Quick, Easy, and Loaded with Flavor

Frozen burrito casserole – the perfect dinner when you want a flavorful meal but you’re pressed for time. I think it’s absolutely delicious! This burrito casserole is one of my many easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights. It’s also perfect for a quick lunch with friends or on Sunday afternoon.

As someone who has cooked for decades, I’ve discovered a lot of shortcuts. And this is one of them. I’ve also created a bunch of wonderful, flavorful casseroles that make dinnertime easy.

If you enjoy Tex Mex or Mexican food, you’ll love this dish that’s also called a burrito bake. Regardless of what you call it, you’ll love having the ingredients on hand when you’re in a hurry and need a quick weeknight dinner that the family will love.

For a yummy but easy meal, serve this frozen burrito casserole with a side salad or steamed vegetable and a slice of southern style cornbread. Your family taste the love with every bite.

Ingredients

This recipe is good for either 2 or 4 people, depending on appetite. If you are feeding a larger crowd, simply double all of the ingredients and use a larger baking pan or casserole dish.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Frozen burritos
• Can of red enchilada sauce (10 ounce can)
• Salsa
• Shredded cheddar cheese (or any type of cheese you prefer)
• Chopped cilantro (optional)
• Sour cream (optional)

I used beef and bean burritos because that’s my husband’s favorite type. I like rice and cheese burritos that are gluten free. Use whatever type of cheese you have on hand.

I just happened to have a cheddar-Colby blend, so that’s what I used. If you don’t have enchilada sauce, you can use more salsa. And the opposite works as well. I’ve been known to use 2 cans of enchilada sauce when we were out of salsa.

How to Make Frozen Burrito Casserole

First, preheat your oven to 375˚ F. Grease an 11 x 7 inch casserole dish or baking sheet.

Pour about 1/4 of the enchilada sauce into the pan and spread it out evenly. Place burritos in the pan on top of the sauce.

It helps to have a little bit of space between the burritos. Otherwise, they may cook unevenly.

Now, pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over the top of the burritos. Do the best you can to cover the burritos with the sauce.

I like to add the salsa at this point. Simply spoon it on top of the burritos.

See below for an alternate method of adding the sauce.

Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.

If you want more cheese, then by all means, add more. These are your burritos, so doctor them up the way you like them.

Return the casserole to the oven and bake until the cheese melts—approximately 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Alternate Ingredients and Methods

*Alternate method of adding sauce: In a separate bowl mix enchilada sauce with the salsa. Then spoon the mixture over the burritos.

You can also use shredded Mexican cheese. This isn’t something I typically have, so I used what was in my refrigerator. Top the burritos with sour cream and cilantro if you like. We chose just the cilantro this time, but we often add sour cream or even plain yogurt.

Other favorite toppings you might enjoy:

• Black olives
• Black beans
• Hot sauce
• Green Chile
• Green onions
• Black pepper
• Lime juice
• Extra chili powder
• Crushed red pepper

Another way of cooking this casserole is in a crock pot. Simply prepare the pot the same way you’d prepare the baking dish. Or use a large skillet that’s oven safe. Sometimes I use one of my iron skillets or my shallow Dutch oven for this and other casserole recipes.

What to Serve with a Burrito Casserole

You can serve this delicious casserole with a simple salad of a lettuce wedge and fresh tomatoes. Or serve it with any of the following sides:

Make these crunchy homemade corn tortilla chips in your air fryer, and you might never go back to store-bought chips again! I also like to offer a side of this homemade salsa in case someone wants a little extra flavor. And when I want to go all out, I make some creamy and delicious classic guacamole.

What to Do with Leftover Burrito Casserole

If you make enough of this burrito casserole for leftovers, you can enjoy this delicious meal again. I usually put the leftovers in a bowl and cover it in plastic wrap.

It will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. To reheat it, put it in an oven-safe pan, cover it in foil, and heat it in the oven at 350˚ F for about 20 minutes or until it is as hot as you want it.

You can also reheat it in the microwave. I typically put a serving on a plate with a paper towel over it and turn the microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes. However, if this is a meal you want beyond that time, put it in an airtight container and freeze it.

The casserole should last up to 3 months. Before reheating, allow the casserole to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then follow the directions for reheating a refrigerated casserole.

Please feel free to share!