Easy Chicken Burrito Recipe

Name: Easy Chicken Burrito Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless chicken; 1 tsp chili powder; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground pepper; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 cups Spanish rice (make from homemade or use boxed mix.); 1 15-ounce can black beans (drained and rinsed); 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded); 10 8-inch tortillas (flour, whole wheat, gluten-free all work)

This is the absolute best chicken burrito recipe ever. First of all, it’s tasty. I mean SUPER tasty. I’m talking authentic Mexican restaurant tasty. And it’s easy to make (you gotta love that!). And since it only needs 5 ingredients plus oil and spices, it’s economical. Winner, winner, chicken burrito dinner!

A square white plate with two burritos and a green salad with a blue towel at the top.

I know, I know… tacos have been all the rage the past few years. But let’s be real: tacos are a snack. Big, hearty appetites need something that’s just as delicious, but heftier. That’s where the chicken burrito comes in.

Stuffed full of yummy ingredients, then wrapped up and ready to eat. This southwestern chicken burrito recipe makes no apologies for what it is – A two-handed hunger buster filled with the flavors of Mexico: Rice, beans, cheese, and tender chicken, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.

If you’re looking for more burrito recipes, check out also these Breakfast Burritos, and these Chicken Burrito bowls.

I love the versatility of the chicken burrito recipe. All the ingredients are self-contained and portable. It’s great on-the-go, packed as a lunch, or. And when it comes to family dinners, you can build your meal around this entrée. Extra rice, beans, barbecued corn, or even a small green salad with cotija cheese and salsa ranch dressing. Just a few extra touches, and you can easily take your chicken burrito to the next level.

INGREDIENTS

This chicken burrito recipe needs just 5 ingredients, plus oil and seasoning.

Chicken: Chicken breasts will work great for this burrito but you can also use boneless chicken thighs or turkey breasts in substitutions.
Spices: The spices used are chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and ground pepper.
Rice: Make this homemade Spanish Rice for the best flavor, or use your favorite rice.
Beans: Black beans will work best, but you can also use kidney beans or pinto beans in their place.
Cheese: I used cheddar cheese in my chicken burritos recipe, but you can substitute it with your favorite cheese.
Tortillas: Flour tortillas work best to make quick and easy burritos, but you can also use flavored tortillas.

HOW TO MAKE THIS CHICKEN BURRITO RECIPE

Spiced chicken, black beans, cheese in separate white bowls. to put together this Easy Chicken Burrito Recipe.

Season the chicken with chili, cumin, salt, and pepper.

A black pan with four pieces of chicken with a fork in one piece of chicken with a measuring cup of cheese behind it with a blue towel.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat add olive oil and chicken. Cook the chicken until tender, around 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board to rest for about 5 minutes. Then slice into strips.

White bowls with cooked, sliced chicken, black beans, Spanish rice and a metal measuring cup with shredded cheese in it for the chicken burrito recipe

3. In the meantime, cook your Spanish Rice according to package directions – or make this delicious homemade Spanish Rice. Allow to cool. Using a fine-mesh sieve, drain and rinse black beans until rinse water runs clear. Set aside and allow to drip until mostly dry.

A tortilla loaded with chicken, rice, beans and melted cheese with extra ingredients at the back with a burrito on the side on a white plate.

4. Assemble your burritos. Place 3 tablespoons of Spanish rice and 4-5 slices of chicken, 2 tablespoons black beans, and about 2 tablespoons shredded cheese to each tortilla. Pull in each end of the tortilla and roll up tightly into a burrito shape.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

PAN: Spread a little bit of soft butter on the outside of the burrito. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add burrito and cook for 1-2 minutes, until golden, then flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes until golden.

OVEN: Wrap tortilla in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until heated through.

MICROWAVE: Wrap burrito in a moist paper towel and cook in microwave on High for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.

FREEZE FOR LATER

Place uncooked chicken burritos into a gallon freezer-safe bag, seal, remove as much air as possible and freeze. If you plan on removing burritos from the freezer for lunches or on-the-go individually, wrap each in foil first and then place them in the bag so they don’t stick together.

Four burritos with two burritos in a resealable bag with a hand holding the bag open.

COOK FROM FROZEN

OVEN: Remove from freezer. Take foil-wrapped burrito and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through.

MICROWAVE: Remove foil and wrap frozen burrito in a moist paper towel and cook in microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Four cut burritos on a square white plate with a green salad with a blue towel at the top.

HOW TO ROLL CHICKEN BURRITOS

Start with a warm tortilla. A warm tortilla makes the tortilla more pliable and easier to wrap.
Pull the bottom half of the burrito over to meet the top half.
Then, pull the top of the tortilla back. This will form the filling into a roll.
Fold one side in of the tortilla and lay on top of the filled roll.
Fold the other side of the tortilla and lay it on the other side of the filled roll so that the filling is securely in the burrito.
With both ends folded, tightly roll your tortilla until you have a perfect, beautiful burrito.
Lay it seam down for presentation or for freezing.

A square white plate with one burrito and a green salad with a blue towel at the top with one burrito being held in a hand.

RECIPE FAQs

Is this chicken burrito spicy?

This recipe only becomes spicy if you use extra chili powder. Otherwise, they’re simply flavorful.

How many calories has this chicken burrito?

If you make this according to the recipe, each chicken burrito will contain 337 calories. For a lighter version, avoid using sour cream. Instead, substitute Greek yogurt mixed with a squirt of lime juice. You can also reduce the amount of cheddar cheese by a third or even half while adding a little grated parmesan to boost the flavor. And instead of Spanish rice, try using steamed white or brown rice to keep the heartiness while cutting out calories. Adding salsa or hot sauce are great ways to cut calories without sacrificing that authentic Mexican flavor.

Can you make this burrito recipe ahead of time?

This is a perfect make-ahead meal for both the freezer and the fridge. You can prep the entire batch, and then grab-n-go as needed.

PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES

Turn these into “wet burritos” by making them enchilada style. Simply pour a can of red or green enchilada sauce over a pan of your burritos, top with extra shredded cheddar cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until the cheese melts.

Sautéed onions and bell peppers add excellent flavor and depth to this recipe. Cook the chopped onions and peppers in a separate pan with olive oil until the veggies are translucent, then combine them with your chicken when filling your burritos.

Be sure to use burrito-sized tortillas (or larger) for this recipe. 8-inch tortillas should be your minimum.

If you like to add cool ingredients such as avocados, guacamole, or sour cream, it’s best to add them just before serving so the cool items stay cool. This requires you to unwrap your burrito after cooking. As an alternative, you can use the cool ingredients as toppings, dips, or sauces served on the side.

For little hands (or little appetites), use a sharp bread knife to cut the finished burritos in half before serving. Or you could use make this recipe with smaller-sized tortillas and make mini-burritos. Great as an appetizer, too!

A hand holding a cut burrito with other burritos on a white plate below.

WHAT OTHER MEXICAN DISHES CAN YOU MAKE?

Make these amazing Instant Pot Shredded Beef Fajitas.
Create these delicious Homemade Chicken Taquitos with Cilantro & Pepper Jack Cheese.
Prepare these Easy Nacho Cups.
Make this amazing Southwest Chicken Taco Salad.
Prepare this savory Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos.

The next time you make this Chicken Burrito Recipe, I would love to see it! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #happymoneysaver and tagging me @happymoneysaver!

This recipe was first posted on Feb 18^th, 2019 but has been updated with new photos and better-detailed instructions on January 19^th, 2022.

About Karrie

Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...

5 from 3 votes