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Delicious Burrito Pie Recipe: The Ultimate Crowd-Pleaser for Any Occasion

Get ready to elevate your mealtime with a dish that combines the best of Mexican flavors in a convenient, comforting casserole: the Burrito Pie. While traditionally associated with festivities like Cinco de Mayo, this incredibly versatile and easy-to-make dish is truly perfect for any day of the year. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family, hosting a casual get-together, or simply looking for a delicious and satisfying meal prep option, our Burrito Pie recipe is guaranteed to become a new favorite.

What makes Burrito Pie so special? It’s all about simplicity and incredible flavor. Instead of laboriously rolling individual burritos, we layer all the delicious components into a baking dish, creating a hearty “pie” that bakes to perfection. Plus, we’ve included options for both a savory ground beef filling and a robust vegetarian black bean version, ensuring there’s a delightful choice for every preference at your table.

What Exactly is Burrito Pie and How is it Different from a Regular Burrito?

The name “Burrito Pie” might sound like an oxymoron, blending two distinct culinary concepts: the Mexican burrito and the comforting, layered pie. However, the fusion creates a truly remarkable dish. A traditional burrito consists of a flour tortilla tightly wrapped around a variety of ingredients, forming a sealed, portable meal. The word “burrito” itself, meaning “little donkey” in Spanish, is thought to allude to the way a donkey carries a heavy load, much like a burrito is packed with numerous fillings.

In contrast, Burrito Pie takes all those beloved burrito ingredients – seasoned meat or beans, tortillas, and cheese – and arranges them in a layered casserole form, baked until bubbly and golden. This innovative approach offers several advantages:

Ease of Preparation: Forget the fuss and potential mess of rolling individual burritos. Burrito Pie is significantly quicker and simpler to assemble.
Consistent Flavor in Every Bite: Each slice of Burrito Pie delivers a perfect ratio of all the fillings, ensuring a balanced and flavorful experience from start to finish.
Perfect for Sharing: A single baking dish feeds multiple people with ease, making it an ideal choice for family dinners, potlucks, or entertaining guests.
Leftover Friendly: Burrito Pie reheats beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for meal prepping and enjoying delicious leftovers throughout the week.

Essentially, Burrito Pie offers the same delicious taste profile of a traditional burrito but in a more communal, comforting, and preparation-friendly format. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy classic Tex-Mex flavors without the individual wrapping hassle.

piece of burrito pie on a plate with salsa and sour cream

BONUS: Burrito Pie isn’t just delicious fresh out of the oven; it’s also incredibly freezer-friendly and perfect for delightful leftovers!

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Easy Burrito Pie Recipe

This Burrito Pie isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a culinary hack that simplifies your life without compromising on taste. Here’s why it’s destined to become a staple in your kitchen:

Effortless Assembly: We understand that weeknights can be hectic. This recipe streamlines the cooking process, transforming what could be a time-consuming meal into a quick and easy assembly job.
Ultimate Versatility: Catering to diverse dietary needs is a breeze. Our comprehensive guide offers instructions for both a classic ground beef filling and a vibrant vegetarian black bean alternative. Feel free to customize further with your favorite vegetables, spices, or even different cheeses.
A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: From picky eaters to gourmet enthusiasts, everyone loves the hearty, cheesy, and flavorful layers of a Burrito Pie. It’s comfort food at its finest, making it ideal for family dinners, potlucks, and game day feasts.
Fantastic for Meal Prep: One of the greatest benefits of this dish is its make-ahead potential. Assemble it in advance, refrigerate, and bake when ready. It’s a lifesaver for busy schedules and ensures a delicious, homemade meal is always within reach.
Delectable Leftovers: Unlike some dishes that lose their charm overnight, Burrito Pie often tastes even better the next day. The flavors meld and deepen, making lunchtime leftovers a true treat.
Budget-Friendly: Made with common, affordable ingredients, this recipe is kind to your wallet while delivering maximum flavor and satisfaction.

Each recipe version detailed here is designed to perfectly fill an 8×8 baking pan, providing generous servings. Don’t let the pan size fool you; this pie is incredibly filling! If you’re hosting a larger gathering or simply want more deliciousness, easily double the ingredients and use a 9×13 pan to accommodate everyone.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Burrito Pie

ingredient image: taco meat, tortillas, refried beans, shredded cheese

The beauty of Burrito Pie lies in its simple, readily available ingredients that combine to create something truly spectacular. Once your filling is prepared, the rest is just a quick assembly and bake away from a delicious meal. Below are the core ingredients you’ll need, along with notes on variations.

For the Savory Taco Meat Filling:

Ground Beef: Lean ground beef works best for a less greasy result, but any ground beef will do. You can also substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter alternative.
Taco Seasoning: A store-bought packet makes this super easy, but feel free to create your own blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for a customized flavor.
Salsa: Your favorite salsa adds moisture and a burst of flavor. Choose mild, medium, or hot depending on your preference.
Water: Helps to create a rich, saucy texture for the meat filling.

