These Wet Burritos are a hearty, flavor-packed dish smothered in a savory sauce and topped with gooey melted cheese. Stuffed with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and green chiles, then baked to perfection, they’re ideal for weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or game-day feasts. Customize with your favorite toppings like sour cream, avocado, or fresh veggies for the ultimate Mexican-inspired comfort meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Packed with Flavor: A perfect balance of spiced ground beef, creamy beans, and tangy enchilada sauce ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.
Cheesy Goodness: Smothered with a generous amount of melted Mexican blend cheese, these burritos are ooey-gooey perfection.
Customizable: Add your favorite toppings like avocado, jalapeños, or sour cream to make them your own.
Perfect for Sharing: This recipe makes six large burritos, ideal for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week.
Comfort Food Classic: Warm, saucy, and satisfying—these burritos are everything you need for a cozy meal.
Key Ingredients
Ground Beef: Provides the hearty, savory base for the burrito filling. You can substitute with ground turkey or a plant-based alternative for a lighter version.
Refried Beans: Adds creaminess and helps bind the filling, ensuring every bite is cohesive and flavorful.
Enchilada Sauce: Brings tangy, mildly spiced notes to the dish, elevating the overall flavor.
Chili (No-Beans): Adds depth and a touch of smokiness to the sauce. Hormel is a classic option, but any brand works.
Green Chiles: Lends a mild kick and slight smokiness, complementing the rich filling.
Flour Tortillas: Large burrito-sized tortillas are essential for holding all that delicious filling.
Mexican Blend Cheese: A mix of Monterey Jack, cheddar, and other cheeses that melt beautifully, creating a gooey, irresistible topping.
Lettuce and Green Onions: Add freshness and crunch to balance the richness of the burrito.
Optional Toppings: Sour cream, avocado slices, diced tomatoes, or jalapeños allow you to customize each burrito.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prep
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures the burritos bake evenly and the cheese melts perfectly.
2. Prepare the Filling
Cook the Ground Beef and Onions:
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 pound of ground beef and 1 chopped onion. Stir and crumble the meat until browned and the onion softens (5-7 minutes).
Drain any excess grease to avoid an oily filling.
Season and Combine:
Stir in:
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Mix well.
Add:
1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
Stir until evenly combined and heated through. Turn off the heat and keep warm.
3. Prepare the Sauce
Mix and Heat the Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine:
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) no-bean chili
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
Whisk until smooth.
Heat over medium heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and keep warm.
4. Assemble the Burritos
Divide the Filling:
Divide the beef and bean mixture into 6 equal portions in the skillet.
Fill the Tortillas:
Place one burrito-sized tortilla on a clean surface.
Add:
1 portion of the beef and bean mixture to the center.
Shredded Mexican blend cheese (a small handful).
Optional: Shredded lettuce (can be added fresh after baking if preferred).
Customize with additional toppings like diced tomatoes, avocado slices, or jalapeños if desired.
Fold the Burritos:
Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla over the filling.
Fold in the top and bottom sides to form an envelope shape.
Place seam-side down to secure.
Repeat: Assemble the remaining tortillas with the filling.
5. Bake the Burritos
Prepare the Baking Dish:
Lightly grease two 9×13-inch baking dishes. Arrange the burritos in a single layer, seam-side down.
Add Sauce and Cheese:
Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the burritos, covering them completely.
Sprinkle the remaining shredded Mexican blend cheese over the top.
Bake:
Place the baking dishes in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the burritos are heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Garnish and Serve
Cool and Garnish:
Let the burritos cool for a few minutes after baking.
Garnish with:
Shredded lettuce
Chopped green onions
Optional: Sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, or a sprinkle of dried chives.
Serve:
Plate and enjoy your cheesy, saucy, and hearty baked burritos! Perfect with a side of rice, beans, or chips and salsa.
Serving Suggestions
Wet Burritos are a complete meal on their own, but they pair beautifully with some classic Tex-Mex sides:
Spanish Rice: Serve alongside for a hearty accompaniment.
Black Beans or Pinto Beans: Add a scoop of beans for extra protein and fiber.
Tortilla Chips and Salsa: Offer a crispy, zesty side that’s perfect for snacking.
Guacamole: Creamy guac complements the spicy, savory flavors of the burritos.
Corn Salad: A light, refreshing side that balances the richness of the dish.
For beverages, a cold Mexican beer, a fruity margarita, or a refreshing lime soda makes the perfect pairing.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate: Store leftover burritos in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm individual burritos in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or microwave them in 1-minute intervals until heated through.
Freeze: Wrap unbaked burritos tightly in foil and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge and proceed with the sauce and cheese steps before baking.
Variations
This recipe is incredibly versatile—here are a few ways to switch things up:
Protein Swap: Use shredded chicken, carnitas, or grilled steak instead of ground beef for a different protein base.
Vegetarian Option: Replace the ground beef with sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms. Use vegetarian chili and refried black beans for extra flavor.
Spicy Kick: Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the filling for a fiery twist.
Low-Carb Option: Swap the flour tortillas for low-carb tortillas or serve the filling and toppings over a bed of lettuce.
Extra Cheesy: Mix cream cheese or queso into the filling for a creamier texture.
Breakfast Style: Use scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns as the filling for a breakfast burrito twist.
Conclusion
Wet Burritos are the ultimate Tex-Mex comfort food, combining all your favorite flavors in one saucy, cheesy dish. Whether you’re making them for a weeknight dinner, a family gathering, or meal prepping for the week, this recipe is a guaranteed hit.
With endless options for toppings and sides, you can easily customize this dish to suit your preferences. So grab your favorite toppings, preheat the oven, and get ready to enjoy these hearty, satisfying, and incredibly delicious Wet Burritos!
Wet Burritos
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4.5 oz diced green chile peppers 1 small can
- 16 oz refried beans 1 can
- 8 oz tomato sauce 1 small can
- 15 oz no-bean chili 1 can (Hormel recommended)
- 10 oz enchilada sauce 1 small can
- 6 large flour tortillas burrito-sized, about 12 inches
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- chopped green onions for garnish
- additional toppings sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, jalapeños (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures the burritos bake evenly and the cheese melts perfectly.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned and the onion softens (5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease. Stir in garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix in diced green chiles and refried beans until heated through. Remove from heat and keep warm.
- In a saucepan, combine tomato sauce, no-bean chili, and enchilada sauce. Whisk until smooth and heat over medium heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally.
- Place one tortilla on a clean surface. Add a portion of the filling, some shredded cheese, and optional shredded lettuce. Fold the tortilla into a burrito shape (envelope style) and place seam-side down in a greased baking dish.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the burritos and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the burritos cool for a few minutes, then garnish with shredded lettuce, chopped green onions, and any additional toppings. Serve and enjoy!
