Are you looking for the ultimate, super-fast, ridiculously easy, and unbelievably delicious weeknight dinner that the whole family will go crazy for? These amazing, 15-minute Bean & Bacon Griddle Burritos are your new go-to! Creamy, savory refried beans, salty, crispy bacon, and tangy Cotija cheese are all piled into a warm, perfectly crisped tortilla for a satisfying and budget-friendly meal that is pure comfort.
This isn’t just another burrito recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for the busiest of nights. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly assembled burrito that is warmed and crisped on the griddle, and how to create a perfect balance of hot, melty fillings and cool, crisp toppings. This is the kind of satisfying, crowd-pleasing meal that will solve your “what’s for dinner?” dilemma in a flash.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate 15-Minute Dinner
What makes these Bean & Bacon Burritos so spectacularly delicious and easy is their brilliant use of smart shortcuts and a classic griddle-cooking method. The filling is a masterpiece of efficiency, combining creamy canned refried beans with your favorite salsa for an instant, flavorful base. This is then loaded with salty, crispy bacon and savory Cotija cheese. The genius of this recipe is the technique of assembling and heating the burritos directly on a griddle or in a skillet. This simple step warms the filling, melts the cheese, and gives the outside of the tortilla a beautiful, slightly crispy, golden-brown finish.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 15 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 burritos |
The Essential Ingredients for This Quick Burrito
This recipe uses a handful of smart shortcuts and pantry staples to create its signature comforting and savory flavor.
- The Creamy Filling:
- Canned Refried Beans: Using a can of your favorite refried beans is the ultimate time-saver. The recipe calls for fat-free, but any variety—traditional, vegetarian, or black bean—will work wonderfully.
- Salsa: A scoop of your favorite store-bought salsa is a brilliant shortcut that adds a complex flavor of tomatoes, onions, chiles, and spices all in one ingredient.
- The Salty & Savory Add-Ins:
- Bacon: A few strips of crispy, crumbled bacon add a wonderful, salty, and smoky flavor and a fantastic textural contrast to the creamy beans.
- Cotija Cheese: This is a classic, authentic Mexican cheese that will elevate your burritos! Cotija is a hard, crumbly, and wonderfully salty aged cheese, often called the “Parmesan of Mexico.” If you can’t find it, a shredded Monterey Jack or a sharp cheddar are great substitutes.
- The Fresh Finish: A handful of cool, crisp shredded lettuce is added at the very end, which provides a wonderful, fresh crunch and a perfect temperature contrast to the warm, melty filling.
Step-by-Step to the Perfect Griddle Burritos
This delicious meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Prepare the Filling and Toppings
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together the 1 can (16 ounces) of fat-free refried beans and 1/4 cup of the salsa until they are well blended.
Step 2: Prepare your other components so they are ready for the quick assembly. Have your 1/2 cup of crumbled Cotija cheese, your 3 strips of cooked and chopped bacon, and your 2 cups of shredded lettuce ready to go.
Part 2: Assemble and Cook on the Griddle
Step 1: Heat a large, dry griddle or a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Step 2: Place your 4 flour tortillas on the hot griddle and let them cook for about 1 minute to warm through and become pliable. Turn the tortillas over.
Step 3: Working quickly, spread the prepared bean and salsa mixture down the center of each tortilla on the griddle. Sprinkle the bean mixture with the crumbled Cotija cheese and the chopped bacon.
Step 4: Let the burritos continue to cook on the griddle for 1 to 2 more minutes, until the filling is heated through, the cheese is melty, and the bottoms of the tortillas are beginning to crisp up and get beautiful golden-brown spots.
Part 3: Add Fresh Toppings and Fold
Step 1: Carefully remove the hot, open-faced burritos from the griddle.
Step 2: Immediately top the hot filling with the cool, crisp shredded lettuce and a spoonful of the remaining salsa.
Step 3 (How to Fold a Burrito): To serve, simply fold the bottom edge of the tortilla up and over the filling, then fold in the two sides.
Serve the burritos immediately while they are warm.
