Hot Sauce: Spicy finishing touch for those wanting extra heat and flavor.
Tools That Make the Grilled Cheese Burrito Easy
Large Skillet: Essential for cooking ground beef and grilling burritos.
Spatula: Perfect for stirring meat and flipping burritos during cooking.
Measuring Spoon: Helps add precise amounts of taco seasoning and water.
Sharp Knife: Needed for slicing the grilled cheese burrito in half before serving.
Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for preparing ingredients and slicing burrito.
Burrito Assembly Instructions Done Right
Sizzle the Protein: Brown ground beef or plant-based alternative in a skillet over medium heat. Splash in taco seasoning and water, letting the mixture simmer and thicken for a few minutes.
Layer the Goodness: Spread a tortilla flat and load it up with seasoned meat, fluffy rice, hearty beans, creamy cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.
Wrap Like a Pro: Tuck in the tortilla sides first, then roll from bottom to top, creating a tight, compact bundle.
Create Crispy Cheese Crust: Sprinkle shredded cheese directly onto a hot skillet, forming a perfect circle. Gently place burrito seam-side down onto melting cheese. Cook until golden and crispy, then flip for an even crunch.
Dive In: Slice burrito in half and serve immediately. Grab your favorite salsa or guacamole for an extra flavor kick.
Swap-Ins & Flavor Hacks for Your Burrito
Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles, roasted vegetables, or seasoned black beans for a hearty meatless version that doesn't compromise on taste.
Adjust the heat level by choosing mild, medium, or hot taco seasoning, and add sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce for extra kick.
Prepare the beef filling and wrap burritos in advance, storing them in the refrigerator. When ready to eat, simply grill for a quick, delicious meal that saves time during busy weeknights.
Use corn tortillas and ensure your taco seasoning is gluten-free to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities while maintaining the same delicious flavor profile.
When & Where to Serve a Grilled Cheese Burrito
Party Platter Presentation: Create a vibrant spread with multiple grilled cheese burritos arranged on a large wooden board, surrounded by colorful dipping sauces like salsa verde, chunky pico de gallo, and zesty guacamole.
Casual Movie Night Companion: Slice burritos into bite-sized pinwheels perfect for sharing during game nights or movie marathons, making them easy to grab and enjoy without messy interruptions.
Picnic Perfect Meal: Wrap individual burritos in foil to keep them warm and portable, ideal for outdoor adventures, beach trips, or park gatherings where handheld foods are a must-have.
Customizable Toppings Bar: Set up a DIY station with extra cheese, hot sauces, fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, and different salsa varieties so everyone can personalize their grilled cheese burrito experience.
Grilled Cheese Burrito Storage Made Simple
Store leftover burritos in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. They'll stay delicious for 34 days in the refrigerator.
Warm burritos in a skillet over medium heat for crispy edges, or microwave for 12 minutes for a quick meal. Avoid soggy results by adding a paper towel underneath.
Wrap individual burritos in aluminum foil, then place in freezer bags. These will maintain quality for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Keep wet ingredients like sour cream and salsa separate when storing to prevent tortilla sogginess. Pack these condiments in small sealed containers alongside the burrito for maximum freshness and crunch.
Comfort meets Mexican-inspired flair in this mouthwatering Best Grilled Cheese Burrito, blending crispy golden tortillas with melted cheese and savory fillings. Rich layers of flavor and texture promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
1 lb ground beef or plant-based ground meat
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
½ cup black beans (rinsed and drained)
½ cup sour cream
½ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese (for outside)
¼ cup nacho cheese sauce or shredded cheddar
⅓ cup water
1 tbsp olive oil (if using lean beef or plant-based option)
Beef Preparation: Brown ground beef or meatless alternative in a skillet over medium heat, incorporating taco seasoning and water. Simmer until mixture thickens and develops rich flavor, then set aside.
Burrito Assembly: Layer tortilla with seasoned beef, rice, black beans, nacho cheese or shredded cheddar, sour cream, and Mexican blend cheese. Carefully fold sides inward, then roll tightly from bottom to create a compact bundle.
Cheese Grilling: Preheat skillet to medium-low temperature. Sprinkle shredded cheese directly onto surface forming a circular base. Position burrito seam-side down on melting cheese, allowing crispy golden crust to develop. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until exterior becomes golden and crisp.
Finishing Touch: Transfer grilled burrito to serving plate, slice diagonally. Accompany with preferred garnishes like salsa, guacamole, or hot sauce for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
Choose lean ground beef or turkey for a healthier option, or use plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian alternative.
Toast the taco seasoning briefly before adding water to enhance its flavor and release deeper aromatics.
Use a non-stick skillet and medium-low heat to prevent burning while creating a perfectly golden, crispy cheese crust.
Fold burrito sides tightly to prevent filling from spilling out during grilling, ensuring a neat and compact final product.
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.