This enchilada-style ground beef burrito recipe is packed with seasoned ground beef, smothered in rich red enchilada sauce, and loaded with gooey melted cheese for the ultimate comfort food. Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner or crowd-pleasing meal, this beef burrito recipe combines bold Mexican flavors with hearty ingredients for a delicious and satisfying dish the whole family will love.

A tortilla wrapped, drenched in enchilada sauce, and covered in gooey, golden cheese.

Tacos and burritos instantly make me feel nostalgic, even though we didn’t have them much growing up. I actually hated ground beef because of the texture, and my mom was so patient! She never forced me to eat while I quietly melted cheese on a tortilla instead.

My biggest tip? Don’t stress about making separate meals or battles at the table. My parents just kept offering and waiting for me to try new things, and I turned out fine. Now, I offer my kids lots of toppings to make things less “gross” (looking at you, Grayson, and your avocado skepticism). I ask them to try one bite, then enjoy what they like, without catering to picky tastes every time. Mealtime should be peaceful and fun for everyone.

I’ve completely changed my mind about ground beef, and this recipe might be my favorite. These burritos are giant, filled with beef simmered in Dr. Pepper and Better Than Bouillon, and covered in a rich mix of red enchilada sauce, beef stock, and lots of melted cheese.

What are Enchilada Style Burritos?

Enchilada-style burritos are burritos that are covered in a red or green chile sauce and lots of cheese and then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted. They are also known as smothered burritos.

A cast iron skillet full of cheesy goodness, rich red sauce, and that irresistible baked-in flavor you can only get from the oven.

What Ingredients Do You Need for This Enchilada Style Ground Beef Burrito Recipe?

This recipe takes a few ingredients to make the ground beef extra flavorful and to take the sauce on top to the next level.

Ground Beef Filling

  • Ground Beef: The main filling. Choose something with a little fat so it stays flavorful.
  • Taco Seasoning: A wonderful mix of chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and oregano. Adds that classic, bold flavor everyone loves.
  • Better than Beef Bouillon: My go-to for a big boost of rich flavor.
  • Dr Pepper: My little secret, but it adds the best little hint of sweetness.
  • Water: Just helps everything cook together nicely.

Sauce

  • Butter: Starts the sauce with a rich, smooth base.
  • Flour: Thickens it up so it sticks to the burritos just right.
  • Beef Stock: Gives it a deep, savory flavor.
  • Red Enchilada Sauce: Adds spice and a little tang.
  • Beef Bouillon: Bumps up the beefy taste even more.
  • Chili Powder: A warm little kick of flavor.

Burritos

  • Flour Tortillas (burrito size): Big enough to hold all the filling without falling apart.
  • Mexican Cheese Blend: Melts perfectly and ties all the flavors together.

Head down to the recipe card for the measurements!

A giant ground beef burrito smothered in red enchilada sauce and loads of cheese, baked right in the cast iron pan for maximum flavor.

How to Make This Enchilada-Style Ground Beef Burrito Recipe

These burritos come together super fast and really boil down to cooking the ground beef, making the sauce, constructing the burritos, and then baking them. Ain’t no thang!

How to Make Beef Burritos

  1. Brown: Cook the ground beef in a skillet and drain the fat.
  2. Flavor: Add taco seasoning and Better Than Bouillon.
  3. Simmer: Stir in Dr Pepper and water; cook until most of the liquid is gone.

Make the Sauce

  1. Melt: Warm the butter in a saucepan.
  2. Whisk: Add flour, then slowly stir in beef stock, enchilada sauce, and chili powder.
  3. Thicken: Let it simmer until the sauce is smooth and coats a spoon.

Assemble the Burritos

  1. Fill: Add 1/4 of the beef mixture to the center of each tortilla with a sprinkle of cheese.
  2. Fold: Roll up the burritos and place them in a baking dish or oven-safe plate.
  3. Smother: Pour sauce over the top and add more cheese.
  4. Bake: Cook until everything is hot and melty, then top with your favorites and serve!

What Toppings to Put on This Beef Burrito Recipe?

The great thing about burritos is that you can top them with whatever your family loves most. We usually go for a big dollop of sour cream and a scoop of fresh pico de gallo, but there are plenty of other delicious options to try. Guacamole or sliced avocado adds creaminess, while Restaurant Style Salsa or your favorite jarred salsa brings a fresh, tangy flavor.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing can give your burrito a nice zing, and diced red onion adds a bit of crunch and bite. Don’t forget fresh chopped cilantro and shredded lettuce for some brightness and texture. To make your burrito even more filling, try adding beans, brown or white rice, or even quinoa! These extras help turn your burrito into a hearty, satisfying meal.

