This deep fried burrito recipe is a culinary adventure where crunchy meets cheesy, savory, and spicy, and familiar gets a gloriously golden upgrade. These deep-fried burritos are loaded with flavor from the deliciously seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and lots of gooey cheese and fried to golden perfection.
As Deadpool would say, “It’s time to make the chimichangas!” If you didn’t know, chimichangas are deep fried burritos, and they’re amazing! I remember the first time I had a burrito like this. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever eaten. The crispy, golden tortilla wrapping crunched and cracked as I bit into it, and then I was inundated with ground beef, cheese, beans, onions, and all those classic Mexican spices! I was hooked. I’ve been making my own deep fried burritos for years, and I decided it was finally time to share the magic with all of you! And believe me, these are magical!
Deep Fried Burrito
This delicious burrito starts with a filling of ground beef, onions, refried beans, and Rotel tomatoes. Then, I heat up tortillas and add cheese to their centers. After that, I add the beef mixture and more cheese, fold the tortillas into burritos, and deep fry them until they’re golden and crispy. It’s an easy recipe to make that only takes about 40 minutes from start to finish. When I’m all done, I have some of the best burritos you’ll ever eat, and everyone always returns for more. I can’t remember the last time I had leftovers with this recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Deep Fried Burrito Recipe
- These deep fried burritos are a delicious and savory burrito recipe, loaded with seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, refried beans, and more, wrapped up in a perfectly fried tortilla.
- They are easy to make, and the crunch factor makes these burritos the perfect choice to add to your weekly menu.
- The flavor combination of a crunchy, cheesy beef-filled burrito is simply irresistible.
Deep Fried Burrito Ingredients
This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients, most of which are probably in your kitchen right now. Anything you don’t have is readily available at any grocery store.
- Ground beef
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Red pepper flakes
- Onion
- Refried beans
- Rotel (tomatoes and green chilies)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Tortillas, burrito size
- Vegetable oil for frying
How to Make Deep Fried Burritos
Making these burritos is much easier than you think. It only takes some stove work to cook the beef and fry the burritos. It’s a recipe that even beginners will have no trouble with.
Step 1: Cook the Beef
Cook the ground beef, seasonings, and diced onions in a large frying pan over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Then, drain the grease and return the mixture to the pan.
Step 2: Add the Beans and Tomatoes
Add the refried beans and Rotel to the pan, stir to combine, and cook until heated through.
Step 3: Heat the Tortillas
Microwave the tortillas for a few seconds until warm so they’re easier to work with.
Step 4: Stuff and Fold
Add some shredded cheese to the center of each tortilla. Then, top with the meat mixture and more shredded cheese. Fold the tortillas into burritos until all the meat mixture is used.
Step 5: Deep Fry
Preheat your oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Then, fry a few burritos at a time until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the burritos to a plate line with paper towels and continue until all the burritos are finished. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Always drain your beef after cooking to avoid a greasy filling. Even lean ground beef will render some fat while cooking.
- It’s important to heat your tortillas so they don’t crack while filling and folding them.
- Fry your burritos in batches to keep the oil hot and avoid a soggy tortilla.
- Begin frying your tortillas with the seam side down. This allows the seam to fuse, keeping the filling inside the burritos where it belongs.
Variations
- Omit the red pepper flakes for a mild version of this recipe.
- Add diced jalapenos to the beef mixture for even more heat and flavor.
- You can use Mexican or taco blend cheese in these burritos.
What to Serve with Deep Fried Burritos
Burritos are a full Mexican feast in a tortilla shell, so pair them with all your favorite Mexican side dishes. Some great ideas include:
- Elote
- Mexican corn
- Mexican coleslaw
- Pinto beans or black beans
- Mexican rice
- Pico de Gallo
- Chips and guacamole
- Chips and salsa
- Nachos
- Grilled corn
Recipe FAQ
Cook your burritos in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees to reheat them and retain a nice, crunchy exterior. Thicker burritos may need another 1 to 2 minutes to heat thoroughly.
A chimichanga is a burrito that’s been deep fried. The only difference between these burritos is their name.
Deep fried burritos freeze well and will be at peak flavor for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Fried burritos will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.
I don’t recommend frying the burritos in advance. However, you can cook the filling up to a day in advance to make things easier. Then, heat it up and continue with the recipe as directed.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Deep Fried Burritos
Refrigerate your burritos in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months.
To reheat the burritos, air fry them for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees.
Try These Delicious Deep Fried Burritos Today
These deep fried burritos combine a crispy, crunchy outer shell with a beefy, cheesy, and zesty filling that will have everyone coming back for more. It’s a delicious recipe that’s much easier to make than you might think, making it perfect for dinner or parties. Give this one a try, and I know it will be your new favorite burrito recipe. I know it’s mine!
More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These delicious Steak and Egg Burritos are a hearty breakfast recipe loaded with tender beef, fluffy scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, and lots of cheese. Definitely a family favorite breakfast recipe and one the whole family will enjoy.
Deep Fried Burritos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 15 ounce can refried beans
- 10 ounce Rotel (tomatoes and green chilies)
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 10 flour tortillas, burrito size
- 2+ cups vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large skillet or frying pan, over medium heat, add ground beef, seasonings, and diced onions together.
- Cook until meat is no longer pink and onions are tender and translucent. Drain grease and return to pan.
- Add refried beans and Rotel. Stir to combine and continue cooking until heated through.
- Heat tortillas in the microwave so they are easy to work with.
- Add some shredded cheese to the center of each tortilla, followed by meat mixture, and more shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture. Fold tortilla into a burrito, and continue making the burritos until all the meat mixture is used.
- Heat oil in a cast iron pan over medium high heat.
- Place burritos, a few at a time, into the hot oil, seam side down. Deep fry until golden on both sides.
- Carefully remove each burrito and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Fry all the burritos and serve with your favorite side dishes.
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All good cept for slap ya mama seasoning creole or canjun isnt mexican
Hi Cheffy chef, You are right but it is a staple seasoning we use in pretty much any meat recipe regardless of cuisine. 🙂
I truly appreciate the feedback and the 4-star rating. Thank you so much!