Homemade ground beef burrito: the 30-minute recipe

Ground beef burritos can be prepared in 30 minutes. Brown ground beef with onion, garlic, cumin, and paprika, then roll it in a large wheat tortilla with rice, red beans, cheese, and fresh sauce. Tightly sealed on the sides, it makes a complete meal that you can eat with your hands.

Here is the recipe for 4 burritos, the filling that won't make the tortilla soggy, the folding technique that prevents the burrito from opening, and what sets it apart from tacos and wraps. The same filling can be used as a base for other Mexican dishes, allowing you to prepare a large batch at once. If you grind the beef yourself, our meat grinders let you choose the cut and grind.

Ground beef burrito recipe

Here is the recipe for four ground beef burritos: the list of ingredients, including spices and toppings, followed by the preparation steps in order.

Ingredients for 4 burritos

• 400 g ground beef with 15% fat
• 4 large wheat tortillas (30 cm)
• 150 g cooked rice (about 60 g uncooked)
• 1 small can of red beans (250 g drained)
• 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of oil
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• For the spices: 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of mild paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, 1 pinch of chili pepper, salt and pepper
• For the toppings: 100 g grated cheddar, 1 handful of lettuce, 1 tomato, 4 tablespoons of sour cream or Greek yogurt

Steps

1. Cook the rice, drain it, and set aside.
2. Brown the chopped onion in hot oil for 3 minutes.
3. Add the beef and garlic, then break it up for 6 to 7 minutes over high heat until no longer pink.
4. Remove the excess fat, add the spices, the tomato paste diluted in 5 tablespoons of water, and the red beans.
5. Let simmer for 5 minutes: the filling should be saucy, not liquid.
6. Reheat the tortillas for 15 seconds on each side, fill, fold, then brown in a pan for 1 minute on each side.

If you let this filling simmer for 45 minutes with crushed tomatoes, you get a homemade chili con carne that can also be added to the burrito.

What goes in a burrito?

How to fold a burrito that won't open

A poorly folded burrito will unroll or become soggy.

• Soften the tortilla: a cold tortilla will crack when folded. Heating it dry makes it pliable.
• Spread the filling in a strip across the lower third of the tortilla, leaving 5 cm free on each side.
• Fold the bottom over the filling and press firmly, then fold both sides toward the center.
• Roll it up toward the top while keeping the sides tucked in, like an envelope.
• Sear the seam for 1 minute in a hot pan: it will set, and the burrito will no longer unroll.
• Drain the filling: meat that is too juicy will make the tortilla soggy. Keep the sauce thick.

The tenderness of the filling depends mainly on the meat. Grinding a piece of chuck or top round yourself results in juicier meat with a bolder flavor. If you want to choose the grind of your filling, compare the models in the electric meat grinder collection, which come with several plates.

Burrito, taco, or wrap: what's the difference?

The following table compares the burrito, taco, and wrap by tortilla, filling, and shape. It is mainly the last column that makes the difference between the three.

The difference lies mainly in the shape: only the burrito is sealed at both ends, which allows you to add rice and beans without everything falling out. For a lighter version without rice or beans, roll the same meat with fresh vegetables in a ground beef wrap. With sautéed strips of pepper, the same meat makes ground beef fajitas.

What Mexican recipe uses ground beef?

The burrito is just one of the Mexican recipes that start with spiced ground beef.

The best-known are chili con carne, tacos, burritos, and fajitas. The base is the same: ground beef browned with onion, garlic, cumin, paprika, and tomato. Only the tortilla and serving style change from one recipe to another.