These Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos are easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy. This vegetarian recipe is made using mostly pantry staples and is great if you like meal prepping. Make a big batch of hearty burritos to freeze for a later date, when you’re short on time. Serve with chips and dip or salad for a full meal.
I love burritos because they’re so easy to make and I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. I usually just do beans and cheese, but adding rice bulks them up a little bit to make them even more filling. My Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos are packed with protein and fiber, so pair them with a salad or veggies for an easy meal option that you can feel good about.
Why You’ll Love These Cheesy Burritos
- Easy to make – We eat a lot of rice around here, so I almost always have leftover rice in the refrigerator. But, even if you do have to cook rice specifically for this recipe, they are still easy to make. The rice, refried beans, salsa and spices get mixed together and then rolled into a large flour tortilla with some cheese. Bake to perfection and enjoy immediately, or store for another time.
- Great for meal prep – I went through a frozen burrito phase years ago, but lets be honest, the store-bought ones are pretty basic. I still love burritos, but I make my own these days. This recipe is great because you can assemble a big batch and then store them in the freezer until you’re ready to use. Just re-heat in the oven or microwave for a hearty vegetarian meal that comes together quickly.
- Full of flavor – There aren’t too many ingredients needed for this burrito recipe, but I assure you they are not lacking in flavor. The salsa adds a lot and the cumin, paprika and garlic powder help give extra flavor to the refried beans. A sharp cheddar cheese also goes great on these burritos.
Why Your Body Will Love This Protein Packed Meal
- Blood Sugar Regulation – Pinto beans are high in fiber and protein, giving them a low glycemic index. This means they digest slowly and don’t cause blood sugar levels to spike or rise too quickly. This makes refried pinto beans a healthy choice for people with diabetes who need to control their blood sugar levels more. And because they digest slowly, they keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.
- Bone Health – Colby jack cheese is a great source of calcium, which is important for many reasons, including bone health. Our bones are composed primarily of calcium, but they don’t produce their own calcium, so it’s important that we get as much as we can from our diets. Calcium helps maintain bone density, which reduces the risk of bone fractures and helps us maintain our body structure as we age.
Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito Recipe Ingredients
- Refried Beans – I used one can of refried beans that were made with pinto beans, but black refried beans also work. You can use store-bought or homemade.
- Rice – I used cooked white rice for my burritos, but brown rice, or even quinoa will also work.
- Salsa – You can use whatever kind of salsa you have on hand. I like to use a chunkier bean and corn salsa when making these burritos because it adds extra ingredients without having to buy anything extra. I usually use mild salsa, but hot salsa will add extra heat if you want.
- Spices – I like to add extra flavor to the canned refried beans by throwing in some cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. This step is optional if you don’t already have the spices on hand.
- Cheese – I used a block of Colby jack cheese because I love that it feels like getting two different types of cheese in one. Pre-grated cheese tends to be more expensive than a block of cheese that you shred yourself, so if you’re on a budget, go for the block.
- Tortillas – I like to use burrito-sized flour tortillas for this recipe. You can use any kind of tortillas though. Medium-sized ones are great for kid-sized burritos. Gluten-free or corn tortillas may not fold like flour, but they should still work.
How To Make Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burritos
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a medium-sized baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the refried beans, cooked rice, chunky salsa, cumin, paprika granulated garlic and salt. Mix everything together until completely combined.
- Heat flour tortillas for a few seconds in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop, if desired, to make it easier to roll them up. Lay the tortilla on a flat surface and add about 1/4 of the bean and rice mixture to the center of the tortilla. Use a spoon to spread out the beans and rice into a little log in the center. Top the beans with about 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese. Use your hands to carefully fold the sides of your burrito in and roll it up tightly.
- This step is totally optional, but I like to place a small sprinkle of extra shredded cheese down on top of the parchment paper, where each burrito will be. Place each burrito on top of the cheese, seam side down, and spray the top of each with a little cooking spray. Place burritos in the oven and bake until the cheese on the inside is melted and the cheese on the bottom is crispy, 15-20 minutes. Allow the burritos to cool for a few minutes. Enjoy them with your favorite toppings.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make these burritos gluten free by using a large gluten free wrap, or putting the burrito filling into corn tortillas.
- Make this recipe vegan by using your favorite vegan cheese substitute.
- What kind of rice should be used? I like to use white rice, but brown rice will also work great. Quinoa, or another grain of choice can be used, if you prefer.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container, leftovers should last 4-5 days. Re-heat in the microwave or oven.
- Are burritos freezer friendly? Yes, these burritos are a great freezer recipe. Assemble each burrito, wrap in plastic wrap and then store them together in a large ziplock bag, or freezer container. Cook burritos in the oven for best results.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
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Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos are easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy. This vegetarian recipe is made using mostly pantry staples and is great if you like meal prepping. Make a big batch of hearty burritos to freeze for a later date, when you’re short on time. Serve with chips and dip or salad for a full meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups refried beans
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, white or brown
- 1/3 cup chunky salsa
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large burrito sized tortillas
- 3/4 cup shredded cheese, or more if desired
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a medium-sized baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the refried beans, cooked rice, chunky salsa, cumin, paprika granulated garlic and salt. Mix everything together until completely combined.
- Heat flour tortillas for a few seconds in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop, if desired, to make it easier to roll them up. Lay the tortilla on a flat surface and add about 1/4 of the bean and rice mixture to the center of the tortilla.
- Use a spoon to spread out the beans and rice into a little log in the center. Top the beans with about 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese. Use your hands to carefully fold the sides of your burrito in and roll it up tightly.
- This step is totally optional, but I like to place a small sprinkle of extra shredded cheese down on top of the parchment paper, where each burrito will be. Place each burrito on top of the cheese, seam side down, and spray the top of each with a little cooking spray.
- Place burritos in the oven and bake until the cheese on the inside is melted and the cheese on the bottom is crispy, 15-20 minutes. Allow the burritos to cool for a few minutes. Enjoy them with your favorite toppings.
Notes
If you don’t want to add any cheese underneath the burritos, you can add extra inside of the burrito, if you like.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
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