Are you looking for the ultimate vegan burrito recipe? One that is so hearty, so packed with fresh, vibrant flavors, and so deeply satisfying that you’ll never miss the meat? This incredible, from-scratch Black Bean and Fajita Pepper Burrito is that perfect meal. It’s a complete, healthy, and delicious guide to building the best burrito of your life, loaded with seasoned black beans, sweet sautéed peppers, fluffy cilantro-lime rice, and a rich and creamy homemade guacamole.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for the best, most satisfying, and totally plant-based lunches and dinners. We’ll show you the simple secrets to layering flavors and textures perfectly, and how to meal-prep a batch of these beauties for a week of easy, grab-and-go meals. Get ready to fall in love with a burrito that is as nourishing as it is delicious.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Healthy & Hearty Meal
What makes this Vegan Burrito so spectacularly delicious is its perfect combination of flavorful, from-scratch components that create a true symphony of tastes and textures. This isn’t just a boring bean burrito; it’s a complete, restaurant-quality meal. The filling is a fantastic medley of hearty, taco-seasoned black beans, sweet and tender sautéed red bell peppers, fluffy and zesty cilantro-lime rice, and a rich and creamy homemade guacamole. All of these delicious, wholesome ingredients are then wrapped in a warm, soft flour tortilla for the perfect, satisfying bite.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 40 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 25 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6 burritos |
The Essential Ingredients for This Vibrant Burrito
This iconic dish uses a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients to create its signature vibrant and savory flavor.
- The Hearty Fillings:
- Marinated Black Beans: We use canned black beans for convenience, but the secret is a quick marinade in lime juice and a simple, homemade taco seasoning. This simple step infuses the beans with an incredible, zesty flavor.
- Sautéed Fajita Peppers: Thinly sliced red bell peppers are sautéed until they are soft, sweet, and slightly caramelized, adding a wonderful, classic fajita flavor.
- The Essential Sides (Made From Scratch!):
- Cilantro Lime Rice: A fluffy bed of long-grain white rice, perfectly seasoned with fresh cilantro and lime juice, is the classic, zesty base for any great burrito.
- Simple Guacamole: A rich, creamy, and flavorful guacamole is a non-negotiable component for the ultimate burrito experience.
- The Tortillas: It is crucial to use large, 10- or 12-inch “burrito-size” flour tortillas. This large size is essential for holding all the delicious fillings and for getting a clean, tight fold without tearing.
Step-by-Step to the Best Vegan Burritos
This delicious meal comes together in a few simple stages. You can easily prepare all the components at the same time.
Part 1: The Essential Sides (Rice & Guacamole)
For the Easiest Cilantro Lime Rice:
- Ingredients: 1 cup long-grain white rice, 2 cups water, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, juice of 1 lime.
- Instructions: In a medium saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil. Stir in the rice, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the fresh cilantro and lime juice.
For the Simple, Perfect Guacamole:
- Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados, ½ cup chopped red onion, 1 jalapeño (seeded and minced), ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, juice of 1 lime, ½ teaspoon sea salt.
- Instructions: In a medium bowl, mash the avocados with a fork until they have reached your desired consistency. Stir in the onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
Part 2: The Flavorful Fillings (Beans & Peppers)
For the Homemade Taco Seasoning:
- In a small bowl, whisk together: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
Step 1: In a medium bowl, stir together the 1 1/2 cups of cooked black beans, the 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice, 2 teaspoons of your prepared taco seasoning, the 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and the 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Set this aside to marinate while you prepare the peppers.
Step 2: Heat the 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 2 sliced red bell peppers, a pinch of salt, and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the peppers are soft and have beautiful, browned spots. Remove from the heat.
Part 3: How to Assemble the Perfect Burrito
Step 1: Warm your large flour tortillas. This is a crucial step that makes them soft and pliable, which is the secret to folding them without cracking. You can warm them by wrapping the stack in a damp paper towel and microwaving them for 30-60 seconds.
Step 2: Lay one warm tortilla flat on your work surface. In the center of the tortilla, create a horizontal line of your fillings: a layer of spinach or lettuce, a scoop of the cilantro-lime rice, some of the marinated black beans, a few of the sautéed peppers, a generous spoonful of guacamole, a sprinkle of pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and a few jalapeño slices.
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.
Serve the burritos immediately with your favorite salsa on the side.
