Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The Ultimate Comfort Food Combo
- Why Frying Makes All the Difference
- Perfect for Busy Weeknights
- Tips for Burrito Perfection
- Serving Suggestions & Variations
- The Recipe: Crispy Fried Ground Beef Burritos
- Notes & Tips
Key Takeaways
- This recipe transforms simple ingredients like ground beef and flour tortillas into an incredibly satisfying and crispy meal.
- With a total time of under 30 minutes, it’s one of the best easy recipes with ground beef for hectic evenings.
- The double cooking method (browning the beef, then frying the burrito) creates deep, savory flavors and an irresistible golden crunch.
- Customization is easy—swap in your favorite beans, cheeses, or add extra veggies to the filling.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully in an air fryer or oven, making it a great option for meal prep.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Hey there, it’s Betty from Betty Cooks! If you’re looking for a dinner that’s guaranteed to get cheers from the family without keeping you in the kitchen all night, you’ve found it. These Crispy Fried Ground Beef Burritos are my go-to solution when I need something delicious, fast, and utterly comforting. They’re the perfect example of how a few simple ingredients can come together to create something truly special.
What makes this one of my favorite easy recipes with ground beef is its brilliant simplicity and incredible payoff. We’re taking the humble burrito and elevating it with a quick fry, which transforms the soft tortilla into a shatteringly crisp shell that gives way to a hot, savory, and cheesy filling. It’s a textural dream and a flavor explosion in every bite. This recipe is a testament to the idea that fantastic ground beef recipes don’t have to be complicated.
The Ultimate Comfort Food Combo
Let’s talk about the heart of this dish: that amazing filling. There’s something magical about the combination of seasoned ground beef, creamy refried beans, and melty cheddar cheese. It’s a classic trio for a reason—it simply works. The beef provides a rich, savory base, the beans add creaminess and body, and the cheese brings everything together with its gooey, salty goodness. A hint of green chiles adds just the right amount of tangy brightness to cut through the richness.
Why Frying Makes All the Difference
You might wonder, “Can’t I just bake these?” And sure, you can! But if you want that authentic, crave-worthy texture, frying is the way to go. That quick dip in hot oil does two things: it creates an incredibly crispy, golden-brown shell that holds its shape perfectly, and it gently toasts the exterior of the filling, deepening all the flavors. The contrast between the crunchy exterior and the soft, steaming interior is what takes this dish from good to “can I have another?” level. It’s a simple technique that yields maximum results, making this a standout among quick ground beef recipes.
Perfect for Busy Weeknights
Life gets busy, but that doesn’t mean dinner has to be boring. This recipe is designed for reality. The filling comes together in one skillet in about 10 minutes. Assembling the burritos is a fun activity you can even get the kids to help with. And the frying step is surprisingly fast—just 2-3 minutes per side. From start to finish, you’re looking at less than 30 minutes to get a hot, homemade, and deeply satisfying meal on the table. It’s the definition of a reliable easy dinner that feels like a treat.
Tips for Burrito Perfection
A few little tricks ensure your burritos turn out fantastic every time. First, let the filling cool for a few minutes before assembling. A hot filling will steam the tortilla and make it more likely to tear. Second, don’t overfill! About 1/2 cup of filling per large tortilla is the sweet spot. Finally, the fry: make sure your oil is properly heated to 350°F. If it’s not hot enough, the burritos will soak up oil and become greasy; too hot, and they’ll burn before the inside heats through. A candy or deep-fry thermometer is your best friend here.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
The beauty of these burritos is how well they play with others. I love setting up a “burrito bar” with bowls of cool sour cream, chunky salsa, creamy guacamole, and crisp shredded lettuce. Let everyone customize their own plate! As for variations, the sky’s the limit. Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken. Use black beans instead of refried. Add a scoop of cooked rice to the filling to stretch it further. Or, mix Monterey Jack cheese with the cheddar for a more complex flavor. This quick and easy recipe is wonderfully adaptable.
The Recipe: Crispy Fried Ground Beef Burritos
Ready to make them? The full, detailed recipe with measurements and step-by-step instructions is just below. Gather your ground beef, tortillas, and favorite toppings—it’s time to cook!
Notes & Tips
Make-Ahead: You can assemble the burritos a few hours ahead. Keep them covered on a baking sheet in the fridge until you’re ready to fry. This is a great easy meal prep trick for getting dinner on the table even faster.
Baking Option: For a lighter version, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the assembled burritos on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Lightly brush or spray them with oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
Reheating: To maintain the crunch, reheat leftovers in an air fryer at 370°F for 3-4 minutes or in a conventional oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes. The microwave will make them soft.
Freezing: These freeze beautifully after frying and cooling. Wrap each burrito individually in foil and store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven at 375°F for 20-25 minutes.
Crispy Fried Ground Beef Burritos: An Easy Weeknight Recipe
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles, drained
- 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Assembling & Frying
- 8 large flour tortillas (burrito size)
- 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying
- Optional for serving: sour cream, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce
Instructions
Prepare the Filling
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Add the diced green chiles. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the refried beans and shredded cheddar cheese until well combined and the cheese starts to melt. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the filling cool slightly.
Assemble the Burritos
- Lay a tortilla flat on a clean work surface. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the beef filling onto the lower third of the tortilla.
- Fold the bottom edge of the tortilla up over the filling. Fold in the left and right sides. Roll the burrito up tightly from the bottom, enclosing the filling completely. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Fry the Burritos
- In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil over medium heat to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully place 2-3 burritos, seam-side down, into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Use tongs to transfer the fried burritos to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Repeat with the remaining burritos, allowing the oil to return to temperature between batches.
Serve
- Let the burritos cool for a few minutes before serving. Slice in half if desired and serve with your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or shredded lettuce.
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