High Five Recipes: Super Simple Burritos
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All this time, I thought burritos was spelled “b-u-r-r-i-t-o-e-s”. Duh, I know. Spelling is not my gift. (You’ve probably figured that out by now.) I had “burritoes” typed in this recipe, but it just didn’t look right.
So, I did a swag search for “burritoes” and you know what it asked me?
“Did you mean burritos?”
Well, that answered my question. But sheesh, it’s like the computer is mocking me when it does that, you know?
Super Simple Meat and Cheese Burritos
1 pound ground beef, venison or turkey
sea salt to taste
3/4 cup shredded cheese (I use raw white cheddar)
1 cup salsa
10-12 whole wheat tortillas
Brown meat in a large pan. Salt to taste. Remove from heat and stir in salsa and shredded cheese. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons onto a tortilla and wrap.
To Freeze: Lay burritos barely touching in a 9×13 freezer safe dish. If you are freezing more than one layer of burritos, place wax paper or parchment paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking together.
To Re-Heat: Place burritos on a baking sheet. If burritos are thawed, warm in the oven for about 15 minutes until heated through and through. If burritos are frozen, leave them in the oven for about 30 minutes. They might get a little crispy on the outside, but yum!
Super Simple Bean and Cheese Burritos
3 cups cooked black or pinto beans
1 cup salsa
3/4 cups shredded cheese
sea salt to taste
8-10 whole wheat tortillas
Mix beans, salsa, cheese and salt. Wrap 2-3 tablespoons in each tortilla. Freeze and reheat as above.
Not flavorful enough for ya? Add any one or more of the following (which will mean that this recipe will no longer be a High Five Recipe…but who’s counting?):
- 3 Tablespoons chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup chopped olives
- 1/2 cup cooked sweet corn
Or, make the ingredients go a little farther by stirring in 1 cup cooked brown rice.
Why This is One of My Very Favorite Recipes:
- Everyone in my family loves them. The boys cheer when I make them.
- They are SO easy to make!
- They freeze VERY well. In fact, instead of making them just before serving time, I much prefer to make a triple batch of these, freeze them and have them ready to go for a quick meal.
- When I have them made ahead of time, they are the EASIEST lunch to serve: Heat…eat…done.
- They are very low in cost, especially if you use beans.
- They are good and healthy.
- They are a PERFECT item to take to someone who has just had a baby or a surgery or a whatever. The recipient can warm them up as they need them. I take these to people ALL the time!
- They keep my children full for longer than ten minutes.
- Last but not least, I now know how to spell them correctly. ;)
Now let’s take a vote. Which High Five Recipe would you like to see next? Cream Scalloped Potatoes…or Chicken Fried Steak Strips?
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This posted is linked to Frugal Friday.
One of the meals we received when our daughter was born was a bag full of homemade frozen breakfast burritos. It was a wonderful meal to receive! We pulled a few out at several different times and the gift of food just kept on giving!
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Laura Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
THANK you for saying that! That was one of my biggest favorite things about why this recipe is one of my favorites! I’m going to add that right now.
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I vote for potatoes!
Oh, hi. I’ve been lurking. :)
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I vote for the potatoes!
Adding these to the list of meals to freeze for when after our baby is born! Thanks :)
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Cream anything doesn’t sound appealing to me (reminds me of creamed corn lol) So my vote is on the chicken fried steak strips.
I’m going to try these burritos!! EASY PEASY!!!! And the fussy peeps in my house will eat them!
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Danielle Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Hmmmm, have you tried chicken in the burritos? I noticed you mentioned other meat, but not chicken.
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Laura Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
No, I haven’t but you’re right…I bet shredded chicken would be VERY tasty in these!
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Whenever I make beans, I make extra so I can freeze a bunch of burritos. A favorite of my family is chicken, black beans, rice, salsa and cheese. Sometimes I put sour cream in them. I never thought to give them to someone with a new baby, that is a great idea.
I vote for the chicken fried steak strips.
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I vote for the chicken strips. I was wondering if you have a recipe for Graham crackers?
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Laura Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
yep, here you go! http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/healthy-treat-for-today-homemade-whole-wheat-graham-crackers
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Anything that will keep your children fuller than 10 minutes is a real winner! While I’m washing dishes, usually one of my boys will inquire about what’s on the menu for the next meal.
I make a large jar of homemade salsa each week…and I tell you it’s great for simple meals like this!
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I vote cream scalloped potatoes. I have been working on my own recipe, but I don’t like it yet. On the other hand my hubby and boys do, go figure!
I really like the idea of making the burritos for the freezer. I think we could use that around here!
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Thanks for this recipe, it looks delicious! But I was wondering, could you do a post on how you cook beans? I have tried to cook dried beans so many times, but they always turn out HARD! No matter what kind of beans I use, or how long I soak them the night before, or how long I cook them the next day. I have never had beans turn out well. I have tried everything, you are my only hope!
Thanks so much for all you do on this blog!
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Laura Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I will try to post about beans sometime…in the meantime…Amy has a post here that is very helpful! http://amysfinerthings.com/cooking-dry-beans
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This is a most timely post because I’ve been thinking about ways to pre-make easy dinners for nights when I travel or life is just a little more than I can manage. Frozen burritos are perfect because I can even make ones customized to each family member’s preferences. Thanks for sharing the detail on how you freeze and reheat them.
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I vote for chicken fried steak strips!
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I would like to order…hum..vote for chicken fried steak strips!
My husband likes chicken fried steak at Cracker Barrel. If I could make it at home it would be better!
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Chicken fried steak strips!
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Can’t wait to try the beef and/or bean burritos. Super easy. I just rolled out a double batch of tortillas. Oh, yeah!
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I’ve just begun working on meal-planning rather than throwing dinner together at the last minute. Thanks for posting all of the great ideas! Burritos will be first on my list :)
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I just finished eating some. I used vegetarian-fed lean ground chicken, mild salsa, cheddar, and a few dashes of chili powder. Totally yummy!
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I have the same issue with spelling burritos. I noticed it on the weekly menu I keep on my computer. Ha! p.s.- I took your idea and made this for a couple who just had a baby.
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I made the bean burritos tonight and they were a hit! With 7 children, it’s hard to find something everyone loves…thanks for the great idea :)
Sarah
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Not to ask a dumb question, but what oven temperature is everyone cooking/re-heating these at? I made a huge batch, but now don’t want to ruin them by cooking them to death OR finding them boiling lava hot on the outside but frozen solid on the inside! ;o) Thanks!
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Laura Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 10:57 am
I reheat them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or so!
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I’d say about 350 but I microwave individual ones by putting the beans and cheese in the middle of the tortilla, microwaving it for 30 sec. and then adding extras for whomever wants it. This is the only way 9 people can have exactly what they want! Ha! :)
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My mother made burritos like this (from more regular ingredients though) growing up and she would pan fry them in some butter. Adds a great crispiness and flavor to them. My husband will actually eat them too (he is from Mexico, so these aren’t exactly authentic) and have made them for him when he works out of town.
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I have been struggling with getting my tortillias soft, they are too hard to fold without cracking. Help please, I really do love the taste of them.
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Laura Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
My tortillas get hard once they’ve been refrigerated, but if I make the burritos RIGHT after I’ve made the tortillas, the tortillas are still soft and warm enough to fold up.
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FYI…BEAN burritos are not a good idea for a breastfeeding mom with a new baby. Spoken from experience as I’m prepping some freezer meals for after baby #3 is born (hopefully in the next week!!). However, the meat ones or the breakfast ones would be HEAVENLY for a tired new mommy!
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