Beef Burrito with Seasoned Beef (Printable)

Hearty seasoned beef, rice, beans, and cheese in a warm flour tortilla for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/3 cup water

→ Other Fillings

13 - 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
14 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
15 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
16 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced
18 - 1/2 cup sour cream
19 - 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

→ For Assembly

20 - 4 large (10-12 inch) flour tortillas

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned completely, about 5-6 minutes.
03 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
04 - Add tomato paste and water, stirring thoroughly to combine. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until mixture slightly thickens. Remove from heat.
05 - Warm tortillas in a dry pan or microwave until pliable for easy rolling.
06 - Lay each tortilla flat. Distribute evenly with rice, beans, beef mixture, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream. Sprinkle with cilantro if using.
07 - Fold in both sides, then roll tightly from bottom to top to fully enclose the filling. Serve immediately or toast seam-side down in a dry skillet for 2 minutes for a crispy exterior.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The beef filling develops this incredible depth of flavor that happens only when you let it simmer just long enough for the tomato paste to caramelize slightly
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • You can customize the fillings based on whatever is lurking in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • Do not skip warming the tortillas, because a cold tortilla will split apart the moment you try to fold it
  • Let the beef filling cool for at least 5 minutes before assembling, or the heat will make the cheese melt prematurely and your tortilla will get soggy
03 -
  • If your tortillas are stiff, steam them by holding them over boiling water for 10 seconds or running them quickly under the faucet and microwaving
  • The best way to reheat leftover burritos is in a dry skillet, not the microwave, which keeps the tortilla from getting rubbery
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