Bean and Cheese Burritos Recipe

Creamy refried beans, melty cheddar and Monterey Jack, and a lightly seasoned salsa mixture make these Bean and Cheese Burritos simple, satisfying, and easy to prepare. They bake until the tortillas are warm and lightly crisp, making a great meatless lunch or quick dinner.

Why You’ll Love These Bean and Cheese Burritos

These burritos use a handful of everyday ingredients but deliver plenty of flavor and texture.

The refried beans are mixed with chunky salsa, onion, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper for a savory filling with a little smoky depth. Two kinds of cheese melt into the beans as the burritos bake, creating a creamy center inside a warm flour tortilla.

They are also easy to customize. Serve them with guacamole and sour cream, add hot sauce for extra heat, or pair them with Mexican rice for a more complete meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 (16-ounce) can traditional refried beans
• 1/2 cup chunky salsa
• 1/4 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas

Ingredient Notes

Refried beans form the creamy, hearty base of the filling. Traditional refried beans work well, while vegetarian-friendly refried beans can be used for a meatless option.

Chunky salsa adds moisture, tomato flavor, and seasoning without requiring a separate sauce.

The combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack gives the burritos a good balance of sharp flavor and smooth melting. You can use either cheese on its own if preferred.

Use 10-inch flour tortillas, often labeled burrito-sized. Larger tortillas make folding and rolling the filled burritos much easier.

How to Make Bean and Cheese Burritos

Prepare the Bean Filling

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the refried beans, chunky salsa, diced onion, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.

Stir until evenly combined. Taste the mixture and add a little more salt if needed.

Mix the Cheese

In a separate bowl, combine the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

Toss the cheeses together so each burrito gets a balanced mixture.

Fill the Tortillas

Place one tortilla on a clean work surface.

Add 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese mixture to the center, then spoon 1/2 cup of the bean mixture over the cheese.

Avoid overfilling the tortilla. Leaving enough space around the edges makes the burrito much easier to fold securely.

Fold and Bake

Fold the bottom edge of the tortilla up and over the filling.

Fold both sides inward, then roll the tortilla upward from the bottom until the filling is enclosed.

Place the burrito seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.

Bake for about 12 minutes, until the tortillas are warm and the cheese has melted.

Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Helpful Recipe Tips

• Use burrito-sized tortillas that are about 10 inches in diameter so they have enough surface area for folding.
• Don’t overfill the tortillas, as excess filling can make them difficult to roll.
• Keep the filling toward the center rather than spreading it all the way to the edges.
• Freshly shredded cheese generally melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
• Taste the bean mixture before filling the tortillas so you can adjust the seasoning.
• Place the burritos seam-side down before baking to help keep them closed.
• If you prefer a toasted exterior, cook the assembled burritos in a skillet instead of baking them.

Easy Variations and Substitutions

Use One Type of Cheese

The cheddar and Monterey Jack can be used together or separately. Pepper Jack is another option if you’d like a little extra heat.

Make Vegetarian Burritos

Choose vegetarian-friendly refried beans for a meatless version. The rest of the filling is already vegetarian-friendly as long as the specific products you use meet your dietary requirements.

Add Extra Heat

Use spicy salsa, hot sauce, diced jalapeños, or a pinch of crushed red pepper in the bean mixture.

Add More Filling

For heartier burritos, add cooked Mexican rice, black beans, corn, or sautéed peppers. Keep the filling amount manageable so the tortillas can still be rolled tightly.

How to Toast Bean and Cheese Burritos

If you prefer a crispier tortilla, you can cook the assembled burritos on the stovetop instead of baking them.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the burritos seam-side down and cook on both sides until the tortillas are toasted and the filling is heated through.

This method gives the outside a lightly crisp, golden texture.

What to Serve With Bean and Cheese Burritos

These burritos work well with fresh and creamy toppings that balance the savory bean filling.

Try serving them with:

• Guacamole
• Sour cream
• Hot sauce
• Shredded lettuce
• Mexican rice
• Pico de gallo
• Fresh salsa

A simple green salad can also turn the burritos into a complete lunch or dinner.

How to Store Bean and Cheese Burritos

Place cooled burritos in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

For longer storage, wrap each burrito individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Labeling the bag with the date makes it easier to keep track of frozen burritos.

How to Reheat Bean and Cheese Burritos

For frozen burritos, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

To reheat a thawed burrito, microwave it on high for about 2 minutes, or place it in a 350°F oven for approximately 10 minutes.

You can also heat a frozen burrito directly in a 350°F oven for about 20 to 30 minutes.

