Chili Cheese Burrito Using Leftover Chili.

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If you’re looking for a delicious and easy way to use up leftover chili, look no further than this chili cheese burrito. Hearty and satisfying, this burrito is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and is incredibly simple to make.

Chili Cheese Burrito garnished with sour cream and cilantro.

This chili cheese burrito recipe was created simply as a way to use up leftover beef chili.

It’s a delicious combination of flavors. The filling is canned beans that are seasoned, fried and then rough mashed. Add a little bit of your favorite cheese and some leftover re-heated chili and you’re ready to build that burrito.

Whether using left over chili, or a can of your favorite chili, this is an easy way to enjoy a burrito.

And if you’re looking for some great chili recipes so you can have leftover chili, here re some very delicious ideas; Anthony Bourdain’s New Mexico version would be great on this, or get boosy with this Bourbon Beef and Bean Chili. And our favorite, my Award Winning Beef and Bean Chili.

And of course if you really want to make a super easy chili burrito, pick up a couple cans of your favorite canned chili at the store. Move over Taco Bell, this is a simple and delicious way to enjoy an easy burrito.

Let’s take a look.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients to make chili cheese burrito.

Cilantro
Chili Soup: Either left over chili that you’ve made, or purchase a couple cans of your favorite chili.
Canned Beans: Kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans, black beans, beans in chili sauce, choose your favorite.
Grated Cheese: Cheddar works well here, and don’t forget about Muenster cheese. Both are great melting cheeses.
Rice: Cooked. A great way to use leftover rice.
Lard: Lard is a traditional “fat” to fry beans for refried beans. You can also use Crisco, bacon grease or vegetable oil.
Chile Powder: To add some pizzaz to those beans. Use New Mexico Chile Powder, Ancho Chile Powder, Smoky Chipotle Chile Powder, or Cayenne.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

Step 1: Make easy refried beans from canned beans. Heat lard, oil or bacon grease in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the lard is melted and hot, add the canned beans. Use a potato masher to rough smash them as they cook. Add the grated cheese then mix together until cheese is melted.

Pro Tip: Purchase good quality cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese in bags includes additives to keep it from clumping, which will also compromise the melting factor. Grating cheese from a block of cheese will result in a creamier and more consistent melting experience. Plus, it’s less expensive.

Adding refried beans to a flour tortilla to make chili burritos.

Step 2: Warm flour tortillas in a microwave oven for about 15 seconds, or just long enough to render them soft and warm. Lay the tortillas flat and add a spoonful of the bean and cheese mixture to each tortilla.
Step 3: Add a spoon full of cooked rice on top of the bean and cheese mixture.

Chile burritos topped with sour cream and garnished with cilantro.

Step 4: Heat up the chili in a saucepan, roll the burritos. Top with the hot chili and garnish with a dollop of sour cream.

Can I Use Corn Tortillas?

If you use corn tortillas, you’re actually making an enchilada rather than a chili burrito. Stick with flour tortillas, they’re much easier to handle.

Variations and Tips For Success

I highly urge you to top those chili burritos with a spoon full of sour cream and better yet Mexican Crema. Mexican crema is a thinner product than our American sour cream and a bit tangier. That little addition of creaminess is a great compliment to the chili burrito.
Rice: This is a great way to use leftover rice, or make a quick batch of minute rice for a quick fix burrito.
Additional Toppings: Fresh chopped or sliced avocado is a perfect topping, as is a dollop of homemade guacamole. Try chopped fresh onions. Pico de gallo or Salsa would work well here. And we love fresh sliced jalapeno peppers on about anything.
Cheese: Any type of good melting cheese will work. Try Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack or Muenster cheese.
Want to make these even beefier? Substitute canned beans with cooked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning or chili powder .
Beverage: Try these chili burritos with an ice cold Michelada. You’ll be glad you did.

In Conclusion

This chili cheese burrito is a versatile and tasty way to use up leftover chili, and it’s sure to become a favorite in your household. So before you freeze that left over chili, make a burrito! Give it a try and enjoy!

And if you love Mexican food as much as we do, don’t miss my Mexican Food Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chili Colorado Style and this recipe for Easy Ground Chicken Taco Casserole.

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

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