Wet Burrito Recipe with Ground Beef

Try This Sizzling Wet Burrito Recipe with Ground Beef for Your Next Taco Night Fun with Family

These wet burritos are made with succulent ground beef, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, topped with a spicy sauce, cheese, and fresh veggies to create a flavor explosion!

They are hearty, easy to make, and taste just as delicious as those from your favorite Mexican restaurant.

Loaded with spicy red sauce, beans, and cheese, these wet burritos filled with ground beef will become a family favorite.

Jump to:

• What are Wet Beef Burritos?
• Difference Between a Wet Burrito and Enchilada
• Why This Recipe Works?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make Wet Burrito with Ground Beef?
• Top Tips From the Chef
• Recipe Variations
• What to Serve with Ground Beef Wet Burritos?
• Storage and Reheating Instructions
• Recipe FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Wet Burrito Recipe with Ground Beef

What are Wet Beef Burritos?

Wet beef burritos are a flavorful and comforting Mexican dish made by filling soft tortillas with spicy ground beef, beans, and cheese.

What sets wet burritos apart from Authentic Mexican Beef Burritos is the addition of a savory sauce, often a red enchilada sauce, that is poured over the burritos before baking.

This sauce adds moisture to the dish, along with a rich and tangy flavor.

They are usually baked until the tortillas are slightly crispy on the edges and the cheese on the top has melted.

Typical garnishes for wet ground beef burritos are cheese, sour cream, fresh herbs, shredded lettuce, and diced vegetables.

Difference Between a Wet Burrito and Enchilada

Wet burritos are made by filling soft tortillas with seasoned meat (like beef or chicken), beans, cheese, and vegetables.

They are typically larger than the enchiladas and are wrapped in a way where they are fully closed.

What makes them "wet" is the addition of a flavorful sauce, often a red or green enchilada sauce, that is poured over the burritos before baking.

This sauce covers the tortillas and adds a rich and tangy flavor to the dish.

Wet burritos are a hearty and slightly saucy meal, as the tortillas absorb the flavors of the fillings and sauce.

Enchiladas are rolled tortillas filled with a mixture that can include shredded meat, cheese, beans, vegetables, and rice.

The tortillas are filled, rolled up with the ends open, and then placed in a baking dish.

Enchilada sauce is usually spread over the top and, optionally, topped with cheese before being baked.

Enchiladas are typically served individually with a neater style, while wet burritos have a more casserole-like presentation.

Why This Recipe Works?

• The combination of seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, and rice goes perfectly together.

• The addition of a savory sauce enhances the taste, adding moisture and a rich, tangy flavor.

• The simple steps and everyday ingredients make this recipe easy to make for everyone.

• You can customize the filling to your taste and create your own version that perfectly suits your preferences.

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

Ingredients for Meat Filling and Burrito

• Tortillas - Large flour tortilla is a great option for this recipe. Warm them up slightly for a few seconds before using them to make rolling easier. Give my Homemade Wheat Tortilla Bread recipe a shot to create your very own homemade version.

• Ground beef - I prefer ground beef with a 15% fat content and leave the olive oil out. Alternatively, you can also use shredded chicken, pork, or beef if you have any leftovers to use up.

• Cheese - I prefer using mozzarella cheese. However, you can use cheddar cheese, or any cheese that you have on hand, or a mixture of your favorites.

• Black beans - Canned black beans, refried beans, or pinto beans are great alternatives for these popular wet burritos.

• Taco seasoning - Just as I do for my Grilled Cheese Burrito - Taco Bell Recipe, I make my own homemade taco seasoning by mixing 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, ½ tsp of dried oregano, ½ tsp of onion powder, ¼ teaspoon of sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.

• Mexican rice - You can use instant Mexican rice to make things quicker or make your own.

Sauce for Wet Burritos

• Red enchilada sauce - I use store-bought red enchilada sauce to speed things up. You can also use chili sauce or green sauce if you prefer.

• Butter - Use good quality unsalted butter. To make the white sauce, make sure it is totally melted before adding the flour. 

• Flour - Plain flour or all-purpose flour is perfect for making cakes, cookies, pastries, and thickening sauces.

• Stock - I prefer using my homemade Easy Chicken Stock (Bone Broth) or Homemade Beef Stock recipes to create a flavorsome base for the red sauce. You can also use a good quality low sodium store-bought broth.

How to Make Wet Burrito with Ground Beef?

Making this scrumptious Wet Burrito with Ground Beef is very easy and straightforward. 

However, to achieve the best results you need to follow a few simple steps:

Prepare the Sauce

In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.

Once the butter has melted, add the all-purpose flour and whisk continuously for about a minute to create a roux. 

Slowly and gradually pour in the chicken stock or beef stock while whisking vigorously to prevent any lumps from forming. 

Stir in the red enchilada sauce, add the salt, and allow it to simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Set aside.

Cook the Beef Filling

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 

When hot, add the ground beef and cook until it's browned and fully cooked through.

Stir in the diced onion and sauté them until translucent.

Add the taco seasoning and give them a good mix.

Add the chopped green chilies, remove from heat, and then set it aside.

Assemble and Roll the Burritos

Preheat the oven to 180℃ (360℉).

Warm the tortillas slightly to make them pliable. Place a large tortilla on a clean surface. 

Spread some of the meat mixture in the center.

Top the juicy ground beef filling with a scoop of black beans.

And then spread a spoonful of Mexican rice on top of the beans.

Sprinkle cheese and chopped fresh coriander leaves on top.

Fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling, then roll it up tightly from the bottom to create a burrito.

Continue the process until you have used all the filling ingredients. 

Bake the Burritos and Serve

Arrange the prepared wet burritos seam-side down in an oven-safe dish and place them in a preheated oven.

Bake burritos for 15 minutes, then remove them from the oven.

Pour the sauce over the burritos, and spread the remaining shredded cheese.

Bake for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly before garnishing and serving.

Top Tips From the Chef

• Choose ground beef with around 15% fat content for a flavorful and juicy filling.

• Just before you start filling the burritos, give the tortillas a quick 20-second warm-up in the microwave. This gentle warming makes the tortillas more pliable, ensuring they fold easily and won't tear when you're rolling up the burritos.

• Ensure all fillings are hot before assembling to minimize baking time.

• Roll burritos tightly, tucking in the sides as you go, to prevent filling from spilling out.

• Finish with a sprinkle of fresh coriander leaves for a burst of color and flavor.

Recipe Variations

• Replace ground beef with any other protein such as shredded cooked chicken, pulled pork, or leftover turkey.

• Skip the meat and load up on sautéed veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms.

• Experiment with different cheese blends like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack.

• Substitute Mexican rice with cilantro-lime rice or brown rice for a healthier option.

• Infuse Tex-Mex flavors with ingredients like corn, black olives, and jalapeños.

What to Serve with Ground Beef Wet Burritos?

Serve these amazing wet burritos with a side dish such as fluffy Mexican rice, creamy refried beans, or tangy guacamole.

You can also serve this comforting dish along with Mango Pico de Gallo - Fresh Mango Salsa, or you can try Turkish Acili Ezme Salad for a delicious Mediterranean twist.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Allow the leftover wet burritos to cool to room temperature before storing.

Place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days for optimal flavor and quality.

For longer storage, you can keep the leftovers in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

To reheat, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Place the burritos on a baking dish, cover them with aluminum foil, and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated

For quicker reheating, place the burritos on a microwave-safe plate.

Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, flipping halfway through, until heated evenly.

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

For more delicious traditional Mexican dish recipes why not try:

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making this Sizzling Wet Burrito Recipe with Ground Beef as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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