The Best Cheesy Burrito Pie Recipe for Taco Tuesday Magic

Crafting a mouthwatering cheesy burrito pie brings pure comfort to your dinner table.

Layers of tortillas, seasoned meat, and melted cheese create a culinary masterpiece that satisfies deep cravings.

Mexican-inspired flavors burst through each carefully assembled slice, promising a meal that feels like a warm embrace.

Weeknight dinners just got a serious upgrade with this crowd-pleasing dish.

Simple ingredients combine to produce something extraordinary and memorable.

Home cooks can easily master this recipe, turning ordinary ingredients into an impressive feast.

Grab a fork and get ready to experience a taste sensation that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Cheesy Burrito Pie That’s Full of Flavor

• Tackle Family Dinner: A crowd-pleasing meal that brings everyone together with its hearty layers of deliciousness and bold Mexican-inspired flavors.
• Customize with Ease: Swap ingredients, adjust spice levels, or add extra toppings to make this recipe perfectly suited to your family's taste preferences.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Satisfaction: Simple cooking steps and straightforward layering technique mean you can have a restaurant-quality dish without complex cooking skills.
• One-Pan Wonder: Minimal dishes to clean up afterward, making this a stress-free cooking experience that saves time and energy in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Cheesy Burrito Pie

• Ground Beef: A hearty and flavorful base that provides richness and substance to the burrito pie.
• Onions: Add depth and sweetness to the beef mixture, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
• Garlic: Introduces a pungent and aromatic element that complements the meat.

• Tortillas: Create the structural layers of the pie, providing a soft and comforting foundation.
• Refried Beans: Offer a creamy texture and help bind the layers together.

• Diced Tomatoes, Green Chiles, Black Olives: Contribute tangy, spicy, and briny notes that add complexity to the dish.
• Salsa: Provides additional moisture and a zesty flavor boost.

• Cheddar Cheese: Melts beautifully, creating a golden, gooey, and indulgent top layer.

• Sour Cream, Salsa, Cilantro, Guacamole: Fresh additions that can enhance the flavor and provide cool contrast.

How to Bake the Perfect Burrito Pie

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up your oven to 350F (175C). Coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Brown Beef and Onions

Heat a large skillet over high flame. Toss in ground beef and diced onions.

Break down the beef while cooking until it turns a rich brown color.

Step 3: Add Garlic Flavor

Sprinkle minced garlic into the skillet.

Sauté for about 30 seconds to release its aromatic oils. Transfer the beef mixture to a separate plate.

Step 4: Create Flavorful Sauce

• Diced tomatoes
• Green chiles
• Black olives
• Refried beans
• Salsa

Stir everything together and heat until warm and well combined.

Step 5: Begin Layering Burrito Pie

• Place 3 tortillas as the first layer
• Spread 1/3 of the refried beans
• Add 1/3 of the meat mixture
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Step 6: Repeat Layering

Duplicate the layering process two more times. Finish with a final tortilla layer.

Step 7: Top with Cheese

Cover the top layer with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Place in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Look for melted, bubbly cheese as your signal.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the burrito pie while hot.

• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Fresh cilantro
• Guacamole

Tips for a Gooey, Cheesy Pie

• Use high heat and continuously break apart ground beef to ensure even cooking and prevent clumping for a perfectly textured meat mixture.
• Press down gently on each layer to create a compact and stable burrito pie that holds together beautifully when serving.
• Allow the cheese to bubble and turn slightly golden at the edges for maximum flavor and that irresistible crispy cheese texture.
• Add a pinch of cumin or chili powder to the beef mixture for an extra depth of Mexican-inspired taste that elevates the entire dish.
• Assemble the burrito pie in advance and refrigerate, then bake just before serving to save time and intensify the flavors.

