Make Mexican night special with these Smothered Burritos with Green Chile Sauce. A beef and bean burrito is covered in an easy, creamy green chile sauce in this easy weeknight recipe.
We love a good Mexican inspired dinner at our house! If you are the same, you’ll also want to try these Black Bean Tacos or Green Chicken Enchiladas.
These Smothered Burritos with Green Chile Sauce are a step better than fast food burritos. Even Mexican restaurant burritos.
And guess what? I’m guessing you could have these made in less time than it would take to drive to the local fast food drive thru.
A simple beef and bean mixture is wrapped up inside a tortilla and then the whole thing is covered in a delicious green chile sauce.
Top it with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and you are in Mexican food heaven. And a food coma when you are finished, but it’s totally worth it!
I know that a beef filled burrito isn’t usually served with a white sauce, but I first started making these burritos back in 2013 and I have been addicted to the combination since. (And I must really love this sauce, because it’s the same sauce you’ll find on my White Chicken Enchiladas!)
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: I like to use a leaner ground beef so that I don’t have to worry about draining any fat.
- Onion and Garlic: These are just for flavor.
- Seasonings: You’ll need chili powder and cumin, as well as salt and pepper.
- Beans: You can use canned refried beans, or make homemade refried beans.
- Cheese: I use cheddar cheese, but you could use another easy melting cheese. Add pepper jack for some extra spice!
- Tortillas: I like to make 4 bigger burritos from this recipe, but you can also use smaller tortillas and make smaller burritos.
- Butter: This is the start of the sauce.
- Flour: The flour will help thicken up the sauce.
- Chicken Broth: I think chicken broth has better flavor than beef broth, but feel free to swap out the chicken broth for a different broth.
- Sour Cream: This makes the sauce nice and creamy.
- Green Chiles: You just need one small can of green chiles.
How to Make Smothered Burritos
STEP 1: Add the ground beef to a hot skillet, and start cooking it. When it starts to brown, add the onion and garlic and continue to cook. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
STEP 2: Add the refried beans and the water to the pan and stir to combine. Let the mixture heat through.
STEP 3: In another skillet, make the sauce by melting the butter, then whisking in the flour. Let this cook for a minute or so.
STEP 4: Slowly whisk in the broth. Let this cook until the mixture is slightly thickened.
STEP 5: Turn off the heat and stir in the sour cream and the green chiles.
STEP 6: Start to assemble the burritos. Divide the cheese between the burritos and spread down the center of each tortilla.
STEP 7: Add the ground beef mixture. Try to spread it down the tortilla as well as possible.
STEP 8: Roll the burritos by folding in the ends, then tucking the other side as you roll.
STEP 9: To serve, place a burrito on a plate, then add some of the green chile sauce. Then top with any desired toppings.
Tips and Tricks
- It is easiest to roll your burritos if you tortillas are fresh. If they have been in the pantry for a bit, microwave them to get them nice and pliable.
- This makes a good amount of green chile sauce, so just add as much to your burrito as you’d like.
- We like to serve these burritos with extra cheese, lettuce, and tomato on top.
- Store any leftovers in separate containers.
More Burrito Recipes
Chicken Burrito Recipe with Red and Green Sauce
Bean, Sausage, and Beef Burritos
Frito Pie Burritos
Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowl
Camping Breakfast Burritos
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Smothered Burritos with Green Chile Sauce
Ingredients
Burritos
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 burrito sized flour tortillas
Green Chile Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
- additional cheese, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Cook for a few minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until it starts to brown.1 lb ground beef
- Add in the onion and garlic and continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are soft.1 small onion, 1 clove garlic
- Stir in the chili powder and the cumin, and season to taste with salt and pepper.1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt and pepper to taste
- Add in the refried beans and the water. Continue to cook for a couple more minutes, until the beans are heated through and the mixture is hot. Turn off the heat.1 (16 oz) can refried beans, 1/4 cup water
- Meanwhile, in another skillet, melt the butter.1/4 cup butter
- Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, making sure there are no lumps.1/4 cup flour
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Let it come to a bubble and cook, stirring often, until it starts to thicken.2 cups chicken broth
- Turn off the heat and stir in the sour cream and the green chiles.1 cup sour cream, 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
- Set the tortillas out on a counter or work surface. Divide the cheese between the tortillas, placing the cheese down the center of the tortilla.4 burrito sized flour tortillas, 1 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Take the beef mixture next and divide it evenly between the tortillas, spreading down the center of each tortilla.
