Are you on the hunt for the ultimate, super-fast, ridiculously easy, and crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that the whole family will go crazy for? These amazing, from-scratch-tasting Beef and Bean Burritos are your new go-to! Savory, seasoned ground beef, creamy refried beans, and a thick layer of gooey, melted cheese are all wrapped up in a warm, soft tortilla and then crisped to golden-brown perfection in a skillet.
This isn’t just another burrito recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite “better than takeout” meal. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly folded burrito that never falls apart, and the restaurant-style trick of pan-frying the outside for an incredible, crispy finish. This is a satisfying, budget-friendly, and completely irresistible meal that is pure comfort.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Weeknight Dinner
What makes these Beef and Bean Burritos so spectacularly delicious is their classic, comforting flavor and a brilliant, simple cooking technique. This recipe uses smart shortcuts, like canned refried beans and a packet of taco seasoning, to create a deeply flavorful filling in minutes. But the real secret that takes these from a simple wrap to a restaurant-quality meal is the final, crucial step: pan-frying the folded burrito. This simple trick not only seals the burrito but also creates a beautiful, golden-brown, and slightly crispy exterior that is absolutely irresistible.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6 burritos |
The Essential Ingredients for This Easy Burrito
This recipe uses a handful of smart shortcuts and pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The Hearty Filling:
- Ground Beef: For the best flavor, a lean ground beef such as 85/15 is a great choice that will provide plenty of savory flavor without making the filling too greasy.
- Taco Seasoning: A standard packet of your favorite taco seasoning is a fantastic, all-in-one shortcut that provides a perfect, savory, and complex blend of spices like chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder.
- Canned Refried Beans: Using a can of your favorite refried beans is the ultimate time-saver. It provides a wonderfully creamy, rich, and satisfying layer in the burritos.
- The Cheese: A classic, crowd-pleasing shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend is the perfect choice. It has a wonderful, mild flavor and melts beautifully into a gooey, irresistible river of cheese. For the absolute best, creamiest melt, it’s always recommended to shred your own cheese from a block.
- The Tortillas: It is crucial to use large, 12-inch “burrito-size” flour tortillas. This large size is essential for holding all the delicious fillings and for getting a clean, tight fold.
Step-by-Step to the Best Homemade Burritos
This delicious meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Prepare the Fillings
Step 1: In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the 1 pound of ground beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Use a wooden spoon to break the beef into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
Step 2: Stir in your 1 envelope of taco seasoning. Remove the cooked meat from the skillet and set it aside. Wipe the skillet clean.
Step 3: In a small saucepan, cook the 1 can of refried beans over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are heated through.
Part 2: Assemble and Fold Your Burritos
Step 1: First, warm your 6 large flour tortillas. This is a crucial step that makes them soft and pliable, which is the secret to folding them without cracking or tearing. You can warm them by wrapping the stack in a damp paper towel and microwaving for about 30-60 seconds.
Step 2: Lay one warm tortilla flat on your work surface. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the warm refried beans in a line slightly off-center. Top the beans with about 1/4 cup of the seasoned beef mixture. Sprinkle generously with the shredded cheese.
Step 3 (How to Fold a Burrito): First, fold the two shorter sides of the tortilla in, over the edges of the filling. Then, take the bottom edge of the tortilla (the edge closest to you) and pull it up and snugly over the filling. Tightly roll the burrito up and away from you until you have a secure, sealed package. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
Part 3: Pan-Fry to Golden, Crispy Perfection
In the same large skillet that you wiped clean, heat the 4 teaspoons of canola oil over medium-high heat.
Carefully place the folded burritos, with the seam-side down, into the hot skillet. Cook the burritos on all sides, turning them carefully with a spatula, until they are a beautiful, deep golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Serve the hot burritos immediately with your favorite toppings, like cool sour cream and some fresh salsa.
The Easiest Cheesy Beef and Bean Burritos
A simple and classic recipe for ‘Tasty Burritos’ filled with seasoned ground beef and refried beans. The filling is made by cooking ground beef with a packet of taco seasoning and separately heating canned refried beans. This mixture, along with shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, is rolled into large, warm flour tortillas. The finished burritos are then pan-fried in a skillet until they are golden brown on all sides, and served with sour cream and salsa.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 envelope taco seasoning
- 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
- 6 flour tortillas (12 inches), warmed
- 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 teaspoons canola oil
- Sour cream and salsa, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles. Drain off the excess grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning according to the package directions. Remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside.
