Freezer Beef and Bean Burritos
These homemade freezer beef and bean burritos are full of fantastic flavor and they are great to have on hand for a quick, homemade microwaveable meal.
I kind of feel like I’ve been holding out on you guys.
These amazing burritos have been gracing our freezer (and filling our tummies) for months now and I’m sorry that I’m just now getting around to sharing them with you.
I’ve made them dozens of times in the last few months and along with these fabulous bean burritos, they’ve been our staple on hectic dinner nights or when Brian needs to grab a quick lunch for work or when the kids and I are sick of eating PB&J at noon.
That’s the beauty of having them in the freezer just waiting to be warmed up for our eating pleasure.
The thing is, they aren’t just a burrito.
Well, I mean, they are a burrito, but they aren’t your average, every day burrito.
The flavor in these wrapped beauties is fantastic. You get the traditional smoky flavor from the cumin and chili but a bit of unexpected freshness from the lime juice.
There are some mashed beans, whole beans, rice and cheese right there along with the meat, and the entire burrito, in my humble opinion, is screaming burrito perfection.
We were overjoyed with the deliciousness of these burritos the first time we had them. And I can happily report that we still haven’t gotten sick of them months later.
In fact, it’s always a bit funny to me when Brian eats one for lunch or whenever and he’s oohing and aahing over the flavor and I’m looking at him quizzically, saying, “you know these are the same burritos you’ve been eating for weeks now” and he’s like, “Yeah, but man, they are so good.”
Glad he likes them since they’ll be stocking our freezer for the forseeable future. Make some why don’t you!
What to Serve With This
- Homemade Refried Beans {Slow Cooker}
- Green salad, or My Favorite Coleslaw
- Fresh, seasonal fruit
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Freezer Beef and Bean Burritos
Ingredients
Rice:
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup long grain white rice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
Filling:
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 12 ounces extra lean ground beef or lean ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 6-8 10-inch flour tortillas, white or wheat
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 6 tablespoons sour cream, light or regular
Instructions
- For the rice, bring the broth, rice, garlic, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 16-18 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat, keeping it covered, and let it sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. When ready to use, add the cilantro and fluff with a fork.
- For the filling, combine the broth and half of the beans in a small bowl and mash with a fork until the beans are coarsely mashed with the broth (reserve the whole beans for later). In a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the vegetable oil until hot and rippling. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, cumin, oregano and chili powder and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the ground meat and cook until no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces while cooking. Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Stir the mashed bean mixture into the meat mixture and cook for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is thick and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the rest of the whole beans, lime juice and salt. Remove from heat. If serving immediately, follow the instructions in the next paragraph. If freezing for later, let the beef and bean mixture and the rice cool to warm room temperature before proceeding.
- Wrap the tortillas in between damp paper towels and microwave until the tortillas are soft, about 1 minute. Arrange the tortillas on the counter and divide the rice, beef and bean filling and cheese evenly among the tortillas. Dollop each tortilla with a tablespoon (more or less) of sour cream. Fold the sides of the tortilla toward each other over the filling while lifting the bottom edge over, rolling into a burrito shape. Serve immediately (if desired).
- For freezer burritos, wrap each burrito in plastic wrap. Place burritos in a gallon-sized freezer ziploc bag. To reheat, unwrap the burrito from the plastic wrap and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 1-2 minutes. Poke the burrito with the tines of a fork all over and continue microwaving in 30-second increments until heated through.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from Cook’s Country April/May 2013
Any ideas what oven method for heating after freezing would be?
It’s best if they are thawed first (they’ll heat more evenly). You can place them on a baking pan, cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes until heated through (remove the foil for the last few minutes if you want a crispier tortilla).
recipe so good, it tastes great even when i used slightly off ground beef
The old ElPaso Mexican rice mix is a great substitute- and adds extra flavour
Best back to school meal to have in the freezer! Fan favorite at our house!
I came across this recipe awhile ago…my fiance and his son love these burritos….they are by far the best.
We love this recipe! I usually make it ahead of time, freeze for later or eat them on the same day. We like the burritos warmed up in the oven, because the tortillas get a little crispy! Thank you!