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Burrito Casserole being scooped up from a casserole dish with a spatula. It's topped with rice and melted cheese with refried beans, tortillas, and ground beef underneath.
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Burrito Casserole

This Burrito Casserole is loaded with layers of flour tortillas, seasoned ground beef, refried beans, sour cream, rice, melted cheese, and your favorite toppings!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 473kcal
Author: Stephanie

Ingredients

Sauce (for the Beef Layer)

  • ¾ cup beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles undrained
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon EACH: onion powder, garlic salt, cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, chili powder

Casserole

  • 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro plus more to garnish
  • ½ cup salsa
  • 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
  • 1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 cups cooked rice I use white long grain
  • 3 cups Mexican cheese I use pepper jack & cheddar

Toppings

  • Green Onions Cilantro, Tomatoes, Avocado
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Combine the beef broth and cornstarch in small measuring cup with a spout until well-combined. (Use cold or room temperature broth so the cornstarch dissolves smoothly.) Add remaining sauce ingredients and stir to combine. Set aside and measure remaining ingredients before beginning.
  • Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef and onions. Cook and crumble for 7-10 minutes, or until the beef is brown and cooked through. Drain grease.
  • Add the combined sauce mixture from step 2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cilantro and cook for 1 more minute. Remove and set aside.
  • Spread the salsa on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
  • Cut each tortilla in half. Arrange 6 slices so that the flat edges line up along the sides of the casserole dish, touching the walls. Place 2 in the middle. (See process shots in blog post for a visual.)
  • Spread half of the beef filling in an even layer over the tortillas.
  • Add the refried beans to a small bowl. (Pro Tip: Microwave the beans for 1 minute to make it easier to spread.) Add the sour cream and stir to combine. Add half of it in dollops over the top, then use a silicone spatula to gently spread it over the beef.
  • Add half of the rice and 1 cup of the cheese.
  • Repeat with the remaining tortillas, the rest of the beef mixture, refried bean mixture, rice, and remaining cheese.
  • Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 15 more minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes prior to slicing and serving.
  • Garnish with cilantro and desired toppings (see notes for suggestions) and serve with sour cream and tortilla chips to scoop up excess filling!

Notes

Pro Tips
  • Cheese: I like to shred my own cheese from a block for this dish, it melts much creamier and smoother than packaged shredded cheese. I use Pepper Jack and Cheddar. Monterey Jack is a great addition too!
  • If cooking fresh rice for this (and not using leftover rice), I would cook it in chicken broth instead of water for more flavor!
  • Toppings add even more delicious flavor so don't skip those! Topping options include Black Beans, Corn, Avocado, Guacamole, Salsa, Green Onions, Red Onions, Jalapenos, Cilantro, Shredded Lettuce, Diced Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers!
Make Ahead Method
  • Assemble the casserole as outlined and let all components cool completely.
  • Cover with a layer of saran wrap followed by a layer of foil. Freeze or refrigerate until ready to bake. (Up to 2-3 days in fridge & 3 months in freezer.)
  • If freezing, thaw completely in the fridge prior to baking. This could take up to 48 hours for a thicker casserole dish. 
  • When ready to bake: Let it sit at room temp for 30-40 minutes and add 20 minutes of covered baking time. This means that you'll bake it for about 40 minutes covered, and 15 minutes uncovered. It's ready when the top is hot and bubbly. 
 Storage
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers freeze/reheat well. 
Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. There are 8 servings in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1795mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 520IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 371mg | Iron: 4mg