Bean and Cheese Burritos

These classic bean and cheese burritos are loaded up with flavorful, creamy refried beans, melty cheese, and a spicy red sauce. This family dinner recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. Plus they can easily be prepared ahead of time making them perfect for busy weeknights.

All about these bean and cheese burritos…

• Under 30 minutes: this easy recipe comes together in under 30 minutes. Not to mention they freeze and reheat perfectly, making them a great option for family dinner.
• Family friendly: kids absolutely love this meal. Be sure to grab a mild enchilada sauce to keep any spice down if needed.
• Adaptable: you can add whatever you would like! Control the salt and the spice as needed, plus there’s info below on how to make sure this is a vegetarian friendly option.

Ingredients Needed:

Notes on some ingredients:

• Beans: to make this recipe quick and easy, canned refried beans are used, but we will be adding some seasoning and chicken broth to get the right texture. You can of course use homemade refried beans for this recipe if you want and have some on hand. Feel free to swap for refried black beans also!
• Red Sauce: this is simply canned enchilada sauce, if you are familiar with a certain fast food chain that serves up classic bean burritos, you know about the red sauce they have in them. I have found that canned Old El Paso Mild or Medium Enchilada Sauce has pretty much the exact same flavoring.
• Tortillas: to save time you can use store bought or buy some tortillas from your favorite Mexican or Tex Mex restaurant (usually places like that make their own and will sell them daily), or make your own at home following my Homemade Flour Tortilla recipe.

How to make (step-by-step):

• Step 1: Prepare the beans, since canned refried beans come fairly thick, add in some broth to get the desired consistency. Then season, start with the recipe and add to taste as needed.
• Step 2: Fill the tortillas, start with the beans, add your filling to the tortilla. To help with rolling I find it easier to put the filling slightly off center.
• Step 3: Top with some red sauce.
• Step 4: Add the cheese.

• Step 5: Fold the tortillas and bake. Fold up one side of the tortilla, and fold in to the left and right, then continue rolling the tortillas so that the ends are folded in and the fillings are in the middle of the tortillas. Lay on a baking sheet with the folded side down and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Expert Tips:

• Meat Free: need a vegetarian or meat free dinner idea? This is a great recipe idea. Simply make sure you are using vegetarian friendly refried beans that haven’t been cooked in any fats made from meats. Then swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
• Let cool. The insides of the refried bean burritos will be very hot when you take them out of the oven. Let them cool before serving or biting into one.
• Alternate Cooking: if you would prefer you can cook these on a large skillet on the stovetop. Simply lay the burritos down on a hot skillet, folded side down first and cook for 3-5 minutes until toasted, then carefully flip and cook the other side an additional 3-5 minutes until toasted.
• Freezing: these freeze beautifully, making it a great option for a freezer meal. Follow the instructions and cook the burritos. Then let cool completely to room temperature. Then wrap each individual burrito in foil then store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 6 months. Reheat by placing wrapped burritos on a baking sheet and baking in a 400 degree oven for 45 minutes or until warmed through. OR you can heat on the stovetop in a skillet. This ensures that the tortilla is nice and crispy and not soggy.
• Tortillas not folding: if your having a hard time folding the tortillas heat them slightly, you can heat in a skillet on the stovetop or place in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.

FAQ’s:

More recipes to enjoy:

• Baked Chicken Quesadillas
• Classic Ground Beef Tacos
• Mexican Picadillo
• Cowboy Quesadillas

Photography done by the talented @KJandCompany.co