A cheesy, smothered burrito baked to perfection in a cast iron pan, with red sauce bubbling around the edges and melted cheese stretching with every bite.

Can I Make This Beef Burrito Recipe Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can absolutely make this easy beef burrito recipe ahead of time, and they’re a lifesaver on busy nights. To prep ahead, assemble the burritos by filling and folding the burritos, placing them in a baking dish, and wrapping the dish in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to eat, unwrap, pour the sauce over the top, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 375°F until hot and bubbly, about 25–30 minutes.

For longer storage, freeze the wrapped burritos (without sauce) in a freezer-safe airtight container or individually in aluminum foil for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge, smother with sauce and cheese, and bake as directed. If baking straight from frozen, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until everything is warmed through and the cheese is melted.

What to Eat with This Ground Beef Burrito Recipe?

These burritos are big and filling, so you might not need any sides at all. But if your family is anything like mine, they’ll probably want a side or two to round out the meal. Some of our favorites to serve alongside include Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Elote Mexican Street Corn, Black Beans, and Cilantro Lime Rice. Each one pairs perfectly with the bold flavors of the beef burritos and adds a little extra something special to the plate.

How to Reheat This Beef Burrito Recipe

I prefer to reheat these ground beef burritos in the oven. Just pop them in at 350°F for about 15–20 minutes, and they’ll come out perfectly warm with a nice, slightly crispy tortilla. You can microwave them if you’re in a rush, but I don’t recommend it. The tortilla tends to get soggy, and it’s tricky to heat the filling evenly. The oven really gives you the best texture and flavor every time.

A giant ground beef burrito recipe nestled in a cast iron skillet, smothered in rich red enchilada sauce and blanketed with bubbling, golden cheese. The edges are perfectly crisped, the center is melty and savory, and the whole thing looks like the kind of comfort food you dream about on a cold night.

Prepare yourselves for a burrito full of the most flavorful saucy ground beef and topped with a bold red sauce and gobs of melted cheese!

Other Mexican Recipes You Might Like

Smothered Ground Beef Burritos

4.29 from 21 votes
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Description

This enchilada style ground beef burrito reciepe is indulgently stuffed with flavorful ground beef and topped with red enchilada sauce and loads of gooey melted cheese!

Ingredients 

  • 2.5 Pounds Ground Beef
  • 2 Packets Taco Seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Better than Beef Bouillon
  • 1 Bottle Dr Pepper, 12 oz
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Flour
  • 1 ½ Cups Beef Stock
  • 1 Can Red Enchilada Sauce, 19 oz
  • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 4 Tortillas, large burrito size
  • 4 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Heat a large skillet to medium heat and then add the ground beef and brown. Drain fat.
    2.5 Pounds Ground Beef
  • Stir the taco seasoning (*see note) into the meat, along with the better than bouillon.
    2 Packets Taco Seasoning, 1 ½ teaspoons Better than Beef Bouillon
  • Pour in the Dr Pepper and water, stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid is almost incorporated.
    1 Bottle Dr Pepper, 1 Cup Water
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the flour and then the stock, then the enchilada sauce (**see note) and chili powder. Simmer until thickened.
    3 Tablespoons Butter, 2 Tablespoons Flour, 1 ½ Cups Beef Stock, 1 Can Red Enchilada Sauce, 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • Spoon 1/4 of the beef into the center of a tortilla and add a small sprinkle of cheese (the rest is used on top).
    4 Tortillas, 4 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend
  • Wrap the burrito up and place on an oven-safe plate. Pour sauce over the top and top with 3/4 cup shredded cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Top with your favorite toppings (see note). Serve immediately.

Notes

Suggested serving accompaniments: lettuce, beans, sour cream, salsa, guacamole
  • One taco seasoning packet contains about 2 Tablespoons of seasoning so if you make your own or use our homemade recipe, you’ll want about 4 Tablespoon for this recipe
  • If you make homemade red enchilada sauce, you’ll want to use about 2 and 1/2 cups of enchilada sauce

Nutrition

Serving: 1BurritoCalories: 1316kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 80gFat: 99gSaturated Fat: 47gCholesterol: 330mgSodium: 1666mgPotassium: 1083mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1196IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 831mgIron: 8mg
Author: Carrian Cheney
Course: 100 + BEST Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

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a photo of a large ground burrito recipe that has been cut into to show the ground beef in a cast iron skillet topped with a sauce and melted cheese and garnished with sour cream, diced red onions, chopped cilantro and sliced grape tomatoes with some avocado slices on the side.