These beef burritos are a total crowd-pleaser, combining tender, flavorful beef, oodles of melted cheese, all snugly wrapped in a soft tortilla and slathered in a homemade red enchilada sauce.
I’ve got a recipe for Smothered Beef Burritos that is absolutely going to knock your socks off!
It’s the kind of meal that makes everyone rush to the dinner table. What’s better than a pan full of hearty burrito goodness?
Whether you’re serving it up for a casual dinner at home or bringing it along to your next potluck, these beef burritos, dripping with homemade red sauce and covered in melted cheese, are guaranteed to make mouths water.
I actually surprised myself with this one. I’m a fan of frozen bean burritos (don’t judge, haha) and these smothered burritos were unbelievably tasty.
I should know this by now. Homemade is always better! A delicious beef burrito would, of course, be no exception! My whole family approved.
This recipe for easy beef burritos is one that you’ll want to save for future use. If you’ve got any space left in that recipe box of yours, stuff this one in there!
Perfect for a cozy family dinner or for prepping meals ahead of a busy week, this recipe for beef burritos is going to win you over. Let’s jump into the delicious details!
Some of our other favorite Mexican inspired recipes we have on our site include: Easy Taco Mexican Pasta Recipe (One Pot Meal), Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe, and Easy Birria de Res Recipe (Birria Beef Tacos).
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Hearty and Satisfying: The combo of lean ground beef and beans ensures these burritos fill you up.
- Cheese, Please!: A mix of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar cheese melts perfectly, adding a creamy, cheesy layer.
- Crowd-Pleaser: From little ones to adults, everyone loves a good beef burrito, especially when it’s smothered in sauce and cheese.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Olive oil
- Ground beef
- Diced onion
- Minced garlic cloves
- Taco seasoning packet
- Water
- Salsa
- Refried beans
- Fresh cilantro
- Unsalted butter
- Cornstarch
- Chili powder
- Granulated sugar
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- Unsalted chicken stock
- Tomato sauce
- Flour tortillas (burrito-sized)
- Shredded Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar cheese
HOW TO MAKE BEEF BURRITOS:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
- Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and let it melt. Whisk in the cornstarch, chili powder, sugar, cumin, oregano, and salt, whisk constantly for 1 minute to bring out the flavor of the spices.
- Slowly pour in the chicken stock, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add the tomato sauce and whisk it in. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. Take off the heat and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and onion, breaking the meat into crumbles and cooking until there is no pink left and the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the taco seasoning, stir to coat the meat. Add the water and salsa, stir to combine. Add the refried beans, break it up and mix it in until combined.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chopped cilantro and stir it in, take off the heat.
- Mix the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses together. Divide into two equal portions, set aside.
- Add ⅓ of the red sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish, spread it out to coat.
- On a clean work surface place a tortilla. Add 1/6th of the meat mixture in the middle of the tortilla. Taking one-half of the cheese mixture, take 1/6th of it and place it on top of the meat.
- Fold the two outer flaps of the tortilla over the filling. Tightly roll the tortilla into a little package. Place it seam-side down into the baking dish, repeat with the remaining tortillas, meat, and cheese.
- Pour the remaining red sauce on top, try and cover all the exposed tortillas. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes uncovered until bubbly. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF TORTILLAS ARE THE BEST TO USE?
Soft flour tortillas, especially the burrito-sized ones, are ideal for wrapping up all the tasty filling without breaking.
Any good beef burrito recipe needs a good, solid burrito tortilla! By the way, did you know that burrito means little donkey in spanish?
HOW TO REHEAT?
Reheating these ground beef burritos is a breeze in the microwave. I like the microwave best since they’re all slathered in sauce.
You can certainly warm them up in the oven, though! Just make sure it’s covered to prevent drying out.
CAN I ADD TOPPINGS?
Absolutely! Pico de gallo, sour cream, and green onions are just a few toppings that can add extra flavor and texture.
