Beef and Bean Burritos (freezer meal)

These make-ahead Beef and Bean Burritos are easy and inexpensive. Because they are individually wrapped, they can be served as a full meal or can be taken out individually for lunches or snacks.

Our family are fans of Mexican-inspired flavors. Some of our favorites are our Taco Sloppy Joes, Tex Mex Pasta Bake, Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa, and Make-Ahead Mexican Manicotti Bake.
tin foil wrapped burritos on top and burrito topped with tomatoes and cheese on a bed of lettuce on bottom with text that reads "Make Ahead Beef and Bean Burritos" #freezermeals101 #makeahead #beefbeanburritosI currently have five teenagers. If you’ve ever heard that teenagers eat non-stop, you heard right! That’s why I love having things that they can pull out and make themselves.

These burritos are just that. They can pull one out (or two!) and warm it up themselves in the microwave or pack it in their school lunch. I like that it’s healthy and they like the independence of being able to add their own toppings or favorite hot sauce and eat it the way they want to. beef and bean burritos wrapped individually in foil and placed in a freezer bagWhen I make these, I like to double or triple the recipe and set things up like an assembly line. The kids and I take a “station” and we work together to assemble and wrap the burritos.

Beef and Bean Burritos Recipe:

  • 1 lb. browned ground beef
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 15 oz. can refried beans
  • 1/2 red pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 green pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 onion, finely diced
  • 8 burrito size flour tortillas

Assembly instructions:

  1. Brown ground beef. Add the taco seasoning and water and let simmer until the mixture is slightly thickened.
  2. Spread 3 Tbsp. of the seasoned ground beef and 1/4 cup refried beans on each tortilla.
  3. Sprinkle with some of the diced peppers and onions.
  4. Wrap burrito style and then wrap each one individually in tin foil.
  5. Place burritos in large resealable freezer bags and freeze.

collage of beef and bean burritos in foil and freezer bag, cut and served on a plate and topped with cheese while other fixings sit in bowls at the side like salsa and lettuceMicrowave Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Remove foil, place one burrito on a plate and reheat.
  3. Serve with toppings of your choice.

Oven cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Place burritos in a baking dish. Bake in 350° oven for 30 minutes.
  3. If desired, top with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and/or salsa.

close up of a beef and bean burrito cut open and sitting on lettuce with salsa and cheese on topSuggestions for toppings or sides for burritos:

  • shredded lettuce
  • diced tomatoes
  • diced green onions
  • sour cream
  • salsa
  • guacamole
  • shredded cheese (cheddar, tex mex, jalapeño jack, or marble)
  • hot sauce
  • rice
  • corn

beef and bean burritos cut in half and sitting on a bed of lettuce with salsa and cheese on top as well as bowls of toppings to the sideVariations to this burrito recipe:

  • Change the type of flour tortillas used to change the flavor or better suit your dietary needs. Whole wheat, white, pesto, sundried tomato, and spinach wraps all work well. However, in my experience, the gluten-free tortillas and corn tortillas don’t hold up well in this recipe, easily breaking and leaking.
  • These can easily be made vegetarian by substituting a plant-based soy beef for the meat. Follow the recipe exactly other than this. I prefer to use the Mexican Ground Round.
  • For a more complete meal, add cooked rice to the inside of the burritos before rolling them.

This recipe along with others can be found in our Lunch Freezer Meal Plan. Our menu plans include recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.

Beef and Bean Burritos
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: air fryer, beef, burritos
Servings: 8 burritos
Calories: 167 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. browned ground beef
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 15 oz. can refried beans
  • 1/2 red pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 green pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 onion finely diced
  • 8 burrito size flour tortillas
  • optional burrito toppings
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Brown ground beef. Add the taco seasoning and water and let simmer until the mixture is slightly thickened.

  2. Spread 3 Tbsp. of the seasoned ground beef and 1/4 cup refried beans on each tortilla.

  3. Sprinkle with some of the diced peppers and onions.

  4. Wrap burrito style and then wrap each one individually in tin foil.

  5. Place burritos in large resealable freezer bags and freeze.

Microwave cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Remove foil, place one burrito on a plate and reheat.

  3. Serve with toppings of your choice.

Oven cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Place burritos in a baking dish. Bake in 350° oven for 30 minutes.

  3. If desired, top with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and/or salsa.

Air fryer cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Brush or spray both sides of the burritos with oil.

  3. Without crowding, place burritos in an air fryer, preheated to 375°. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, turning once.

Be sure to check out these easy freezer meals:

Taco Sloppy Joesclose up of taco sloppy Joe's with a bowl of salsa and sour cream on the side

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beansclose up of cilantro lime chicken with corn and black beans, topped with a dollop of salsa, guacamole and sour cream

Ground Beef Stroganoffclose up of ground beef stroganoff with lots of noodles and garnished with parsley