For the Hearty Vegetarian Black Bean Filling:

If meat isn’t on your menu, don’t worry! This robust vegetarian option is equally delicious and satisfying:

Canned Black Beans: Rinsed and drained, these provide a fantastic protein and fiber base.
Salsa: Just like with the meat version, salsa adds crucial flavor and moisture.
Taco Seasoning: Essential for infusing that classic Tex-Mex taste into the beans.

For the Pie Assembly:

Corn Tortillas: The foundation of our pie! Corn tortillas hold up wonderfully during baking and impart an authentic flavor. You’ll need about 10-15, depending on their size, to create three distinct layers.
Refried Beans: These serve as a delicious “glue” between the tortilla layers and the pan, adding creaminess and depth of flavor.
Shredded Cheese: A generous amount of shredded cheese is key! Mexican blend, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combination of your favorites will melt beautifully to create that irresistible gooey texture.

Beyond these core components, feel free to consider optional additions like chopped onions, bell peppers, or corn kernels to your fillings for extra flavor and nutrition. Remember, this recipe is designed to be flexible and adaptable to your taste!

Crafting Your Perfect Burrito Pie: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Preparing Your Delicious Fillings

For the Savory Ground Beef Filling:

This is where the magic begins, creating a flavorful base for your Burrito Pie.

Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, brown one pound of ground beef over medium heat. Break it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Once no pink remains, drain off any excess grease.
Season and Simmer: Return the skillet to the stove. Add ¼ cup of water, ¾ cup of your favorite salsa, and 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the browned beef. Stir everything together until well combined.
Thicken: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the liquid to reduce, resulting in a thick, rich, and spreadable filling.
Remove from Heat: Once thickened, remove the skillet from the heat and set aside while you prepare your other components.

For the Hearty Vegetarian Black Bean Filling:

This vibrant and flavorful filling is a fantastic alternative, offering a wholesome and delicious experience.

Prepare Beans: Rinse and drain one can of black beans thoroughly. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl.
Combine Flavors: Add ¾ cup of salsa and 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the black beans. Stir well to coat the beans evenly.
Heat and Thicken: Cover the bowl and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, or until the beans start to “pop” slightly and the mixture heats through. This also helps meld the flavors and slightly thicken the mixture.
Stir to Consistency: Stir the mixture again. You’re looking for a semi-thick, spreadable consistency. If it’s still too loose, microwave for another minute or so and stir again.

Step 2: Assembling Your Burrito Pie Layers

Now for the fun part – layering all those delicious ingredients into a magnificent pie!

Prepare Your Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This makes it incredibly easy to lift the pie out once baked for clean slicing. For a larger 9×13 inch pan, remember to double your ingredients.
The First Tortilla Layer: Take 4-5 corn tortillas (the exact number will depend on their size). Spread a thin, even layer of refried beans on one side of each tortilla. Arrange these bean-side down in the bottom of your prepared pan, overlapping them slightly to create a complete, solid first layer. The bean-side down method helps the tortillas adhere to the pan and absorb moisture, preventing them from becoming dry.
First Filling Layer: Evenly spread about half of your prepared meat or vegetarian filling over the tortilla base in the pan. Ensure it covers the tortillas edge-to-edge.
First Cheese Layer: Sprinkle one-third of your shredded cheese generously over the filling.
Repeat for Second Layer: Create another layer using 4-5 bean-coated tortillas, placed bean-side down, followed by the remaining half of your filling, and then another third of the shredded cheese.
Final Tortilla and Cheese Layer: For the top, arrange your last 2-3 bean-coated tortillas, again bean-side down, to form the final tortilla layer. Finish by scattering the remaining one-third of the shredded cheese over the top. You should end up with a delicious structure of three tortilla layers sandwiching two generous layers of filling and cheese.

Step 3: Baking Your Burrito Pie

The final step brings all those wonderful flavors together!

Bake Immediately: Place the assembled Burrito Pie in your preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes. The pie is ready when the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden brown around the edges.
Bake from Refrigerated: If you assembled the pie ahead of time and refrigerated it, you’ll need to increase the baking time. Add an additional 10-15 minutes, baking until heated through and the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly.
Rest Before Serving: Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the layers to set, making it much easier to slice and serve neatly.

Serving Your Magnificent Burrito Pie and Customization Ideas

Your Burrito Pie is ready to be devoured! While the baked casserole itself is incredibly satisfying, serving it with a selection of fresh toppings and condiments elevates the experience to another level. Think of these as the finishing touches that add texture, freshness, and a burst of flavor.

Essential Fresh Toppings:

I find that a baked pie, rich in protein and cheese, truly benefits from a vibrant array of fresh vegetables. Instead of baking these in, I prefer to serve them on the side, allowing each person to customize their plate:

Crisp Shredded Lettuce: Adds a refreshing crunch.
Diced Tomatoes: For a juicy, sweet, and slightly acidic counterpoint.
Sliced Avocado or Guacamole: Creamy, rich, and utterly delicious. Don’t skip the guacamole!
Chopped Fresh Cilantro: A bright, herbaceous finish.
Diced Red Onion or Pickled Jalapeños: For a zingy kick.

burrito pie on a plate with salsa and sour cream

Classic Condiments:

These creamy and zesty additions are a must-have for any Tex-Mex meal:

Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: For a cool, tangy contrast.
Salsa: A dollop of your favorite salsa, whether mild or spicy, adds another layer of flavor.

Creative Customization Ideas:

Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to your filling for extra heat. Include sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños within the layers or as a topping.
Add More Veggies to the Filling: Sautéed bell peppers, onions, corn, or zucchini can be mixed into either the meat or bean filling for added nutrition and texture.
Different Cheeses: Experiment with pepper jack for a spicy kick, or cotija cheese sprinkled on top after baking for a salty, crumbly finish.
Gluten-Free Option: Simply ensure you use certified gluten-free corn tortillas.
Low-Carb Adaptation: While challenging for a “pie,” you could explore using low-carb tortillas, or layer with cooked cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles as a base.

Once you serve up a slice of this magnificent “little burro” in pie form, topped just the way you like it, we bet it’ll quickly become a cherished and regular fixture in your meal rotation. It’s more than just a meal; it’s an experience!

📖 Recipe: Easy Burrito Pie

Burrito Pie

A family favorite meal!

Prep Time

30

Cook Time

30

Total Time

1

Course:
Main Course

Cuisine:
Mexican

Servings:
9

Calories:

427
kcal

Author:
Sula

Ingredients

Taco Meat

1
LB
ground beef
*see vegetarian option in notes
¾
cup
salsa
2
TB
taco seasoning
¼
cup
water

Pie

10-15
corn tortillas
approximately
1
can refried beans
2
cups
shredded cheese
Mexican or cheddar

Instructions

In a large skillet, cook the beef on medium heat until browned through. Add salsa, taco seasoning, and water. Reduce heat to low. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and liquid is reduced. Preheat Oven to 350F (175C).
Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang. Spread about 2-3 tablespoons of refried beans on a tortilla, then place this bean side down in one corner of the lined pan. Repeat with 3-4 more tortillas to completely layer the pan.
Add half of the meat mixture (or vegetarian filling) to the pan and spread out evenly to fill the pan.
Sprinkle with one third of the shredded cheese.
Make another layer of bean-coated tortillas, then add the remaining half of the meat (or vegetarian filling) and another third of the cheese.
Make a final layer of bean-coated tortillas then finish the top with the last third of the cheese.
Bake at 350F (175C) for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is light brown and bubbly. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For vegetarian filling: rinse and drain one can of black beans. Place in a microwave-safe bowl with ¾ cup salsa and 2 tablespoons taco seasoning; stir well. Microwave, covered, for 2-3 minutes, until beans begin to pop. Stir again. The mixture should be somewhat thick and spreadable. If still loose or watery, microwave a little more and stir. Use this black bean mixture to replace the meat filling in the layers.

Nutrition

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burrito Pie

Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas?

While corn tortillas are recommended for their ability to hold up well and add a traditional flavor, you can absolutely use flour tortillas. Just be aware that they might become a bit softer and less structurally firm after baking compared to corn tortillas. Adjust the quantity as needed to fit your baking pan.

How can I make this Burrito Pie spicier?

There are several ways to kick up the heat! You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the meat or bean filling. Incorporating diced fresh jalapeños or serrano peppers into the filling, or even adding a layer of pepper jack cheese, will also increase the spice level. Don’t forget to serve with extra spicy salsa!

Can I freeze Burrito Pie?

Yes, Burrito Pie freezes wonderfully! You can freeze it either baked or unbaked. To freeze unbaked, assemble the pie in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. To freeze baked, let the pie cool completely, then slice into individual portions. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

What other fillings or variations can I try?

The beauty of Burrito Pie is its adaptability! You could experiment with shredded chicken, pork carnitas, or even a mix of ground turkey and black beans. For extra veggies, sauté diced bell peppers, onions, or corn and mix them into your filling. You can also add a layer of green chiles or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro between layers for added flavor.

How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftover Burrito Pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It reheats beautifully in the microwave or oven, making for quick and delicious meals throughout the week.

More Delicious Tex-Mex Meal Ideas

If you’re a fan of the bold and comforting flavors of this Burrito Pie, you’ll love exploring other Tex-Mex inspired dishes that bring excitement to your dinner table. Here are a few ideas to keep your meal rotation fresh and flavorful:

For a unique twist on chicken, try our Jalapeño Popper Hasselback Chicken. It delivers a whole new flavor profile with cheesy, spicy goodness!
Mastering the perfect ground beef taco meat is a game-changer. Once you have this versatile staple down, you can effortlessly whip up a variety of meals.
Transform that delicious taco meat into crispy Air Fryer Taquitos for a quick snack or light dinner.
Or, use it to create satisfying Ground Beef Quesadillas, perfect for a speedy lunch or a fun family meal.

These recipes prove that “Taco Tuesday” (or any day!) doesn’t have to be boring. Embrace the flavors and creativity of Tex-Mex cuisine!