Get ready to fall in love with these Chile Colorado Burritos — the ultimate comfort food! Tender, slow-cooked beef simmered in a rich, smoky red chile sauce, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, smothered with more sauce, and topped with melty cheese. Every bite is packed with bold, deep flavors that’ll have you dreaming about the next time you can make them again. This is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug — hearty, satisfying, and absolutely delicious. Perfect for a cozy dinner or when you want to impress your family and friends with something seriously crave-worthy.
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Why You’ll Love Chile Colorado Burritos
Incredible Flavor: The slow-cooked beef absorbs all the smoky, slightly spicy flavors of the homemade chile sauce, making every bite unforgettable.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can make the beef and sauce ahead of time, and just assemble and bake when you’re ready to eat.
Customizable: Add beans, rice, or even a dollop of sour cream inside for an extra hearty meal.
Restaurant-Quality at Home: These burritos taste like something you’d get at your favorite Mexican restaurant — but even better because you made them yourself!
Ingredients
- Beef: Chuck roast or stew meat, cut into bite-sized cubes.
- Dried Chiles: A mix of dried guajillo and ancho chiles for that rich, smoky sauce.
- Onion: For depth of flavor.
- Garlic: Essential for that bold, savory taste.
- Beef Broth: To build a flavorful sauce.
- Flour Tortillas: Large ones for wrapping all that delicious filling.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend.
- Oil: For searing the beef.
- Salt and Pepper: Basic seasoning.
- Optional Toppings: Sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced onions.
(Full ingredient list with measurements will be detailed in the recipe card below.)
Instructions
Prepare the Chile Sauce: Toast the dried chiles briefly in a skillet to bring out their flavor. Remove stems and seeds, then soak them in hot water until softened. Blend with garlic, onion, and some beef broth until smooth.
Cook the Beef: Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sear the beef in oil until browned on all sides. Pour in the chile sauce and beef broth. Simmer gently until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened (about 2 hours).
Assemble the Burritos: Lay a flour tortilla flat, add a generous scoop of beef (and any extra fillings like beans if you like). Roll them up tightly.
Bake the Burritos: Place burritos seam-side down in a baking dish. Pour some of the extra chile sauce over the top, sprinkle with cheese, and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve and Enjoy: Top with sour cream, chopped cilantro, or diced onions if desired. Serve hot and enjoy every flavorful bite!
Prep and Cook Time
Prep Time: About 30 minutes
Cook Time: About 2 hours 30 minutes (mostly hands-off simmering)
Total Time: Around 3 hours
How to Serve Chile Colorado Burritos
These burritos are a meal on their own, but you can make them even more special with:
- Mexican Rice: Serve on the side for a full Tex-Mex experience.
- Refried Beans: Either inside the burrito or as a side.
- Guacamole and Salsa: Fresh toppings that bring brightness to the rich, hearty burrito.
- Fresh Salad: Something crisp and light to balance the richness.
Tips for Success
- Use Quality Chiles: Look for pliable, fragrant dried chiles. If they’re brittle, they’re too old.
- Sear the Beef Well: Browning the beef adds a ton of flavor, so don’t skip this step!
- Low and Slow: Simmering the beef slowly makes it melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Double the Sauce: It’s so good, you’ll want extra to drizzle over rice or veggies.
FAQ
Q1: Can I use store-bought enchilada sauce instead of making chile sauce?
A1: You can, but the homemade chile sauce really makes this dish special. If you’re short on time, a good-quality enchilada sauce works.
Q2: Can I make this in a slow cooker?
A2: Yes! Sear the beef first, then cook everything together in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.
Q3: How spicy is it?
A3: It’s moderately spicy, but you can adjust the heat by choosing milder or hotter chiles.
Q4: Can I freeze these burritos?
A4: Absolutely! Freeze the assembled burritos (without sauce on top) and bake from frozen, adding sauce and cheese when baking.
Q5: What can I substitute for beef?
A5: Pork or chicken thighs work wonderfully with the chile colorado sauce too!
Conclusion
These Chile Colorado Burritos are the ultimate homemade comfort food — rich, satisfying, and packed with flavor. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week, these burritos will be a hit every single time. Make a big batch, because trust me, one is never enough!
Print
Chile Colorado Burritos
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
These Chile Colorado Burritos are filled with tender shredded beef, refried beans, Monterey Jack cheese, and Mexican rice, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. Perfect for a hearty meal!
Ingredients
- 1 prepared recipe Chile Colorado, meat shredded
- 1 prepared recipe Mexican Rice
- 1 prepared recipe Refried Beans
- 10” flour tortillas, package of 8
- 1 pound (16 ounces) Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Prepare the Chile Colorado, Mexican Rice, and Refried Beans. Each should be heated and laid out in bowls before assembling the burritos.
- Place a flour tortilla on a flat surface. Spread ¼ cup of hot refried beans across the center.
- Add 1/3 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Add ½ cup of shredded hot Chile Colorado.
- Top with 1/3 cup of hot Mexican rice.
- To fold the burrito: fold the side closest to you forward, then fold the left and right sides inward towards the center, and flip forward over the exposed end. Tuck in the filling as you roll.
- Wrap each burrito in foil, cut in half, and serve.
- Optional: Serve any leftover beef, beans, and rice on the side, or enjoy them as leftovers the next day.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the amount of fillings based on your preferences.
- For extra flavor, you can add salsa or guacamole to the burritos before rolling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burrito
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 50mg