For a crispier exterior, finish reheated burritos in a skillet for a few minutes.Creamy refried beans, melty cheddar and Monterey Jack, and a lightly seasoned salsa mixture make these Bean and Cheese Burritos simple, satisfying, and easy to prepare. They bake until the tortillas are warm and lightly crisp, making a great meatless lunch or quick dinner.

Why You’ll Love These Bean and Cheese Burritos

These burritos use a handful of everyday ingredients but deliver plenty of flavor and texture.

The refried beans are mixed with chunky salsa, onion, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper for a savory filling with a little smoky depth. Two kinds of cheese melt into the beans as the burritos bake, creating a creamy center inside a warm flour tortilla.

They are also easy to customize. Serve them with guacamole and sour cream, add hot sauce for extra heat, or pair them with Mexican rice for a more complete meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 (16-ounce) can traditional refried beans
• 1/2 cup chunky salsa
• 1/4 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas

Ingredient Notes

Refried beans form the creamy, hearty base of the filling. Traditional refried beans work well, while vegetarian-friendly refried beans can be used for a meatless option.

Chunky salsa adds moisture, tomato flavor, and seasoning without requiring a separate sauce.

The combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack gives the burritos a good balance of sharp flavor and smooth melting. You can use either cheese on its own if preferred.

Use 10-inch flour tortillas, often labeled burrito-sized. Larger tortillas make folding and rolling the filled burritos much easier.

How to Make Bean and Cheese Burritos

Prepare the Bean Filling

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the refried beans, chunky salsa, diced onion, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.

Stir until evenly combined. Taste the mixture and add a little more salt if needed.

Mix the Cheese

In a separate bowl, combine the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

Toss the cheeses together so each burrito gets a balanced mixture.

Fill the Tortillas

Place one tortilla on a clean work surface.

Add 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese mixture to the center, then spoon 1/2 cup of the bean mixture over the cheese.

Avoid overfilling the tortilla. Leaving enough space around the edges makes the burrito much easier to fold securely.

Fold and Bake

Fold the bottom edge of the tortilla up and over the filling.

Fold both sides inward, then roll the tortilla upward from the bottom until the filling is enclosed.

Place the burrito seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.

Bake for about 12 minutes, until the tortillas are warm and the cheese has melted.

Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Helpful Recipe Tips

• Use burrito-sized tortillas that are about 10 inches in diameter so they have enough surface area for folding.
• Don’t overfill the tortillas, as excess filling can make them difficult to roll.
• Keep the filling toward the center rather than spreading it all the way to the edges.
• Freshly shredded cheese generally melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
• Taste the bean mixture before filling the tortillas so you can adjust the seasoning.
• Place the burritos seam-side down before baking to help keep them closed.
• If you prefer a toasted exterior, cook the assembled burritos in a skillet instead of baking them.

Easy Variations and Substitutions

Use One Type of Cheese

The cheddar and Monterey Jack can be used together or separately. Pepper Jack is another option if you’d like a little extra heat.

Make Vegetarian Burritos

Choose vegetarian-friendly refried beans for a meatless version. The rest of the filling is already vegetarian-friendly as long as the specific products you use meet your dietary requirements.

Add Extra Heat

Use spicy salsa, hot sauce, diced jalapeños, or a pinch of crushed red pepper in the bean mixture.

Add More Filling

For heartier burritos, add cooked Mexican rice, black beans, corn, or sautéed peppers. Keep the filling amount manageable so the tortillas can still be rolled tightly.

How to Toast Bean and Cheese Burritos

If you prefer a crispier tortilla, you can cook the assembled burritos on the stovetop instead of baking them.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the burritos seam-side down and cook on both sides until the tortillas are toasted and the filling is heated through.

This method gives the outside a lightly crisp, golden texture.

What to Serve With Bean and Cheese Burritos

These burritos work well with fresh and creamy toppings that balance the savory bean filling.

Try serving them with:

• Guacamole
• Sour cream
• Hot sauce
• Shredded lettuce
• Mexican rice
• Pico de gallo
• Fresh salsa

A simple green salad can also turn the burritos into a complete lunch or dinner.

How to Store Bean and Cheese Burritos

Place cooled burritos in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

For longer storage, wrap each burrito individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Labeling the bag with the date makes it easier to keep track of frozen burritos.

How to Reheat Bean and Cheese Burritos

For frozen burritos, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

To reheat a thawed burrito, microwave it on high for about 2 minutes, or place it in a 350°F oven for approximately 10 minutes.

You can also heat a frozen burrito directly in a 350°F oven for about 20 to 30 minutes.

For a crispier exterior, finish reheated burritos in a skillet for a few minutes.