Beef and Bean Burrito Bake
When you want burritos without rolling one by one, this bakes the whole pan at once.
This is the dinner to make when you’re tired, hungry, and want something comforting without a pile of dishes. It tastes like a burrito crossed with a cozy casserole: seasoned beef, beans, salsa, tortillas, and plenty of melted cheese. You can have it in the oven in about 15 minutes, then let it bake while you clean up or sit down for a minute. It’s not fancy, and that’s the point. Expect warm, hearty layers that scoop easily, hold together well, and reheat nicely tomorrow. If you’ve got ground beef and a couple pantry staples, you’re already most of the way there.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 unit yellow onion — diced
- 2 unit garlic cloves — minced
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup black beans — drained and rinsed
- 1 cup pinto beans — drained and rinsed
- 8 unit small flour tortillas — cut into strips
- 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 0.5 cup sour cream — for serving
- 2 unit green onions — sliced, for serving
Method
- 1 Heat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 2 Set a skillet over medium heat with the olive oil. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then add the garlic and ground beef. Cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and cooked through. Drain off excess fat if needed.
- 3 Stir in the taco seasoning, salsa, black beans, and pinto beans. Simmer for 2 minutes so the mixture looks saucy but not soupy.
- 4 Spread half the tortilla strips in the baking dish. Spoon on half the beef mixture and sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and cheese.
- 5 Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then top with sour cream and green onions before serving.
Variations
- Vegetarian swap — Skip the beef and use an extra 1 cup of beans or 1 cup of cooked lentils with the same seasoning and salsa.
- Faster swap — Use pre-cooked ground beef or leftover taco meat, then assemble and bake for about 15 minutes instead of cooking the beef from scratch.
- Substitutions — Use pepper jack instead of Monterey Jack, swap flour tortillas for corn tortillas, or use your favorite mild or hot salsa.
Notes
If your salsa is very thick, add 2 tbsp water so the filling stays juicy. For a crispier top, broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end and watch closely. Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or covered in a 350°F oven.
Equipment that helps
- Large skillet — It browns the beef and builds the filling in one place before baking.
- 9x13-inch baking dish — The shallow pan helps the casserole heat evenly and gives the cheese a good melt.
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