The Easiest Cheesy Bean & Bacon Burritos (15-Minute Recipe!)
An easy recipe for griddle-cooked burritos filled with refried beans, bacon, and cheese. The simple filling is made by mixing canned refried beans with salsa. Flour tortillas are warmed on a griddle, then topped with the bean mixture, crumbled Cotija or Monterey Jack cheese, and crispy, cooked bacon. They are heated on the griddle until the tortillas begin to crisp, then finished with fresh shredded lettuce and more salsa before being folded and served.
Ingredients
- 1 can (16 ounces) fat-free refried beans
- 1/2 cup salsa, divided
- 4 flour tortillas (8 inches)
- 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 3 bacon strips, cooked and coarsely chopped
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the refried beans and 1/4 cup of the salsa until blended.
- Place the tortillas on a griddle or large skillet over medium heat and cook for 1 minute.
- Turn the tortillas over. Spread the bean mixture onto the centers of the warm tortillas.
- Top the bean mixture with the cheese and the chopped bacon.
- Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes longer, until the tortillas begin to crisp and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the tortillas from the griddle. Immediately top them with the shredded lettuce and the remaining 1/4 cup of salsa.
- To serve, fold the bottom and sides of each tortilla over the filling to create a burrito.
Notes
- This is a very quick meal, using convenient ingredients like canned refried beans and pre-cooked bacon.
- The burritos are assembled open-faced on the griddle, which crisps the tortilla and melts the cheese.
- The fresh lettuce is added at the very end, after the burrito is removed from the heat, to ensure it stays crisp.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
These burritos are at their absolute best when they are served fresh, with the perfect contrast of the hot filling and the cool, crisp lettuce.
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive weeknight meal, you can get a head start by preparing all your components in advance. The bean and salsa mixture can be made and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also cook and crumble your bacon and chop your lettuce ahead of time.
- Storage: It is best to store any leftover filling separately from the tortillas and the fresh lettuce.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Make it a Breakfast Burrito: For a delicious and hearty breakfast, you can add about 1 cup of fluffy, scrambled eggs to the filling along with the beans and bacon.
- Make it a Vegetarian Burrito: For a delicious and easy vegetarian version, you can simply omit the bacon and be sure to use a brand of vegetarian refried beans.
- Add a Different Protein: To make these burritos even heartier, you can stir in about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of your favorite seasoned, cooked ground beef, shredded chicken, or pulled pork to the bean mixture.
Enjoy The Ultimate Easy Weeknight Hero!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. These Bean & Bacon Griddle Burritos are a testament to the power of a few smart shortcuts to create a meal that is both incredibly fast and incredibly delicious. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite for busy weeknights.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to fold a burrito so that the fillings don’t fall out?
The classic restaurant-style fold is simple! First, fold the bottom third of your tortilla up and snugly over the filling. Then, fold the two sides in, one over the other. Finally, continue to roll the burrito up from the bottom. For this specific recipe’s “open-top” style, the simple fold-from-the-bottom-and-sides method is perfect.
Q2: What is Cotija cheese, and is there a good substitute?
Cotija is a classic, hard, and crumbly cow’s milk cheese from Mexico. It has a wonderfully salty and slightly funky flavor and does not melt, but rather softens. If you cannot find it, the best and most readily available substitutes are a crumbled feta cheese or a shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
Q3: Can I make these burritos ahead of time?
These burritos are at their absolute best when they are assembled and served fresh so that the lettuce stays crisp. However, for a fantastic time-saving trick, you can prepare the entire bean and bacon filling and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes the final assembly and griddling incredibly fast.
Q4: What is the best way to warm flour tortillas so they are soft and pliable?
The griddle method in this recipe is fantastic. You can also wrap a stack of tortillas in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave them for about 30-60 seconds, or you can warm them one at a time for about 10-15 seconds per side in a hot, dry skillet on the stovetop.
Q5: Can I add rice to these burritos?
Of course! A scoop of your favorite cooked white rice, brown rice, or a cilantro-lime rice would be a delicious and hearty addition to the filling.