Variations to Personalize Your Pie

• Vegetarian Fiesta Pie: Replace ground beef with black beans, roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and corn for a plant-based version packed with flavor.
• Spicy Southwestern Style: Add jalapeños, chipotle peppers, and swap regular salsa for hot salsa to create a fiery Mexican-inspired casserole with extra heat.
• Chicken Burrito Pie: Substitute ground beef with shredded rotisserie chicken or seasoned ground chicken for a lighter protein option that maintains the dish's rich taste.
• Breakfast Remix: Transform the recipe by adding scrambled eggs, chorizo, and pepper jack cheese to create a morning-friendly breakfast casserole perfect for weekend brunches.

Pairing Suggestions for Burrito Pie

• Pair with Zesty Margaritas: Blend tequila, lime juice, and triple sec to complement the burrito pie's spicy Mexican flavors, cutting through the richness of melted cheese and beef.
• Serve with Fresh Pico de Gallo: Chop tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and jalapeños to add a bright, crisp contrast to the hearty, warm casserole, enhancing each bite with fresh tang.
• Create a Cool Avocado Crema: Whip ripe avocados with sour cream, lime juice, and a pinch of salt to provide a creamy, cooling counterpoint to the dish's bold, spicy profile.
• Recommend Mexican Cerveza Pairing: Select a light, crisp beer like Corona or Modelo to refresh the palate and balance the heavy, cheesy layers of the burrito pie.

Storage Tips for Leftover Pie

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent condensation and soggy texture.

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Place in freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn.

Place individual portion on microwave-safe plate. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Stop when thoroughly warm and cheese melts.

Preheat oven to 350F. Cover dish with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Remove foil for last 5 minutes to crisp top layer.

FAQs

• What are the key ingredients in this Cheesy Burrito Pie?

The key ingredients include ground beef, tortillas, refried beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, salsa, and cheddar cheese.

• Is this recipe spicy?

The recipe has mild spiciness from green chiles and salsa, but you can adjust the heat level by choosing mild or hot salsa and adding more or less green chiles.

• Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, replace ground beef with black beans, lentils, or plant-based meat alternative to create a vegetarian version of the burrito pie.

• Do I need any special cooking skills to make this recipe?

No, this recipe is beginner-friendly. It requires basic cooking skills like browning meat, layering ingredients, and baking in the oven.

Cheesy Burrito Pie Recipe

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4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Cheesy burrito pie combines Mexican-inspired layers of tortillas, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese into a comforting family-friendly dinner. Hearty flavors and simple ingredients make this dish a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 2 pounds (0.9 kg) ground beef (85/15)
• 4 cups (907 g) refried beans

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 14 ounces (397 g) canned diced tomatoes
• 8 ounces (227 g) canned diced green chiles
• 1/2 cup (75 g) black olives, sliced

Dairy and Extras:

• 2 1/2 cups (225 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
• 16 ounces (454 g) salsa
• 12 flour tortillas (8-inch)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef and onions, continuously breaking the meat into small crumbles.
3. Add minced garlic to the beef mixture and sauté for 30 seconds, then transfer the meat to a separate bowl.
4. Reduce skillet heat to medium and combine diced tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, refried beans, and salsa, stirring until thoroughly heated.
5. Create the first layer in the baking dish: arrange 3 tortillas as a base, spread 1/3 of the refried beans evenly, top with 1/3 of the beef mixture, and sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.
6. Repeat the layering process two more times, ensuring each layer is evenly distributed.
7. For the final layer, place remaining tortillas on top and generously cover with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
8. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the cheese melts completely and develops a golden, bubbly surface.
9. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with optional garnishes like sour cream, salsa, cilantro, or guacamole.

Notes

• Customize meat options by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for dietary preferences.
• Enhance flavor complexity by adding cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika to the meat mixture for deeper southwestern notes.
• Control spice levels by selecting mild or hot salsa and adjusting green chile intensity to suit personal heat tolerance.
• Maximize cheese meltability by letting the dish rest 5-10 minutes after baking, allowing cheese to set and become more cohesive.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 523 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg