Beef Burrito Recipe

This Beef Burrito Recipe combines seasoned ground beef, cilantro-lime rice, refried beans, and Cheddar cheese in customizable, delicious wraps. Easy to make, they’re ready in 30 minutes and freezer-friendly for quick, convenient meals.

Beef Burrito Recipe

Before my third child arrived, I knew I needed to prepare, and these beef burritos were a priority because they freeze and reheat well, are super kid-friendly, and easy to make.

Although burritos can get a bit complicated with all of the different components that go into them, my goal with this Beef Burrito Recipe is to create something that is both as flavorful as possible and as easy as possible. While there are a few parts to this recipe, I’ve simplified each one as much as possible to make the process quicker and simpler.

There is still some prep time involved in assembling and preparing these burritos, but the end result is definitely worth it. Not only do you get to enjoy a delicious meal, but you also have the convenience of having a whole stack of burritos ready to eat throughout the week or freeze and enjoy later. 

Ingredients

• Beef: Lean ground beef is seasoned with taco seasoning and simmered in red enchilada sauce. For a twist, you can substitute with ground turkey (or, try the beef chuck roast from our Shredded Beef Enchiladas recipe).
• Rice: I love making some Cilantro-lime rice but if you’re short on time, you can use microwaveable or plain cooked rice as a quick alternative.
• Tortillas: Large flour tortillas wrap all the ingredients together. Warm them slightly before assembling to make rolling easier.
• Beans: I use refried beans and optional black beans in these beef burritos, feel free to do just one or the other. Ensure the beans are well-rinsed to avoid excess salt.
• Cheese: Freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese melts into the warm filling. I recommend grating your own cheese for the best melt, pre shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.
• Toppings/Dips: My favorite toppings are sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. The best thing about these burritos is that you can make them your way. If you’re serving a group, put the toppings on the side so everyone can choose what they like.

QUICK TIP

If you prefer to make your own seasoning mix or sauce for this beef burrito recipe, we’ve got you covered! Try our go-to taco seasoning recipe or our homemade enchilada sauce.

How To Make Beef Burritos

1. Cook the Beef: In a skillet, sauté onions in olive oil until golden, then add and sear the ground beef. Let the beef brown well before stirring for extra flavor.
2. Season and Simmer: Stir in taco seasoning and enchilada sauce, simmering until thickened. Scrape the pan with the sauce to lift flavorful bits into the mixture.
3. Prepare the Rice: Cook the cilantro-lime rice as directed. Let the rice stand off the heat after cooking for fluffier texture.
4. Assemble the Burritos: Spread rice, beef, refried beans, and cheese evenly on each tortilla. Make sure not to overfill each tortilla to make sure it’s easy to roll.
5. Roll and Bake: Roll the burritos tightly, place on a greased sheet, and bake until crisp. Apply a light oil spray before baking for a crispier shell.
6. Serve: Allow beef burrito recipe to cool slightly and serve with toppings like sour cream or salsa. 

Beef Burrito Recipe Toppings

There are so many delicious toppings that you can add to these burritos to take them to the next level! If you’re planning on freezing these I recommend leaving the toppings off until you’ve reheated and are ready to eat. Here are some ideas:

• Shredded lettuce: Adds a cool and crispy texture to your burrito.
• Diced tomatoes: Or add a spoonful of salsa or pico de gallo on top for some freshness. Pick a salsa or pico that matches your desired spice level.
• Sliced avocado or guacamole: You can dice up a creamy avocado or add some guacamole.
• Sour cream: Fat-free or light sour cream is also a great option.
• Jalapeños: This adds a nice spice to your burrito if you’re looking to turn up the heat.
• Lime wedges: A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds a bright and zesty flavor.
• Chopped onions: Adds a bit of crunch. You can also throw on some pickled red onions, follow the recipe in this BBQ Chicken Sweet Potatoes recipe.

What To Serve With This Beef Burrito Recipe

There are many tasty options to serve alongside this Beef Burrito Recipe. Here are a few ideas:

• Guacamole and chips: Use any leftover guacamole from topping the burritos and serve it with tortilla chips.
• Corn on the cob: Roasted or grilled corn on the cob with a sprinkle of chili powder and lime juice is a delicious and easy side dish. (Or try our Elote recipe!)
• Corn salad: This Roasted Corn Salad with bell peppers or this Mexican Street Corn Salad are two favorites.
• Rice: Try making a side dish of this simple Mexican Rice — it’s so easy and bakes (yes, bakes!) in one dish.
• A quick salad: This Chipotle Chicken Salad is a favorite — just leave off the chicken to make it more of a side dish.

