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    Home » Easy Weeknight Meals » Crispy Bean Burritos

    Crispy Bean Burritos

    Published: January 20, 2023 · Jill Baird · Leave a Comment

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    easy Crispy Bean Burritos recipe, easy dinner
    Crispy Bean Burritos
    Bean and Cheese Burrito

    These Crispy Bean Burritos are the ultimate quick and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. Each pan-fried burrito is filled with refried beans, salsa, and melty cheese, perfect for serving with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or any of your favorite Mexican toppings.

    Jump to:
    • Classic Bean and Cheese Burritos Recipe
    • Ingredients in Bean and Cheese Burritos
    • How to Make Crispy Bean Burritos
    • Bean and Cheese Burrito Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and Reheating
    • Crispy Bean Burritos Recipe
    • More Quick and Easy Mexican-Inspired Dinner Ideas

    Classic Bean and Cheese Burritos Recipe

    If you are looking for a family-friendly weeknight meal that can be ready in about 15 minutes, these Crispy Bean Burritos are where it’s at. Not only are they delicious, filling, and super easy to make, they are also freezer-friendly and require just a handful of pantry ingredients.

    This recipe shows you how to make classic Bean and Cheese Burritos, but feel free to try any of the variations listed below. You can add various proteins and spices, try different beans and cheeses, and so much more. Serve with sour cream and your favorite salsa or guacamole. And if you like this recipe, you will love our Crispy Ground Beef Tacos.

    A serving plate with two Crispy Bean Burritos stacked on each other, topped with sour cream, diced peppers, and green onions.

    Ingredients in Bean and Cheese Burritos

    • Refried Beans - when it comes to buying refried beans, you have a couple of different options. If you are a strict vegetarian, look for cans that say “vegetarian” because many brands contain lard. Also, if you like your burritos spicy try to find refried beans with chipotle or jalapenos in them. Both pinto beans and black beans work as substitutes, if you prefer. 
    • Salsa - use your favorite brand of salsa, or even try making your own Homemade Fresh Salsa. You will need some to mix into the refried beans as well as extra to serve for a dipping sauce.
    • Shredded Cheese - I like to use either a Mexican blend or shredded cheddar cheese. Pepper jack or Monterey jack would taste great, too.
    • Tortillas - you will need medium-sized flour tortillas. Sometimes you can find tortillas that are actually labeled “burrito.”
    • Avocado Oil - you can use avocado oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil for pan-frying your Crispy Bean Burritos.

    Ideas For Dipping

    • Salsa
    • Sour cream
    • Guacamole
    • Pico de gallo
    • Hot sauce

    How to Make Crispy Bean Burritos

    1. Make the bean mixture. In a small mixing bowl, mix together the refried beans and salsa.
    2. Build the burritos. Lay a tortilla onto a flat surface and spread about ⅓ cup of the bean mixture onto it. Sprinkle the beans with a couple tablespoons of shredded cheese. Tuck the sides of the tortilla in, then roll the burrito tightly from bottom to top. Continue with the rest of the tortillas.
    3. Pan-fry the burritos. In a large skillet, add a couple tablespoons of oil and heat until warm. Add 2-3 burritos at a time, seam side down, and heat until the bottom of the burritos are golden brown.  Use tongs to flip the burritos and heat until the cheese is melted inside and all sides of the tortilla are golden brown. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
    4. Serve. Serve warm with salsa and sour cream for dipping. Enjoy!
    Steps showing how to make bean and cheese burritos including the bean and salsa mixture in a bowl, a tortilla filled with beans and cheese, and a pan frying the burritos.

    Bean and Cheese Burrito Variations

    If you want to go beyond the classic Bean and Cheese Burrito recipe, give one of these simple variations a try:

    • Add protein. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of ground beef or shredded chicken over the bean mixture before adding the cheese and rolling up.
    • Flavor with spices. You can flavor the bean mixture with cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, or any other spices that you like. 
    • Different beans. Try using refried black beans, or mashing up black beans or pinto beans instead. If you like things hot, you can also find spicy refried beans.
    • Add rice. A couple tablespoons or cooked rice can be added for a bit of texture. Brown rice or white rice would taste great. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the best beans to put in burritos?

    For these Crispy Bean Burritos, I like to use creamy refried beans. Not only are they super delicious, you can spread them easily over the tortillas which helps the cheese to stick as you are rolling. If you are looking for good substitutes, try pinto beans or black beans.

    Can you make burritos ahead of time?

    Bean and Cheese Burritos are the best make-ahead meal! They can be made overnight, stored in the fridge, and then pan-fried the next day. Or, turn them into an easy freezer meal by freezing the pre-built but uncooked burritos for up to 2 months. Store in freezer bags with as much air removed as possible. 

    When you are ready to eat, remove from the freezer and thaw for an hour or so, then cook as directed.

    How do you reheat Crispy Bean Burritos?

    If you have leftover burritos that you want to reheat, you have plenty of options. The quickest way is to wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. If you want to preserve the crispiness, you can reheat in a toaster oven, refry in a pan over medium heat, wrap in foil and warm in a 350 degree oven, or even toss into an air fryer for 5 minutes.

    Storing and Reheating

    • Refrigerator: store leftover Crispy Bean Burritos in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer: uncooked burritos can be stored in freezer bags and frozen for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat, pull them out and let them thaw for at least 30 minutes before cooking as directed.
    • To reheat: leftover burritos can be wrapped in a damp paper towel and reheated for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. If you want to retain some of the crispiness, you can reheat in a toaster oven (about 5 minutes), a preheated 350 degree oven (about 10 minutes), or even an air fryer (about 5 minutes).
    Print

    Crispy Bean Burritos Recipe

    These Crispy Bean Burritos are the ultimate quick and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. Each pan-fried burrito is filled with refried beans, salsa, and melty cheese, perfect for serving with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or any of your favorite Mexican toppings.
    Course lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 265kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz Refried Beans
    • ¼ cup Salsa
    • ⅔ cup Shredded Cheese Mexican blend or cheddar
    • 6 medium Flour Tortillas
    • 4 tablespoons Avocado Oil for frying

    For Dipping

    • Salsa
    • Sour Cream

    Instructions

    • In a small mixing bowl, combine the salsa and refried beans and mix well.
    • Lay a tortilla onto a flat surface and spread about ⅓ cup of the bean mixture onto it. Sprinkle the beans with a couple tablespoons of shredded cheese.
    • Tuck the sides of the tortilla in, then roll the burrito tightly from bottom to top. Continue with the rest of the tortillas.
    • In a large skillet, add a couple tablespoons of oil and heat until warm. Add 2-3 burritos at a time, seam side down, and heat until the bottom of the burritos are golden brown. Use tongs to flip the burritos and heat until the cheese is melted inside and the burrito is golden and crispy on both sides. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
    • Serve warm with salsa and sour cream for dipping. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 805mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Quick and Easy Mexican-Inspired Dinner Ideas

    • Crispy Ground Beef Tacos
    • Chipotle Carne Asada
    • Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup
    • Mexican Rice
    • Red Chicken Enchiladas
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls
    • Homemade Taco Pizza
    • Green Chile Taquitos
    • 7 Layer Bean Dip
    • Steak Fajitas
    • Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
    • More Dinner Recipes
    • More Mexican-Inspired Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    These Crispy Bean and Cheese Burritos are filled with refried beans, salsa, and melty cheese. They're a freezer-friendly 15 minute meal that everyone loves.

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