and Cheese Burritos-- images of the burrito being folded up and cooked

Favorite Bean and Cheese Burrito Toppings

Time to talk about my favorite part– the toppings! Sure, the core recipe is tempting as it is, but let’s face it, a burrito decked out with toppings takes it to another level! Drizzle on a tangy sour cream and lime mixture, add dollops of creamy guacamole, or sprinkle on some zesty pico de gallo – the possibilities are endless!

  • Sour cream and lime: Combine light sour cream and lime juice for a creamy, tangy drizzle.
  • Guacamole or avocado: Lay on some guacamole or sliced avocado to add a rich, creamy dimension. Besides the wonderful taste and texture, they bring healthy fats and a gorgeous pop of green to your meal.
  • Pico de gallo, salsa, or cherry tomatoes: Spoonfuls of pico de gallo, your best-loved salsa, or some halved cherry tomatoes add a burst of fresh flavor.
  • Jalapeños: For the heat seekers, adding thinly sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños will fire things up just right.
  • Green onions or cilantro: A sprinkle of freshly chopped green onions or cilantro will lend a fresh, herbal zing to your burrito.
  • Cotija cheese: Finish off with a dusting of crumbly cotija, a mild Mexican cheese that adds an extra layer of salty deliciousness.

Overhead image of the dish ready to be enjoyed

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Bean and Cheese Burritos

5 from 2 votes
Easy Bean and Cheese Burritos are a breeze to whip up! They start with creamy refried beans and from there, we jazz them up! A myriad of spices, red enchilada sauce, and gooey, melty cheddar, get all snuggled up in a soft flour tortilla and then baked to crispy perfection. From there, you can go wild with your favorite toppings!
Print Recipe

Bean and Cheese Burritos

5 from 2 votes
Easy Bean and Cheese Burritos are a breeze to whip up! They start with creamy refried beans and from there, we jazz them up! A myriad of spices, red enchilada sauce, and gooey, melty cheddar, get all snuggled up in a soft flour tortilla and then baked to crispy perfection. From there, you can go wild with your favorite toppings!
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Healthy, Vegetarian
Keyword Bean and Cheese Burritos
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 burritos
Chelsea Lords
Calories 319kcal
Cost $7.12

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp each: chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 can (16 oz.) refried beans
  • ¼ up to ½ cup chicken broth
  • 6 large (10-inch) flour tortillas
  • 1 can red enchilada sauce (we'll use 9 tablespoons)(Note 1)
  • 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese (Note 2)
  • Cooking spray
  • Favorite burrito toppings: salsa or pico de gallo or cherry tomatoes, guac or avocado, sour cream, and lime juice (Note 3)

Instructions

  • PREP: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Generously grease a dark-colored sheet pan with sides with cooking spray and set aside.
  • BEANS: In a medium-sized nonstick pan over medium heat, add olive oil and seasonings. Season to taste. (I add ¼ up to ½ tsp salt, depending on how salty the beans are.) Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Scoop in refried beans. Pour in chicken broth-- just enough to get to the desired consistency. (We want beans to be smooth, not thick or chunky, so the amount will vary depending on the brand of beans used.) I start with ¼ cup and add up to ½ cup.
  • ASSEMBLE: Set out 6 flour tortillas. Divide bean mixture evenly between all the tortillas-- about ⅓ cup filling per tortilla. Make a slight divet in beans and pour in 1½ tbsp enchilada sauce on top of each. Add a packed ¼ cup cheese on top.
  • BAKE: Roll up tortillas, sealing them on each end. Spray each burrito all over with cooking spray and add to the prepared pan, sealed side down. Bake for 10 minutes; then remove pan. Carefully flip burritos over and bake for another 3-5 minutes or until nicely crisped Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite burrito toppings. Enjoy!

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Red enchilada sauce: Enchilada sauce can vary greatly in flavor and heat from brand to brand. Personally, I love and recommend Old El Paso® mild red enchilada sauce (not sponsored). If you aren’t able to find this specific brand, I’d recommend tasting the enchilada sauce first and making sure it isn’t too spicy and that you enjoy the flavor.
Note 2: Sharp cheddar Cheese: The sharpness of a cheese corresponds to its age. A well-aged cheese promises a deep, robust, and richer flavor. Freshly grated melts and tastes best!
Note 3: Toppings: Add your favorite toppings; our "must have" is a creamy element like avocado/guac or a sour cream drizzle. Here's our favorite quick sour cream drizzle: whisk 1/4 cup sour cream with 2 tbsp lime juice and a pinch of salt.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 1234mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 337mg | Iron: 2mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vegetable broth i never had bean and cheese burritos before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyda after work

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