I’ve got a great list of additions right below here that could level up your delicious burrito even more!
ANY ADDITIONS?
I’m a fan of white rice or Spanish rice with my burritos. This is probably the perfect recipe to add it to!
- Pico de gallo
- Sliced avocados
- Chopped tomatoes
- Jalapeño slices
- Sour cream dollops
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped olives
- Diced green chilies
- Fresh lime wedges
- Sliced radishes
- Guacamole
- Chopped Cilantro
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
Mexican food is pretty easy to swap things out with. Here are just a few ideas for you!
- Ground turkey or chicken for beef
- Brown rice or quinoa for refried beans
- Greek yogurt for sour cream
- Corn tortillas for a gluten-free option
- Black beans or pinto beans for a vegetarian twist
- Spinach tortillas for an extra veggie punch
HOW TO STORE:
Refrigerator: Keep them wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap each burrito in parchment paper, then foil, and store in freezer bags for up to 3 months.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- For the best burritos, use a combination of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar for that perfect melt.
- Adding a little hot sauce or adobo sauce to the beef mixture can kick up the flavor.
- If you’re short on time, using a store-bought red enchilada sauce is a quick and easy substitute.
- Cooking the beef with onion powder and garlic powder adds depth to the flavor.
- For those who love their burritos extra cheesy, don’t hesitate to add more cheese on top before baking.
- Don’t forget to spray your baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
There you have it, folks – a simple yet utterly delicious Beef Burritos that’s sure to become a new favorite.
So, grab your skillet and tortillas, and let’s get cooking! After one bite, you’ll see why this dish is one of the favorite meals in kitchens across the country.
Enjoy your meal, and remember, the best part of cooking is putting your own spin on recipes, so feel free to make it your own!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried these BEEF BURRITOS, let me know how it turned out in the comments! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Easy Smothered Beef Burritos Recipe
Ingredients
For the red sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups unsalted chicken stock
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
For the filling:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ounce package taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 16 ounce can refried beans
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
For burrito assembly:
- 1 & 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1& 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 burrito sized tortillas 10-inch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
- Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and let it melt. Whisk in the cornstarch, chili powder, sugar, cumin, oregano, and salt, whisk constantly for 1 minute to bring out the flavor of the spices.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Slowly pour in the chicken stock, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add the tomato sauce and whisk it in. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. Take off the heat and set aside.2 cups unsalted chicken stock, 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and onion, breaking the meat into crumbles and cooking until there is no pink left and the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 cup diced onion
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the taco seasoning, stir to coat the meat. Add the water and salsa, stir to combine. Add the refried beans, break it up and mix it in until combined.2 cloves garlic, 1 ounce package taco seasoning, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup salsa, 16 ounce can refried beans
- Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chopped cilantro and stir it in, take off the heat.1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- Mix the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses together. Divide into two equal portions, set aside.1 & 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, 1& 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Add ⅓ of the red sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish, spread it out to coat.
- On a clean work surface place a tortilla. Add 1/6th of the meat mixture in the middle of the tortilla. Taking one-half of the cheese mixture, take 1/6th of it and place it on top of the meat.6 burrito sized tortillas
- Fold the two outer flaps of the tortilla over the filling. Tightly roll the tortilla into a little package. Place it seam-side down into the baking dish, repeat with the remaining tortillas, meat, and cheese.
- Pour the remaining red sauce on top, try and cover all the exposed tortillas. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes uncovered until bubbly. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- For the best burritos, use a combination of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar for that perfect melt.
- Adding a little hot sauce or adobo sauce to the beef mixture can kick up the flavor.
- If you’re short on time, using a store-bought red enchilada sauce is a quick and easy substitute.
- Cooking the beef with onion powder and garlic powder adds depth to the flavor.
- For those who love their burritos extra cheesy, don’t hesitate to add more cheese on top before baking.
- Don’t forget to spray your baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
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