Copycat Taco Bell Chili Cheese Burrito (2024)

Save time and money by making this copycat chilito recipe! You can control exactly what goes into your burrito for a smarter and healthier dish than what you'd get in the drive-thru.

• Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef as a base.
• Yellow Onion: Adds a nice complex and savory flavor.
• Seasonings: A combination of chili powder, cayenne pepper, and salt provide lots of warmth.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the beef mixture.
• Refried Beans: For some extra protein and a nice filling addition to the beef.
• Tomato Paste: Gives the beef filling an extra meaty flavor and some subtle sweetness.
• Shredded Cheese: I use shredded cheddar cheese, but other varieties would also work well.
• Tortillas: Burrito size flour tortillas work best for these chilitos.

Recipe Tips

• To make sure the tortillas don't break while wrapping up your burrito, warm them for 15 seconds in the microwave first.
• For a lighter version of these burritos, use ground chicken or ground turkey instead.
• You can add more veggies like bell peppers or jalapeno peppers to the filling.
• Cheddar cheese works well, but you can also use pepper jack, mozzarella cheese, or a shredded Mexican blend.

Recipe FAQ's

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water plus 2 tablespoons
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 16 ounce can refried beans
• 1 6 ounce can tomato paste about 6 tablespoons
• 3 cups cheddar cheese
• 10 10 inch flour tortillas

• Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat add the ground beef and diced onion and cook until browned. Drain the extra fat and add the chili powder, cayenne, and salt, and stir it. Add in the water.

• In a small bowl add the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water together and mix, stir that into the meat mixture, and let it come to a simmer to thicken.

• Add in the refried beans, tomato paste, and stir until combined.

• Add in 1 1/2 cups of cheese and mix until melted.

• Place a tortilla on a cutting board (warm the tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds to soften if needed) and add a pinch of shredded cheese followed by 1/4-1/2 cup meat mixture.

• Fold in the sides and roll the tortilla over into a log.

• Serve with sourcream and salsa if desired!

Use cheddar cheese, mozzarella, pepper jack, or a Mexican blend.

Add more vegetables like bell peppers or jalapeno peppers.

For more flavor, add onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, or paprika.

Freezer directions: Yes, let the burritos cool completely. Wrap each burrito into plastic wrap and, place them into a large ziplock freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.