The Ultimate Healthy Vegan Burrito (Easy Meal-Prep!)
A hearty and flavorful recipe for a customizable vegan burrito. This dish is built around a core of simply seasoned black beans and sautéed sweet red bell peppers. The fillings are layered in a large, warm flour tortilla with your choice of rice, fresh spinach, creamy guacamole, tangy pickled red onions, and fresh cilantro. The recipe is highly adaptable and perfect for a satisfying plant-based meal.
Ingredients
- For the Beans:
- 1 ½ cups cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- For the Peppers:
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced into thin strips
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- For Assembly & Serving:
- 6 large flour tortillas
- Spinach or lettuce
- Cooked Spanish Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice
- Guacamole
- Pickled Red Onions
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced
- Salsa, for serving
Instructions
- Note: This recipe assumes some components like rice, guacamole, and pickled onions are pre-made or made from separate recipes.
- Prepare the Beans: In a medium bowl, stir together the black beans, lime juice, taco seasoning, olive oil, and salt. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the other components.
- Cook the Peppers: Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced bell peppers, a pinch of salt, and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the peppers are soft and browned in places.
- Assemble the Burritos: Warm the tortillas to make them pliable.
- Lay a tortilla flat and fill the center with a layer of spinach, a scoop of rice, some of the seasoned beans, the sautéed peppers, guacamole, pickled red onions, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño slices.
- To roll, fold in the sides of the tortilla first, then tuck the bottom edge over the filling and roll it closed tightly.
- Serve immediately with your favorite salsa.
Notes
- This recipe is a template for a delicious vegan burrito; feel free to add or substitute your favorite fillings like corn, mushrooms, or vegan cheese.
- Making components like the rice, pickled onions, and guacamole ahead of time makes for a very quick and easy assembly.
- Warming the tortillas before filling is a key step to prevent them from cracking when you roll them.
The Ultimate Meal-Prep and Freezer Guide
These vegan burritos are the absolute perfect meal-prep recipe for a week of delicious and healthy grab-and-go lunches!
- To Make-Ahead for the Fridge: You can prepare all the cooked components (the rice, the beans, and the peppers) and store them in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The guacamole and other fresh toppings are best made fresh.
- To Freeze for Later: This is a fantastic freezer meal. Let all the cooked fillings cool completely. Assemble your burritos as directed (it’s best to leave out any watery fillings like fresh spinach or salsa). Wrap each individual 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 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it is hot all the way through. For a crispy finish, you can then place the hot burrito in a hot, dry skillet for a minute on each side.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Add a Different Vegetable: This is a great “clean out the fridge” recipe! You can add about 1 cup of roasted, cubed sweet potatoes or some sautéed onions and mushrooms to your filling. A handful of corn is also a fantastic addition.
- Use a Different Grain: If you’re not a fan of white rice, you can easily substitute it with an equal amount of cooked quinoa or brown rice.
- Make it a Burrito Bowl: For a fantastic, gluten-free, or lower-carb meal, you can simply skip the tortilla and serve all your delicious fillings over a large bed of chopped romaine lettuce or cauliflower rice.
Enjoy The Ultimate Healthy & Hearty Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These Vegan Burritos are a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch plant-based meal to be both incredibly hearty and wonderfully delicious. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new favorite.
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 healthy meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to fold a burrito so that the fillings don’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.
Q2: How do I make these burritos for meal prep so they don’t get soggy?
The secret is to let all your cooked fillings cool completely before you assemble your burritos for freezing. It is also a good idea to leave out any very wet or fresh ingredients (like the salsa or the fresh lettuce) from the inside of the burritos that you plan to freeze.
Q3: Are these burritos spicy?
As written, this recipe has a mild to medium level of heat from the jalapeño in the guacamole and the optional fresh jalapeño slices on top. For a much milder burrito, you can simply omit the jalapeños. For a spicier burrito, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your taco seasoning or serve with your favorite hot sauce.
Q4: Can I use a different kind of bean?
Of course! While black beans are a classic choice, this burrito would also be delicious with an equal amount of pinto beans or even refried beans.
Q5: What is tamari?
Tamari is a type of Japanese soy sauce that is traditionally made as a byproduct of miso paste. It is typically made with little to no wheat, which makes it a great gluten-free option, and it has a slightly thicker, richer, deeper, and less salty flavor than a standard Chinese-style soy sauce