This Tex-Mex burrito casserole is everything you love about a loaded burrito, turned into an easy, layered dinner. It's packed with seasoned ground beef, beans, melty cheese, and a creamy sauce, then baked until hot and bubbly. No rolling, no fuss - just a simple casserole that brings big flavor to the table on busy nights!
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Why this Tex-Mex casserole belongs on your menu
This is the kind of dinner that earns a permanent spot in your rotation. It uses everyday ingredients you likely already have, comes together without a lot of prep, and if you've ever wondered how to really boost the flavor, learning how to make great taco meat makes all the difference! It bakes up into something that feels a little extra without extra effort.
It's flexible enough to tweak based on what's in your fridge, holds up great for leftovers, and reheats like a dream. And when a recipe checks all those boxes and still gets clean plates at the table? That's a keeper!
Burrito Casserole
Equipment
- 1 9x13 casserole dish
- 1 Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup red or green bell pepper chopped
- 2 packets taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 16 ounces black beans
- 10 ounces can rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 10.5 ounces can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 6 8" flour tortillas
- 3 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 caasserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
- Dice the onion and bell pepper.
- In a large large skillet, brown ground beef with the diced onion and bell pepper until there is no pink left in the beef. Drain, if desired.
- Add the can drained black beans, water and taco seasoning packets. Cook for about 5 minutes until everything is well blended and heated through.
- Whisk together the sauce ingredients - Rotel, sour cream and cream of chicken soup.
- Spoon about ¼ cup sauce mix onto the bottom of the pan. Slice the tortillas in half. Layer the tortillas to cover the bottom of the baking dish. (Reference photo instructions above.)
- Spoon half the burrito mixture on top of the tortillas, top with half the sauce, sprinkle with ⅓ of the cheese.
- Repeat layers, finishing with a layer of tortillas. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Cover with foil, bake in pre heated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Top with diced tomatoes, minced cilantro, sour cream or salsa.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
Instructions
FAQ's
You can, if you're in a pinch. Flour tortillas are traditionally what burritos are made with, but corn tortillas would be delicious as well.
Yes, that would be easy to do. If you like more heat, use hot Rotel, add diced jalapeños, or stir in a pinch of cayenne or chili flakes to the meat mixture.
Yes, cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup both work well if that's what you have on hand.
Yes, you can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance. Cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes, then bake as directed.
Deb's top tip
Let the casserole rest, lightly covered with aluminum foil for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven. It might be tempting to dig in right away. (I get it, it smells amazing!) That short rest time helps everything set up so you get clean, hearty layers instead of a scoop that slides all over the plate.
Variations
- Instead of refried beans, you can use a can of drained black beans or pinto beans.
- I like to top my cheesy burrito casserole with a hot sauce and sour cream mixture for a tangy sauce.
- You can use your favorite cheese for this recipe, I like sharp cheddar cheese, but Mexican blend or even pepper jack would taste delicious.
- Not a fan of ground beef? Use diced chicken breasts instead for this baked burrito casserole.
- Build your layered burrito pie in a pie plate! Serve it cut into quarters. There should be enough for at least two pies. Enjoy!
Related recipes
If this burrito casserole hits the spot, there are plenty of other easy, flavor-packed dinners on the blog. My Frito Pie Casserole brings a fun crunch and bold, savory layers that always get people talking. The Creamy Taco Spaghetti Casserole leans into rich, saucy comfort with a Tex-Mex twist.
And when you want something simple that still delivers big on flavor, Cheesy Taco Casserole is a go-to that never lasts long on the table. Rotate these into your meal plan and dinner suddenly feels a whole lot easier!
Serve with
This burrito casserole is hearty enough to stand on its own, but a few simple sides can round things out nicely. A crisp green salad with a tangy dressing adds a fresh bite to balance the richness, and a scoop of Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice makes it feel like a full spread.
You can't go wrong with tortilla chips and salsa on the side, or even a little guacamole if you're feeling it. And if you want something easy and warm, a side of seasoned corn or roasted vegetables fits right in without adding extra stress to your evening.
The casserole that never lets you down
This burrito casserole is one of those easy dinners that just works! It's the kind of recipe you can count on when you need something hearty without a lot of effort, and it's just as good the next day (if there's any left).
Give it a try, then come back and let me know how it went-I love hearing how these recipes turn out in your kitchen!
Nan Rudy says
Can I substitute the cream of chicken soup? you didn't answer that question, your answer didn't have anything to do with cream of chicken soup. I also do not want to use canned soup. what can I substitute it with?
Debra Clark says
My apologies Nan, sometimes my brain gets ahead of my fingers, LOL! I just updated the post. You can use a cream sauce or cheese sauce in place of the cream soup. Even a jar of queso, thinned out with a couple tablespoons of chicken stock would work. Enjoy the casserole!
Camden says
I'm a big burrito fan, but sometimes I would like a quicker solution with less assembly! I'll be making this burrito casserole for those moments, it looks awesome!
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful!! I think you'll love this easy casserole dish Camden. It's a family favorite!
Debbie says
This burrito casserole is officially on my list of favorites. It is so easy to make, so tasty, and the kids love it.
Mendy says
Can this be prepped ahead and frozen to just pull out and heat up?
Bowl Me Over says
Absolutely, it's a great make-ahead meal Mendy. Enjoy!
Alyssa says
I'm looking forward to trying this burrito casserole. I am glad you mentioned using chicken instead. I like ground beef, but I would prefer using chicken!
Kristen says
Oooh, I cannot wait to make this burrito bake for me and my daughter! We love tacos and burritos, and something like this could be dinner for us for a couple of nights!
Bowl Me Over says
Exactly! I love to cook once and eat two (or three!) times meal!
Brittany says
My family eats Mexican food weekly. It's our absolute favorite! I can't wait to make this burrito bake for dinner, I know we'll love it!
Angi says
Still can't find the tortilla layering example....even though you said you fixed it. There are no pictures of it.
Bowl Me Over says
Yes, there are pictures and clarification in the instructions towards the top of the blog post. Give it another look. Enjoy the recipe Angi!
Hilary says
This could be a "me thing" since I haven't slept....but it says to layer tortillas "as directed". I keep looking but I don't see where that direction is given. I apologize in advance if I'm looking directly at it but not seeing it
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Hilary, it's me who owes you an apology! I was referencing the photo instructions above, but I did not make that clear in the instructions. I updated to clarify the instructions. Thank you so much for taking a moment leave a note!
Anne says
I am confused about bottom layer. Is it meat or the tortilla strips?
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Anne - You'll lay 1/4 cup sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish, then the tortillas. Continue layering the ingredients. Enjoy the casserole.
Karen J Brown says
In step 3 of instructions after adding drained black beans you mention adding water. How much? It's not listed that I can find.
Bowl Me Over says
Sorry about that Karen, I've just updated the recipe - it's a 1/2 cup of water. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
Stephanie says
Looks great. Can’t wait to try.
But with all the cutting and chopping…10 moms prep time?? Seriously?
Bowl Me Over says
I increased the prep time to 20 minutes, good suggestion Stephanie, but not because of the chopping because seriously... it's only an onion and bell pepper. But you're right by the time you brown the ground beef and make the sauces, it will take a little longer. Thank you!