Description
Sizzling beef and cheese burrito delights palates with authentic Mexican flavors. Hearty ingredients combine in a quick, satisfying meal that brings restaurant-quality comfort directly to home kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
- 1 oz taco seasoning (or homemade, see notes)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- 4 large flour tortillas (burrito-sized)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup refried beans or black beans (optional)
- ½ cup cooked rice (optional)
- ¼ cup beef broth (or water)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, for depth)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup salsa or pico de gallo
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Jalapeno slices
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: In a large skillet over medium heat, render olive oil and transform diced onions into a translucent, aromatic base within 2-3 minutes.
- Meat Transformation: Introduce ground beef, methodically fragmenting into uniform crumbles while cooking until completely browned, ensuring no pink remains.
- Flavor Infusion: Cascade minced garlic, taco seasoning, paprika, cumin, tomato sauce, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce into the meat mixture, stirring to integrate complex flavor profiles.
- Sauce Development: Simmer the mixture, allowing the sauce to concentrate and thicken, creating a rich, robust consistency that intensifies the dish’s depth.
- Tortilla Preparation: Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave to enhance pliability, preventing structural failure during assembly.
- Burrito Construction: Layer tortillas with refried beans or rice, creating a protective foundation, then strategically distribute seasoned beef centrally, leaving margins for precise folding.
- Cheese and Garnish: Blanket the beef with shredded cheese, then embellish with optional toppings like sour cream, salsa, or preferred condiments.
- Rolling Technique: Execute a precise folding method – sides tucked inward, then rolled tightly from bottom upward to secure the filling completely.
- Final Crisping: Position burritos seam-side down in a heated skillet, achieving a golden, crunchy exterior through 1-2 minutes of precise cooking per side.
- Presentation: Serve immediately with complementary sides like additional salsa, guacamole, or hot sauce to elevate the culinary experience.
Notes
- Manage Meat Moisture: Drain excess fat after browning beef to prevent soggy burritos and ensure a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Control Tortilla Temperature: Warm tortillas gently to increase flexibility, preventing cracks and making rolling easier without compromising structural integrity.
- Balance Seasoning Intensity: Adjust spice levels by gradually adding taco seasoning, tasting as you go to match personal heat preferences without overwhelming the beef’s natural taste.
- Optimize Cheese Melting: Sprinkle cheese directly on hot beef mixture just before rolling to create a seamless, perfectly melted layer that binds ingredients together.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg