Name: Grilled Cheese Burrito Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade blend); 1 cup cooked white rice; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup nacho cheese sauce; 1/4 cup chipotle sauce; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded mozzarella; 4 large flour tortillas; Butter or oil for grilling

Jump to Recipe

If you crave ultimate comfort food with a fun twist, the Grilled Cheese Burrito is the answer to all your savory dreams. Imagine the fusion of ooey-gooey grilled cheese wrapped around a hearty, flavorful burrito bursting with beef, rice, zippy sauces, and a golden, cheesy crust. Each bite delivers warmth, crunch, and cheesiness—making this irresistibly fun meal perfect for family dinners, weekend treats, or when you want to impress your friends with something special yet surprisingly easy to make. The Grilled Cheese Burrito has quickly become our household obsession, and I can’t wait for you to experience it!

Grilled Cheese Burrito Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The Grilled Cheese Burrito only requires a handful of staple ingredients, but each plays its part in creating an unforgettable flavor and texture profile. You’ll love how every addition builds a hearty, cheesy, satisfying bite.

Ground Beef: The star of the filling, it provides savory richness and soaks up all the delicious seasoning.
Taco Seasoning: Whether you use store-bought or your own blend, this adds all the bold Tex-Mex notes a burrito needs.
White Rice: Acts as a comforting base and helps hold all the saucy, cheesy goodness together.
Sour Cream: Brings a creamy tang that beautifully balances the spicy and salty flavors.
Nacho Cheese Sauce: Adds a nostalgic, melty cheese layer you’ll want in every bite.
Chipotle Sauce: Packs a smoky kick and a tinge of heat; don’t skip it unless you dislike spice!
Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Melts perfectly and offers classic sharp cheesy flavor.
Shredded Mozzarella: Helps amp up that stretch and gooeyness factor for the ultimate grilled cheese effect.
Flour Tortillas: Use large, soft tortillas that wrap snugly around your filling for perfect burrito parcels.
Butter or Oil: Creates that toasty, golden outer finish when grilling the burrito. Butter will add extra flavor, while oil gives a crispier crust.

How to Make Grilled Cheese Burrito

Step 1: Cook the Beef

Grab your skillet and heat it over medium. Break up the ground beef as you cook it, letting it brown evenly while it fills your kitchen with those mouthwatering aromas. Once the meat is cooked through, drain any excess grease, sprinkle in the taco seasoning, add about 1/4 cup water, and let everything simmer together for five minutes. This step infuses the beef with all that bold, zesty flavor that’s at the heart of a true Grilled Cheese Burrito.

Step 2: Warm the Tortillas

To make rolling and folding your burritos super easy (with zero tears!), quickly warm each tortilla. You can do this in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side, or stack them under a damp towel and microwave for about 20–30 seconds. Warm tortillas are flexible and ready to cradle your fillings without cracking.

Step 3: Assemble the Burrito

The real fun begins here! Lay a tortilla out flat, then start layering: a scoop of fluffy rice, followed by a generous spoonful of your seasoned beef. Next, drizzle on nacho cheese sauce, a squeeze of chipotle sauce for that smoky heat, and a dollop of cooling sour cream. Pile on a mix of shredded cheddar and mozzarella. Overfilling is tempting, but keep it moderate so you can wrap everything up without spills!

Step 4: Grill the Burrito

This is where your Grilled Cheese Burrito transforms into something seriously special. Heat a clean skillet over medium. Sprinkle two tablespoons of shredded cheese directly onto the pan, then immediately place your wrapped burrito seam-side down over the cheese. Let it sizzle until the cheese melts and gets gorgeously golden and crisp (about 3–4 minutes). Gently flip, sprinkle more cheese, and repeat so every side is enveloped in that trademark cheesy crust.

How to Serve Grilled Cheese Burrito

Garnishes

Go all-in and make your Grilled Cheese Burrito truly restaurant-worthy! A simple sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro adds color and a pop of flavor. For extra decadence, add sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, or a drizzle of more chipotle sauce. A few jalapeño slices make it extra punchy, while a little fresh lime juice brings welcome brightness.