- In a small saucepan, cook the refried beans over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
- Spoon about 1/3 cup of the warm refried beans off-center on each tortilla. Top with about 1/4 cup of the seasoned beef mixture.
- Sprinkle with cheese. Fold the sides and ends of the tortillas over the filling and roll them up tightly.
- Wipe the skillet clean and heat the canola oil over medium-high heat.
- Carefully place the rolled burritos in the hot skillet, seam-side down, and brown them on all sides.
- Serve immediately with sour cream and salsa.
Notes
- This is a quick and easy weeknight meal, using convenient ingredients like canned refried beans and a taco seasoning packet.
- The final step of pan-frying the rolled burritos in a skillet gives them a delicious, slightly crispy exterior.
- Warming the tortillas before filling makes them more pliable and easier to roll without tearing.
Storage & Make-Ahead / Freezer Guide
These burritos are the ultimate make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal!
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the entire cooked beef filling and the refried beans up to 3 days in advance. Store them in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator. This makes the final assembly and pan-frying incredibly fast.
- To Freeze for Later: This is a fantastic freezer meal. Let the cooked fillings cool completely. Assemble and fold the burritos as directed. Wrap each individual, un-fried burrito tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. Place them in a large, freezer-safe, resealable bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat a Frozen Burrito: To reheat from frozen, unwrap the burrito, wrap it in a damp paper towel, and microwave for about 2-3 minutes, until it is hot all the way through. For a crispy finish, you can then place the hot burrito in a hot, oiled skillet for a minute on each side.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add Some Rice: For a heartier and more classic, “Mission-style” burrito, you can add a generous scoop of your favorite cooked white rice or a zesty cilantro-lime rice to the filling along with the beans and the beef.
- Make it a Vegetarian Burrito: For a delicious and easy vegetarian version, you can simply omit the ground beef and use an extra can of your favorite beans (like black beans or pinto beans) in its place. Be sure to use vegetarian refried beans.
- Add More Vegetables: For some extra flavor and nutrition, you can sauté about 1 cup of your favorite chopped vegetables, like bell peppers and onions, and add them to the skillet along with the ground beef.
Enjoy The Ultimate Easy & Cheesy Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These Beef and Bean Burritos are a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch-tasting meal to bring the whole family together. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested family favorite for busy weeknights.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to fold a burrito so that it doesn’t fall apart?
The key is to use a large, warm, and pliable tortilla and to not overfill it. Lay your fillings in the center. First, fold in the two sides of the tortilla over the edges of the filling. Then, while holding the sides in, take the bottom of the tortilla and pull it up and snugly over the filling. Finally, continue to roll it up tightly. Pan-frying it with the seam-side down at the beginning is a great final trick to help seal it.
Q2: What is the secret to getting a crispy, golden-brown, “grilled” burrito at home?
The secret is the final pan-frying step! By cooking your folded burrito in a hot skillet with a little bit of oil, you are essentially “grilling” the outside of the tortilla. This is the key that creates that beautiful, golden-brown, and slightly crispy texture that you get at your favorite taqueria.
Q3: Can I make these burritos ahead of time to freeze?
Yes, this is an absolutely perfect freezer meal! Simply prepare and assemble the burritos completely, let them cool, and then wrap each one individually in plastic wrap and foil before you place them in a freezer bag. This makes them a fantastic, healthy, and budget-friendly “grab-and-go” lunch or dinner.
Q4: What is the best kind of cheese to use for burritos?
A good, flavorful melting cheese is key. A classic Colby-Monterey Jack blend, as the recipe suggests, is a fantastic choice because it is very mild and melts beautifully. A sharp cheddar or a spicy pepper jack would also be delicious choices.
Q5: Can I add fresh lettuce and tomato to these burritos?
You can, but it is best to add them after you have cooked and crisped the burrito. If you add fresh, cold ingredients like lettuce, tomato, or sour cream to the inside of the burrito before you pan-fry it, they will become warm and wilted.