Smothered Burrito

This smothered burrito recipe produces burritos that are, quite literally, smothered in goodness. First, they’re stuffed with a hearty, tasty filling of beef, cheese and salsa verde, then the outside is generously smothered in gooey, melted cheddar cheese and more sauce. The result is the ultimate comfort meal: an easy weeknight dinner that’s satisfying, perfectly cheesy and irresistibly delicious.

Feel free to switch up the ingredients to your liking. You can add sauteed veggies and even swap them in for the meat, and finish the burritos with whichever toppings call your name—we love sour cream, salsa and homemade guacamole. Serve the burritos with Spanish rice (feel free to leave out the beef if you don’t want to double up on meat) and homestyle refried beans to kick it all up a notch.

Ingredients for Smothered Burritos

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

• Green enchilada sauce: This tangy sauce adds a mild-to-moderate level of heat.
• Salsa verde: With green chili peppers and tomatillos, this green salsa is where some of the spice comes in to play.
• Ground beef: You’ll cook the ground beef prior to filling the tortillas, crumbling it in the pan so there are no larger chunks. Aim for uniformity for even cooking.
• Flour tortillas: Large flour tortillas will work best when making smothered burritos.
• Cheddar cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese cuts the spice and adds that ideal gooey texture you want with a smothered burrito.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, mix the enchilada sauce and salsa verde.

Step 2: Prepare the beef

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off any liquid, then stir in 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture.

Step 3: Fill the tortillas

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

Spoon 2/3 cup of the beef mixture across the center of each tortilla, then top each with 3 tablespoons of cheese. Fold the bottom and sides of the tortilla over the filling, then roll up the burrito.

Step 4: Bake the burritos

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

Place the filled burritos into a greased 11×7-inch baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce mixture over the top, then sprinkle them with the remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve the burritos hot, with your favorite toppings.

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

Smothered Burrito Variations

• Add sauteed veggies: Saute some onions, green peppers and mushrooms, and add them to the tortillas along with the beef and sauce. Other options include zucchini, cubed and seasoned sweet potatoes and zesty corn salad.
• Make them vegetarian: Swap the beef for black beans to make this a vegetarian-friendly smothered burrito recipe.
• Change up the meat: If you’d prefer, you can use shredded or ground chicken, pork or turkey in place of the beef.

How to Store Smothered Burritos

Keep any leftovers in the baking pan. Once they’re completely cool, cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil, then place the pan in the fridge. The burritos will keep this way for three to four days.

How do you reheat smothered beef burritos?

To reheat smothered burritos, place the covered baking pan in the oven, keeping the heat low, around 300°. The trick is to heat them low and slow, which will prevent the burritos from drying out. Heat them until they’re bubbling and warmed through. You can also reheat burritos individually in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop, but the texture will change slightly.

Smothered Burrito Tips

Leticia Almeida for Taste Recipes

Why are my smothered burritos coming out soggy?

While you do want these to be positively smothered in delicious sauce and cheese, if you use too much, you’ll be left with soggy burritos. The trick is to use just enough for flavor and juicy, gooey goodness, but not so much that the tortillas become soggy.

Can I use corn tortilla shells?

Yes, you can swap the flour tortillas for corn. This can also help with any sogginess, and it’ll add additional flavor. This is also a fine swap for gluten-free burritos—just double-check that the sauces are gluten-free.

How can I tell when my burritos are done?

Because you’re precooking the beef, there’s no need to worry about the smothered burritos being fully cooked. As soon as the cheese is melted and bubbling, you should be good to go.