Side Dishes

These burritos are quite filling, but I love serving them with a light salad of crisp lettuce, avocado, and radishes for contrast. Alternatively, classic restaurant-style chips and salsa, chunky guacamole, or Mexican street corn (elote) alongside your Grilled Cheese Burrito make for a festive spread sure to wow any crowd.

Creative Ways to Present

Slice your burritos neatly in half on a diagonal for that perfect cross-section reveal, and arrange on a platter with dipping bowls of sour cream or extra nacho cheese. Serving bite-sized burrito halves on a party tray is always a huge hit at gatherings. For a fun personal touch, let everyone customize their own with a toppings bar—just grill and serve!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you wind up with extra Grilled Cheese Burrito portions (lucky you!), wrap cooled burritos tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. The grilled cheese crust will soften a bit, but the flavors only get better as they meld together overnight.

Freezing

These burritos freeze remarkably well! Once they’ve cooled completely, wrap each individually in foil and then pop them in a zip-top freezer bag. They will keep for up to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.

Reheating

To bring your Grilled Cheese Burrito back to crispy life, unwrap it and heat in a skillet over medium until the cheese crust is hot and bubbly, about 5 minutes per side. You can also reheat in an oven at 375°F for 10–12 minutes. Microwaving works in a pinch but sacrifices that crispy exterior. For on-the-go, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 60–90 seconds, but finish in the skillet if you can!

FAQs

Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef?

Absolutely! Both ground chicken and turkey work beautifully in this recipe. Just be sure to season generously and, if using leaner meat, consider adding a bit of extra oil during cooking to keep the filling moist.

How spicy is the chipotle sauce in the Grilled Cheese Burrito?

The chipotle sauce gives a subtle smoky heat, but it’s not overwhelming. You can easily adjust the amount to suit your personal preference, or swap in a milder sauce if you like things mild.

What cheese is best for the grilled cheese crust?

A blend of shredded cheddar and mozzarella is ideal—mozzarella melts beautifully and stretches, while cheddar gives flavor and a crispy finish. Pre-shredded cheese is fine, but freshly grated cheese melts and browns even better.

Can I make these vegetarian?

Absolutely! Just swap the ground beef for cooked black beans or refried beans, and proceed with the rest of the filling as usual. You’ll still get tons of flavor and all that amazing cheese pull.

Do I need a special pan to grill the burritos?

Nope! Any nonstick skillet works great, but a cast iron pan will give you the best golden crust. Just make sure your pan is well-heated before adding the cheese and burrito for ultimate crispy results.

Final Thoughts

If you’re searching for a crave-worthy, crowd-pleasing dinner, look no further—this Grilled Cheese Burrito fits the bill perfectly. I hope you give it a try the next time a cheesy, hearty meal calls your name, and don’t forget to make it your own with those creative garnishes and fillings!

Grilled Cheese Burrito Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 11 reviews

Author: Olivia
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

This Grilled Cheese Burrito recipe is a delicious homage to the Taco Bell favorite, perfect for a flavorful meal that’s easy to make at home. With seasoned ground beef, rice, creamy sauces, and gooey cheeses all wrapped in a warm tortilla and grilled to perfection, this dish is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Instructions

Cook the Beef (8–10 mins): Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess grease. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water, simmer for 5 minutes.
Warm the Tortillas: Heat tortillas on a dry skillet or in the microwave for flexibility.
Assemble the Burrito (5 mins): Lay a tortilla flat and layer with rice, seasoned beef, nacho cheese, chipotle sauce, and sour cream. Top with shredded cheddar and mozzarella.
Grill the Burrito (3–4 mins per side): Heat a clean skillet and sprinkle 2 tbsp of shredded cheese. Place the burrito seam-side down and cook until cheese melts and forms a crispy crust. Flip and repeat.