Beef Burrito Casserole Recipe (2024)

Make-ahead, hearty casserole recipe is an easy weeknight dinner with lots of Tex-Mex flavor, gooey cheese and seasoned ground beef.

A family favorite!

🗝️ Key takeaways

• One of the easiest ways to get your Tex-Mex flavor fix during the week without hitting up the drive through window.
• This beef burrito casserole is the perfect weeknight meal for busy families. It's quick, easy, and budget-friendly.
• This recipe freezes well so it's great for make-ahead dinners and freezer cooking. See the instructions for freezing in the Storage section.

Basically, this creamy burrito casserole recipe is just a lasagna with Tex-Mex ingredients.

The cheesy-gooey-goodness is so hard to resist you may find you burn your tongue a few times before you figure out that taking a bite fresh out of the oven is not the smartest thing you could do.

Personally, I'd add black olives but I have one or two rabid olive haters in the family so I leave them out. :::sad sigh::::

If you love this you'll want to try this one pot taco spaghetti next!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview. You'll find full measurements plus full instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📖Variations

• Use diced cooked chicken instead of ground beef.
• Use whole Ranch style beans instead of refried beans.
• Use corn tortillas (but then it's an enchilada casserole).
• Add ripe olives.
• Add chopped tomatoes and/or avocado to the top.
• Skip the meat and make it vegetarian but doubling up on the beans or adding sauteed zucchini.
• Add a layer of cooked rice to stretch the recipe.
• Cream of mushroom soup can be swapped for the cream of chicken soup.

Sour cream chicken enchilada casserole is another easy, 30-minute casserole. It's got all of the flavor of your favorite chicken enchiladas but it's just so darn easy!

🔪 Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef
2. Mix in the beans and seasonings.
3. Layer in the prepared baking pan.
4. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes.

If this isn't exactly what you're looking for try the tater tot cowboy casserole. It's a favorite of the meat and potatoes crowd.

🥄 Equipment

• Large skillet - I prefer my cast iron skillet
• 13x9-inch casserole dish

🥫 Storage

Store this beefy Tex-Mex casserole tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To freeze for longer storage put in an airtight freezer container or wrap well with plastic wrap then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw the frozen burrito casserole out by placing it in the refrigerator overnight. Heat in a 350F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: I've found that shredding your own cheese gives the best cheese consistency and flavor for this baked burrito casserole.

• Be sure to spray the casserole dish really well with no-stick cooking spray.
• Prepare this casserole the night before and bake right before you're ready to eat it for the best results.
• If you do not like the taste of cilantro it can be left out of this recipe.
• Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Enjoy!
• Sliced green onions make a delicious garnish for this recipe.
• You can use taco-style cheese or Mexican blend cheese.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are more easy casserole recipes -

• Chicken Taco Casserole is a hearty Tex Mex casserole that the entire family will enjoy.
• Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is another quick and easy favorite.
• Tamale Pie is a Texas-style casserole that is hearty, filling, and family-friendly.
• King Ranch Chicken is a cheesy casserole that makes for the ultimate comfort food.
• Frito Chicken Casserole is a twist on a classic comfort food recipe.

🍽️ Serve burrito casserole with...

This is one of those easy recipes that's so filling it just doesn't need much more with it. A crispy salad is always a good choice. Sometimes in the winter I'll serve it with creamed corn and slow cooker collard greens.

This no-bake lemon cheesecake is the perfect, sweet ending!

See Also

Keto Cinnamon Rolls - Low Carb Dessert - Keto RecipesA Father's Day recipe for family bonding in the kitchen80 Plus Crescent Roll Sheet Recipes 2023 - The How-To HomeThis Easy Basic Pancakes Recipe Will Be Your New Go-To

📞 The last word

We love this easy burrito casserole even more than traditional burritos!

It's a hearty meal that gives you plenty of options for toppings and additions just like your favorite Tex-Mex.

Best of all, it's a good choice for busy weeknights because you can assemble it ahead of time or bake and freeze. It reheats like a charm!

You may also like this creamy beef enchilada casserole - all the flavor without all the work!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published September 17, 2019. Last updated June 11, 2023 for editorial improvements and more helpful tips.

✍🏻 A note from Marye...

I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.

I like easy weeknight meals, don't you?

I mean, when I wasn't working I had no problem with spending an hour or two making a scrumptious dinner but these days that only happens on a weekend if it happens at all. Spoiler alert - it rarely happens at all.

I am self employed with a successful business that isn't big enough to afford me the luxury of bankers hours or regular lunch breaks. Some of my most lucrative deals have been negotiated with my cell phone on my shoulder and my silent prayer that it didn't fall into the pot of spaghetti sauce I was stirring.

You'll understand when I say that a casserole that can be assembled ahead of time and quickly baked at the end of the day is my favorite food group.

Other than chocolate. Or wine.

Here's the other thing.

This burrito casserole is one of my favorite things to take for a potluck or when someone needs a meal. EVERYONE loves it.

My church has a huge foster-family/ adoption ministry. It's one of the things I love most about being part of this particular church and I am part of a team that makes meals for foster families when they get a new placement.

A week or two of meals gives the family a chance to settle in and figure out how it's all going to work.

Being an adopted person myself I have nothing but respect and gratitude for those who take care of the littles who have no one else. I feel lucky to be able to do some small thing to make the transition easier.

More Beef Casseroles