Sixty cents a burrito and the salsa bar does the rest
A can of refried beans, four big tortillas, a cup and a half of cheddar. Spread the beans in a line instead of a blob and the burrito rolls tight and holds together in a hand.
Set out salsa, sour cream, diced tomato, and olives in four small bowls and let each kid build their own. Watch the portion on the ones who find beans heavy before running; half a burrito plus fruit is a fine dinner.
Ingredients
The recipe serves 4. Plan on about 15 minutes.
- 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
- 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
How to Make It
- Warm the refried beans in a saucepan over medium heat with the cumin and garlic powder, stirring, for 4 minutes.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry pan or microwave for 20 seconds so they fold without cracking.
- Spread about 1/3 cup beans down the center of each tortilla and top with cheese.
- Fold in the sides and roll each tortilla up into a burrito.
- Set the burritos on plates and lay out the salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, and olives as a topping bar.
Timing Before Practice
Warm beans and a quick roll mean plates are ready about 12 minutes after you start.
- T-minus 15: warm the beans and the tortillas
- T-minus 8: roll the burritos and set out the salsa bar
- T-minus 5: water bottles and shoes, no new cooking
Make It Ahead or Save Leftovers
Rolled burritos hold well, so make a batch and wrap extras for later.
- Roll burritos ahead and wrap each in foil for the fridge
- Reheat a foil-wrapped burrito in the oven or unwrapped in the microwave
- Freeze extras and microwave one straight from frozen for a fast meal
- Serve with: sliced avocado, carrot sticks
Parent Tip
Spread the beans in a line rather than a blob so the burrito rolls tight and holds its shape.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
Eight rolled and wrapped in foil
Roll a double batch while the beans are already warm and four go straight into the freezer.
One straight from frozen in the microwave
Two minutes on a plate, flipped halfway, feeds whoever walks in at 8:30 without you standing up.
Rice added for the bigger kid
A half cup of leftover rice inside turns one burrito into enough dinner for a hungry high schooler.
Avocado sliced at the table
Cut it right before you eat, because a browned avocado is the fastest way to lose a picky kid.
Cumin and garlic powder stirred into the can
Half a teaspoon of each turns plain refried beans into something a kid asks for again.
Plan the next step
Browse budget dinners
Keep a handful of pantry-staple meals on the list for the lean stretch before payday.