These wet burritos are full of juicy beef, and smothered in a spicy sauce and melted cheese. They’re easy, take only 35 minutes to make, and are just as good as what you’d order at a restaurant.
Everybody loves burritos. What’s not to love about beans, cheese, and meat, wrapped in a warm tortilla? My favorite kind of burritos are wet burritos or you can call them smothered burritos. The rich, spicy sauce and gooey cheese take a burrito to the next level. This wet burrito recipe is a go-to meal for me. The burrito is packed with juicy ground beef that goes perfectly with the sauce.
This recipe is restaurant quality, but it only takes 35 minutes to make. It’s an easy dish that you can make on a weeknight for a fun midweek treat. It is saucy, comforting and just down right tasty!
What is a Wet Burrito?
Wet burritos, also known as smothered burritos, are burritos that are covered in sauce. Unlike with normal burritos, you have to eat wet burritos with a fork, because they’re that saucy. The sauce is usually a variation of an enchilada sauce, and they often have cheese melted on top of them, too. Think of it like a cross between a burrito and an enchilada!
Why You’ll Love These Easy Beef Burritos
These smothered burritos are all kinds of fun and delicious. Here’s why I know you’ll love them.
- Easy. Most people only eat wet burritos at restaurants. It seems like a food that would be difficult to make at home. But this recipe is super easy! It doesn’t require much work, and the burritos will be finished in 35 minutes.
- Timeless flavor combinations. The ingredients in this wet burrito go perfectly together. The inside is filled with beans, cheese, rice, and tender ground beef. The outside is topped with a spicy red enchilada sauce and cheese. Those flavors all go together so well.
- Restaurant quality at home. This is one of those meals that you can make to impress your friends or family. If you make these wet burritos at home, everyone will think you ordered them from a restaurant. They’re also easy to make in a large quantity.
What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you need for making wet beef burritos at home. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the article to see the exact amounts.
- Ground beef – Use lean ground beef for the best results, you can also use ground turkey if desired.
- Taco seasoning
- Tortillas – Make sure to use burrito-sized tortillas.
- Cooked rice – You can use plain white rice or seasoned rice.
- Refried beans
- Cheddar cheese – For best results, shred your own cheese.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter.
- Flour
- Beef broth – I like to use low sodium
- Enchilada sauce – I use red sauce for this recipe, but you can use green sauce if you prefer. You can even make your own homemade enchilada sauce and skip the store bought.
- Chili powder
What is Taco Seasoning?
Taco seasoning is a spice blend that is available at almost all supermarkets. It usually contains cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder. If you don’t have any taco seasoning, you can make this Homemade Taco Seasoning in just minutes.
How to Make Wet Burritos
Here’s how to make these juicy, saucy burritos. They only take 35 minutes!
- Prep. Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Cook the beef. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the ground beef. Cook until the beef is cooked all the way through, which should take 5-7 minutes. Drain the fat from the pan.
- Season the beef. Add the taco seasoning and any water that the packet calls for. Stir it into the beef.
- Make the roux. Melt the butter over medium heat. When melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Finish the sauce. Slowly whisk in the beef broth and then the enchilada sauce. Add chili powder, and simmer until the sauce is thick.
- Assemble the burritos. Fill the burritos with beans, rice, beef, and some of the cheese. Fold in the sides and roll the burritos tightly.
- Put the burritos in the tray. Spray a 13×9-inch baking tray with cooking spray. Place the burritos in it, seam side down.
- Smother the burritos. Pour the sauce over the burritos. Top with the remaining cheese.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few tricks for making these juicy beef burritos.
- Warm the tortillas. Right before filling the burritos, warm the tortillas in the microwave for 20 seconds. Warm tortillas are easier to fold, and won’t rip when you make the burritos.
- Add the liquid very slowly. When you add the beef broth to the sauce, pour it in very slowly. Drizzle in a few teaspoons of broth, and whisk until smooth. Then add a little bit more, and whisk until smooth. Each time add a little more liquid. After doing this a few times, you can pour in the liquid normally. Starting with small amounts of liquid ensures that the sauce will be smooth and thick.
- Use flavored rice. To add a little extra flavor, you can use flavored rice in this smothered burrito. I recommend my Cilantro Lime Rice or Instant Pot Spanish Rice.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve wet burritos with some of my favorite Mexican side dishes, and top them with sour cream or guacamole. Here are some recipes to make with these beef burritos.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
You can store leftover wet burritos in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container. Reheat in a 350F oven for 10 minutes, or in the microwave on full power in 30-second increments.
Can I Freeze Wet Burritos?
Yes! The best way to freeze wet burritos is to place the dry, unbaked burritos in an airtight container. Freeze them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw or defrost them, then top them with the sauce and cheese. Then you can bake them.
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