More Delicious Mexican-Inspired Recipes:

• Tortilla Pie a quick 30-minute dinner recipe
• Chicken Tacos with a Mexican street corn-inspired topping
• French Bread Taco Pizza “pizza” made on bread instead!
• Navajo Tacos with Fry Bread
• Ground Beef Quesadillas cooked in the air fryer or in a skillet!

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Beef Burrito Recipe

5 from 4 votes

- Review this recipe

This Beef Burrito Recipe combines seasoned ground beef, cilantro-lime rice, refried beans, and Cheddar cheese in customizable, delicious wraps. Easy to make, they're ready in 30 minutes and freezer-friendly for quick, convenient meals.

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Beef Burrito Recipe

5 from 4 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

This Beef Burrito Recipe combines seasoned ground beef, cilantro-lime rice, refried beans, and Cheddar cheese in customizable, delicious wraps. Easy to make, they're ready in 30 minutes and freezer-friendly for quick, convenient meals.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword Beef Burrito Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8 burritos

Chelsea Lords

Calories 339kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $10.53

Equipment

• Cooking Spray

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 large yellow onion, finely diced (1½ cups)
• ▢ 1 pound lean (93/7) ground beef
• ▢ 1 pkt. (1 oz) taco seasoning (Note 1)
• ▢ ¾ cup mild red enchilada sauce (Note 2)
• ▢ Optional: 1 can (15 oz) black beans
• ▢ 1 batch cilantro lime rice (or prepare 1 cup uncooked rice--Note 3)
• ▢ 8 large (10 inch) flour tortillas
• ▢ 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
• ▢ 2 packed cups sharp Cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• ▢ Favorite burrito toppings/dips: sour cream, guacamole/avocado, pico de gallo/salsa, etc.

US - Metric

USMetric

Instructions

• BEEF: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sauté diced onion until golden, about 3 minutes, then push to the pan's edges. Add ground beef to the center, sear until brown, then crumble and cook through, about 3-5 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  
• FINISH BEEF: Reduce heat to medium, add taco seasoning, and stir until the beef is cooked and fragrant, about 1-3 minutes. Add enchilada sauce and simmer until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in drained and rinsed black beans if using, and let cool slightly. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• RICE: Meanwhile, prepare rice. (Note 3 if you'd like to make our favorite cilantro-lime rice.)
• ASSEMBLE: To assemble burritos, lay out tortillas and toppings. Evenly distribute the mixtures among the tortillas, then roll them up tightly.
  
• BAKE BURRITOS: Spray the burritos with olive oil cooking spray and rub it in. Coat a large, dark-colored sheet pan with spray and space the burritos apart on it. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes, flip, and bake another 5 minutes until crisped. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings and dips. Optionally, crisp in a skillet instead.
  

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Homemade taco seasoning: Mix 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon each of cumin and paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Use as a substitute for packaged seasoning.

Note 2: Enchilada sauce:Enchilada sauce flavors and heat vary by brand. I recommend Old El Paso® mild red enchilada sauce. If unavailable, taste the sauce first to ensure it's not too spicy and suits your preference. Alternatively, try our fave homemade Enchilada Sauce.

Note 3: Cilantro-lime rice: Prepare 1 cup rice as per package directions or make cilantro-lime rice: In a pot, mix 1 cup long-grain or basmati rice with 1.5 cups water and 0.5 tsp salt. Heat until boiling, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12-14 minutes until tender. Off heat, stir in 1 tbsp butter, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then add 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp lime zest, and 0.5 cup cilantro. Season to taste.

Note 4: Storage and Re-Heating: To store fresh burritos, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. For freezing, wrap each burrito in plastic wrap or parchment, place in a freezer bag, label, and freeze for up to three months.

• Re-heating leftovers:
  • To reheat a burrito from the fridge, cook in a skillet or on a grill pan over medium-low heat until crispy and the cheese melts. In an air fryer, unwrap, spray with cooking oil, and cook at 360 degrees F for 6-10 minutes, flipping halfway. If reheating multiple burritos, space them out and increase the cooking time as needed.
  • To reheat a frozen burrito, wrap it in foil and air fry for 18-20 minutes at 360 degrees F, flipping halfway. Alternatively, microwave on defrost for 7-9 minutes or by weight (1 pound), then crisp in a skillet if desired. For oven reheating, bake wrapped in foil at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes, and optionally crisp in a skillet afterward.
    • Please note that microwaves, ovens, and air fryers can vary greatly, so it's important to watch the burritos carefully and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 1128mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 694IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 4mg

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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