You know those nights when everybody's hungry, your patience packed a bag and left, and takeout feels personally offensive at current prices? This burrito casserole is for that. Cheesy, cozy, make-ahead friendly, and just dramatic enough to make dinner feel like effort when it absolutely was not.
Craving Tex-Mex but don't feel like putting on pants for the drive-thru? This beef burrito casserole is your weeknight BFF-quick, easy, budget-friendly, and full of cheesy-gooey-goodness that'll have you blowing on every bite like a fire-breathing dragon because patience is not our virtue. It's almost a Tex-Mex lasagna without the Italian attitude, and yes, it freezes like a dream (see Storage section). I'd toss in black olives for some sassy flair, but apparently, I live with olive haters, so… I suffer in silence.
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Recipe
Cheesy Beef Burrito Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 ounce taco seasoning, one packet or a couple of tablespoonfuls
- 16 ounces refried beans, about 2 cups
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup, don't dilute. You may substitute cream of mushroom or cream of celery
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 10 large flour tortillas, cut in half
- 2 cups mild cheddar, shredded
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef and onion in a heavy pan until the beef is cooked through and the onion is tender.
- Drain and stir in the refried beans and taco seasoning.
- Squeeze the lime over the beef mixture, add the cilantro, and stir to blend.
- Set aside.
- Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with no stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl stir together the soup and sour cream.
- Spoon some of the sour cream mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add a layer of tortillas. Lay them with the flat, cut sides to the sides of the dish to keep them even then add a couple of halves in the middle to cover. This should take about 3 large tortillas.
- Spread a layer of the ground beef mixture over the top of the tortillas.
- Top with a cup of the cheese - mixed if using both Cheddar and pepper jack.
- Repeat layers, starting with sour cream mixture, and finish with the cheese.
- You may cover the dish at this point and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days until it's time to bake.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. If it's been refrigerated it may take 30 minutes to heat completely.
- Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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🔪 Instructions
- Brown the ground beef
- Mix in the beans and seasonings.
- Layer in the prepared baking pan.
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes.
📖 Variations
- Use diced cooked chicken instead of ground beef.
- Use whole Ranch style beans instead of refried beans.
- Use corn tortillas (but then it's an enchilada casserole).
- Add ripe olives.
- Add chopped tomatoes and/or avocado to the top.
- Skip the meat and make it vegetarian but doubling up on the beans or adding sauteed zucchini.
- Add a layer of cooked rice to stretch the recipe.
- Cream of mushroom soup can be swapped for the cream of chicken soup.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: I've found that shredding your own cheese gives the best cheese consistency and flavor for this baked burrito casserole.
- Be sure to spray the casserole dish really well with no-stick cooking spray.
- Prepare this casserole the night before and bake right before you're ready to eat it for the best results.
- If you do not like the taste of cilantro it can be left out of this recipe.
- Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Enjoy!
- Sliced green onions make a delicious garnish for this recipe.
- You can use taco-style cheese or Mexican blend cheese.
🍽️ Serve burrito casserole with...
This is one of those easy recipes that's so filling it just doesn't need much more with it. A crispy salad is always a good choice. Sometimes in the winter I'll serve it with creamed corn and slow cooker collard greens.
This no-bake lemon cheesecake is the perfect, sweet ending!
We love this easy burrito casserole even more than traditional burritos!
It's a hearty meal that gives you plenty of options for toppings and additions just like your favorite Tex-Mex.
Best of all, it's a good choice for busy weeknights because you can assemble it ahead of time or bake and freeze. It reheats like a charm!
You may also like this creamy beef enchilada casserole - all the flavor without all the work!
I like easy weeknight meals, don't you?
I mean, when I wasn't working I had no problem with spending an hour or two making a scrumptious dinner but these days that only happens on a weekend if it happens at all. Spoiler alert - it rarely happens at all.
I am self employed with a successful business that isn't big enough to afford me the luxury of banker's hours or regular lunch breaks. Some of my most lucrative deals have been negotiated with my cell phone on my shoulder and my silent prayer that it didn't fall into the pot of spaghetti sauce I was stirring.
You'll understand when I say that a casserole that can be assembled ahead of time and quickly baked at the end of the day is my favorite food group.
Other than chocolate. Or wine.
Here's the other thing.
This burrito casserole is one of my favorite things to take for a potluck or when someone needs a meal. EVERYONE loves it.
My church has a huge foster-family/ adoption ministry. It's one of the things I love most about being part of this particular church and I am part of a team that makes meals for foster families when they get a new placement.
A week or two of meals gives the family a chance to settle in and figure out how it's all going to work.
Being an adopted person myself I have nothing but respect and gratitude for those who take care of the littles who have no one else. I feel lucky to be able to do some small thing to make the transition easier.
📚 Related recipes
Here are more easy casserole recipes -
- Chicken Taco Casserole is a hearty Tex Mex casserole that the entire family will enjoy.
- Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is another quick and easy favorite.
- King Ranch Chicken is a cheesy casserole that makes for the ultimate comfort food.
- Frito Chicken Casserole is a twist on a classic comfort food recipe.
Brittany says
I was wondering how to adapt this to a vegetarian burrito bake. I'm so glad you included those instructions, taking out the guesswork on my end!
Marye says
I'm so glad you can make it work for you!
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
This burrito casserole was made for me. I have never tried to make burritos that didn't fall apart anyways! This is a recipe I can work with! Ha!
Laura says
I substituted the soup and sour cream and used cream cheese with diced green chiles. And of course made my own salt free taco seasoning.
Marye says
of course! 🙂 I'm so glad you found a version you like. 🙂
tonyy pro says
you don't give the number of serving for the nutrition
Marye says
In the top of the recipe card it states 8 servings. Each serving is 1/8 of what's in the casserole dish.
Cathy says
Haven’t tried it yet. But looks promising. I need to adjust ingredients to lower salt content - homemade no salt taco seasoning, thinking mashed low/ no salt pinto beans instead of refried. I’ll need to look at the other ingredients as I buy/ assemble them. Can this be split into two 8x8 pans? Or should I make the large one and freeze leftovers. There is just two of us. Thanks for the recipe.