- Fold in the ends of the tortilla, then roll each into a burrito.
- To serve, place a burrito on a plate. Add the green Chile sauce over the burrito. Top with additional cheese, if desired, as well as lettuce and tomatoes.additional cheese, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes
Mercedes says
I love that green chile sauce, it looks delicious! I will be bookmarking these to make in the near future!
Deborah says
@Mercedes, the green chile sauce was my favorite!
Joanne says
We were allowed out for lunch also! I don’t think I even remember what floor my high school’s cafeteria was on…
These are such a better alternative to fast food!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
We had an open campus too, which means we could only choose between Jack in the box and Del Taco.
Either way, this burrito tops Jack in the box and Del Taco any day of the week!
Deborah says
@Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious, I do have to admit that I love Jack in the Box tacos, though! We don’t have one here, so it’s a splurge when I do get them!
Aggie says
I remember always wishing for an open campus, but in our small town it was a hike even to McDonald’s 🙂
Funny, I get a Taco Bell craving every now and then but I know better and you just confirmed it. I would so rather eat good Mexican at home!! These look delicious!
Deborah says
@Aggie, yeah, those Taco Bell cravings are usually not worth pursuing!! 🙂
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
First of all – super lucky for having open campus. How fun as a student to be able to come and go. Secondly – YUM!
Deborah says
@Rachel @ Baked by Rachel, it was pretty exciting as a high school student!
Marjory says
We have Mexican or tex-mex style every Tuesday (it makes planning easy.) Looks like another tasty dish to try! Thanks!
Deborah says
@Marjory, I should really do Mexican at least once a week I love it so much!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
I craved Taco Bell when I was pregnant too. I have not had it since I had the kids, but I love Mexican food. These look delicious!
Deborah says
@Jennifer @ Mother Thyme, it must be a pregnancy thing!! 🙂
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Love burritos! I love the sound of that chicken and black bean burrito with avocado pineapple salsa, too!
Deborah says
@Jessica@AKitchenAddiction, they were both great – I especially love that avocado pineapple salsa!
Chels R. says
That looks so good! In our school, we had a Taco Bell stand, and we could get a lot of the favorites there. But homemade is definitely the way to go!
Deborah says
@Chels R., I’ve never seen a Taco Bell stand – I bet that was a huge hit in high school!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
It’s been far too long since I had a great burrito – this looks so tasty!
Deborah says
@Laura (Tutti Dolci), sounds like it’s time for burrito night!! 😉
Tracey says
I could eat Mexican food every single day and never get sick of it! I wish I could reach through my screen and grab a burrito for lunch today, they look awesome! Have a good weekend 🙂
Deborah says
@Tracey, I wish I could send you one!
carrian says
Not only do those look delicious, but the others as well! I’ve only been to Taco Bell 2-3 times, but I usually got those cinnamon thingys. haha
Deborah says
@carrian, oh my goodness, I haven’t had the cinnamon things in years!!
kelley {mountain mama cooks} says
I’m so with you. We used to eat at Taco Bell and the like during high school too! Now I’m not sure I could stomach it. These burritos are the perfect way to eat fast food Mexican at home without all the yuck or guilt. They look amazing, Deb!
Deborah says
@kelley {mountain mama cooks}, isn’t it amazing how differently you could eat in high school? But homemade is definitely so much better!
Asiya says
Love anything mexican and these burritos look so yummy!
Deborah says
@Asiya, thanks – I loved them!!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
Your burrito recipes always look sooo good! And this one’s no different!
Happy Friday 🙂
Deborah says
@Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?!, thanks – I love burritos! (can you tell??)
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
No lie, I could eat this all day every day until kingdom come. Deeeuuummm, gurl.
Deborah says
@Bev @ Bev Cooks, Me too!!