You ran out of ground beef and nobody in this house needs meat tonight anyway
Refried beans, shredded cheddar, a can of green chiles if you have one, rolled into a tortilla and frozen flat. No meat to cook first, no thawing anything ahead, no extra pan. This is the burrito you make when the freezer is otherwise empty and payday is three days out.
A can of beans and a block of cheese stretch across a dozen burritos for less than the cost of a single fast-food kid's meal, and that math holds up whether you buy store-brand or name-brand cheese.
Microwave one from frozen, wrapped in a damp paper towel, two minutes on high, flip, one more minute. The paper towel keeps the tortilla from going leathery in the corners.
Ingredients
The batch makes 8 burritos. Plan on about 25 minutes to assemble, then freeze.
- 2 cans (15 oz each) refried beans (or 3 cups homemade)
- 2 cups cooked rice (optional, for heartier burritos)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
- 1/2 cup salsa or 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 large (10-inch) flour tortillas
How to Make It
- Stir the refried beans with the salsa, cumin, and garlic powder until spreadable.
- Warm the tortillas briefly so they fold without tearing.
- Spread a generous 1/3 cup of beans down each tortilla, add rice if using, and top with cheese.
- Fold in the sides and roll up tight.
Freeze It
Beans freeze and reheat beautifully, which makes this the cheapest reliable backup in the freezer. Cool any warm filling first so the tortillas do not get gummy.
- Wrap each burrito in foil or parchment, then bag them together
- Label with the date; best within 3 months
- Freeze flat so they do not stick into a clump
Thaw and reheat on practice night
Microwave from frozen for a soft burrito, or use the oven when you want the edges a little crisp.
- Microwave from frozen: unwrap, damp paper towel, 2 minutes, flip, 30 to 60 seconds more
- Oven from frozen: foil on, 350F for 30 to 35 minutes
- Confirm the center is hot, not just the ends
- Serve with: salsa, shredded lettuce, a side of corn, orange slices
Parent Tip
Add a spoonful of cooked ground beef to a few before rolling if some kids want meat.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
Refried bean and cheddar
The classic version reheats evenly because refried beans hold moisture better than whole beans through a microwave cycle.
Green chile added to the beans
Stir chiles into the bean layer before rolling so the heat is even instead of one bite that's suddenly spicy.
Flat-frozen on a sheet pan first
Freeze them flat and unwrapped for an hour before bagging so they don't fuse into one brick in the freezer bag.
Damp paper towel microwave method
Wrap in a damp paper towel before microwaving; skip it and the tortilla edges turn hard and chewy.
Vegetarian night without a substitute recipe
Keep these on hand for the nights a vegetarian kid eats separately, no second dinner required.
Plan the next step
Batch a dozen
Open the planner and add a bean-burrito session to your next quiet afternoon.