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This Burrito Casserole is a cozy, family-friendly dinner that turns simple ingredients into a satisfying all-in-one meal. Layers of seasoned ground beef, refried beans, soft tortilla strips, and melty cheese bake together into a warm, comforting dish that feels like a pan of baked burritos.
It’s quick enough for a weeknight and flexible enough to customize with your favorite burrito fillings or toppings. You can even assemble it ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight, making it especially convenient for busy schedules.
casserole is a full one-dish meal, but feel free to round it out with a tossed salad, Mexican coleslaw, or fresh seasonal vegetables. Top servings with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and some chopped cilantro, and serve the casserole with lime wedges.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Easy to assemble. Simple layers come together quickly for a weeknight-friendly casserole.
Comforting and hearty. Warm tortillas, seasoned beef, beans, and cheese create a filling, satisfying meal.
Family-approved. Mild seasoning and customizable toppings make it a crowd-pleaser.
Make-ahead option. Assemble in advance and bake when ready.
Ingredient Notes
- Flour tortillas: Cut into strips so they soften and absorb flavor while still adding structure.
- Ground beef: Lean ground beef keeps the casserole hearty without excess grease.
- Onion and garlic: Build savory depth and season the filling.
- Spices: Cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper give this dish classic burrito flavor.
- Refried beans: Make the filling creamy and help bind everything together.
- Fresh salsa or tomatoes: Add moisture and a bright, fresh note.
- Cheddar jack or pepper jack cheese: Melts well and provides richness; pepper jack adds a bit of heat.
- Optional toppings: Sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, tortilla chips, and green onions add color and texture.
Steps to Make Burrito Casserole
- Heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish with cooking oil spray.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook until the beef is no longer pink.
- Add the garlic and seasonings and cook for 1 minute, then stir in the refried beans.
- Place half of the tortilla strips in the prepared baking dish.
- Spread all of the beef and bean mixture over the tortillas, followed by the diced tomatoes.
- Add cilantro if using, then top with the remaining tortilla strips.
- Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top and cover the dish with foil.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the filling is hot.
- If assembled ahead and refrigerated, bake covered for about 25 minutes before uncovering and baking until hot and melted.
Tips
- Lightly warm the tortillas for a few seconds in the microwave if they feel stiff — this prevents cracking when cutting them into strips.
- Drain excess grease from the ground beef if needed to keep the casserole from becoming heavy or oily.
- Use a combination of cheeses for better melt and flavor — cheddar for richness and jack cheese for smooth meltability.
- If your refried beans are very thick, stir in a tablespoon or two of water or broth so they spread more easily and blend into the filling.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the layers set and make scooping easier.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy burrito casserole. Add chopped jalapeños, chipotle in adobo, or use pepper jack cheese for heat.
- Chicken burrito version. Swap the ground beef for shredded cooked chicken and add a little taco seasoning to balance flavor.
- Bean-forward casserole. Replace the beef with black beans or pinto beans for a vegetarian-style version.
- Creamy enchilada twist. Pour 1/2 cup red or green enchilada sauce over the layers before baking for a saucier casserole.
- Veggie-loaded version. Add sautéed bell peppers, corn, or zucchini to stretch the filling and add freshness.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with sour cream, guacamole, or extra salsa on top.
- Add a simple green salad or Mexican-style slaw on the side.
- Pair with Spanish rice, cilantro lime rice, or refried beans for a heartier plate.
- Choose tortilla chips as a crunchy topping or side for scooping.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Cover and store leftovers for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm in a 325°F oven until heated through, or microwave individual portions.
Freeze: Freeze assembled but unbaked casserole for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and bake as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Burrito Casserole
Ingredients
- Cooking oil spray for the baking dish
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 ½ tsp ground paprika
- 1 ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp fine salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans
- 6 to 8 medium flour tortillas, cut into strips about 1 1/2 inches wide
- ½ cup prepared salsa
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro (optional), plus more for serving, if desired
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, or pepper jack
- sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or sliced green onions, for topping (optional)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking oil spray.Cooking oil spray for the baking dish
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off excess grease, then add the garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, fine salt, and black pepper, and cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in the refried beans.1 tbsp vegetable oil | 1 pound ground beef | 1 medium onion | 2 cloves garlic | 2 tsp ground cumin | 1 1/2 tsp ground paprika | 1 1/2 tsp chili powder | 1/2 tsp garlic powder | 1/2 tsp fine salt | 1/2 tsp ground black pepper | 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans
- Arrange half of the tortilla strips in the prepared baking dish and top with all of the burrito beef mixture, salsa, and cilantro, if using. Top with the remaining tortilla strips and then sprinkle with the cheese. Cover the baking dish with foil. At this point you may refrigerate the casserole overnight.6 to 8 medium flour tortillas | 1/2 cup prepared salsa | 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro (optional) | 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake the burrito casserole for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the cheese has melted.Note: if it was refrigerated, bake covered for about 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake until hot and the cheese has melted.
- Serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, chopped cilantro, or sliced green onions, if desired.sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or sliced green onions, for topping (optional)
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
