Grilled Cheese Burrito (Taco Bell Copycat Recipe)

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Craving Taco Bell but don’t want to leave the house? This Grilled Cheese Burrito recipe is SO delicious! Each burrito is stuffed with taco meat, sauteed onions, rice, homemade queso, and more; then they are topped with butter and cheese and cooked to perfection for a cheesy, savory meal everyone is sure to love!

Grilled Cheese Burrito

I ordered a Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito recently and immediately knew it was something I wanted to recreate at home in my own kitchen.

I mean – how hard could it be to make a delicious, beef and cheese burrito recipe at home? It’s like your favorite comfort foods – a grilled cheese sandwich and a giant burrito – got together and had a party that the whole family can enjoy! 

Then I saw that Grilled Cheese Burritos were also a trending Tiktok recipe so I knew it was something I could do! Besides, the Taco Bell version (at least the one from my local restaurant) was sort of wimpy.

I much prefer this homemade version that is stuffed full of beef and yummy flavors! This recipe for a favorite fast food works for a quick lunch, or a cozy dinner, and it’s all wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla. 

Ingredients

This copycat Taco Bell recipe is easy to put together and everything you need can be found at your local grocery store.

• Burrito-size flour tortillas
• Ground beef – ground turkey would also work.
• Red onion, diced
• Taco seasoning
• Water
• Spanish-style rice (like Knorr) or Mexican Rice, prepared according to package directions
• Half and half
• White American cheese
• Diced green chilis
• Taco Bell creamy chipotle sauce
• Unsalted butter, room temperature – use Garlic Butter for extra yumminess!
• Shredded Colby-Jack cheese, fresh-shredded is best!
• Sour cream, fresh salsa, jalapenos, extra queso, or Greek yogurt, etc., for garnish

Find the complete recipe with ingredient measurements in the recipe card below.

Optional Fillings

If you want to jazz up your loaded beef burrito, there are so many great ingredients you can add to the delicious filling:

• Refried Beans
• Cooked Black Beans
• Sautéed Veggies like Bell Peppers and Mushrooms
• Other varieties of Cheddar Cheeses
• Or even some cooked bacon or chicken make great add-ins. Just be mindful not to overfill the burrito to avoid messy spills while cooking it.

Tools Needed

• A heavy cast-iron skillet. These skillets give the best control over heat and prevent sticking, making it easier to flip the burrito without it falling apart. You could also use a non-stick skillet if you prefer, but the cast iron works so much better to get a really crunchy outside.
• Small Skillet or Saucepan
• Spatula
• Butter Knife or Spoon ​(to spread the butter)
• Grater – to shred the cheese if you are doing it yourself – which you should be!

How to Make Grilled Cheese Burrito

Making this Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito recipe at home takes a few simple steps, but it’s so worth it! You are about to make a flavorful-packed burrito, loaded with extra cheese, a loaded filling, and the delicious cheesy crust.

How to Cook Taco Meat

1. Add the ground beef and diced onion to a large skillet and cook on the stovetop over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft, breaking up the meat with a spatula while it cooks. Note: if you use really fatty ground beef, you may want to drain off any excess grease before adding the water and taco seasoning.
2. Add the taco seasoning and water to the skillet and stir to combine. Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.

3. Add the half and half to a separate small skillet or pot and place it on the stovetop over medium heat.
4. When the half and half becomes very warm, add the American cheese slices and stir constantly until the cheese is fully melted.
5. Add the diced green chilis to the cheese mixture and stir to combine. Remove the queso from the heat and set it aside.

How to Make Queso

Assembling Grilled Cheese Burritos

6. Layer ½ cup of the prepared taco meat and ½ cup of Spanish rice on a flour tortilla.
7. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of chipotle sauce and a scant ¼ cup of queso over the rice.

8. Fold in the sides of the tortilla and then roll it up, end to end, to form the beefy 5-layer burrito.
9. Spread a small amount of butter on one side of the burrito and top it with a moderate amount of shredded Colby Jack cheese.

10. Heat a small skillet on the stovetop over medium heat and place the burrito, cheese side down, into the skillet. Spread more butter on the top side of the burrito and add more cheese while the bottom side cooks.
11. Cook the burrito until the cheese is golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. 
12. Flip the burrito and cook the other side until the top of the cheese on that side is golden brown. You want a shell of melted cheese on the outside.

13. Repeat steps 6-12 until all the burritos are prepared.
14. Serve drizzled with extra queso and/or extra shredded cheese on top of the burrito. You could also serve them dipped in sour cream.

Pro Tip

Like it hot? For more heat, you can add some hot sauce!

Don’t overfill the burrito. It can be tempting to pile on the cheese and extras, but overstuffing makes it hard to fold and grill properly. Keeping the filling moderate keeps everything neat and ensures even cooking.

More Grilled Cheese Burrito Toppings

• Extra Queso
• Sour Cream
• Fresh Salsa and Hot Sauce

Storage Suggestions

Store leftover burritos in an airtight container or wrapped in foil or plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days. They taste best fresh but still hold up well for a quick snack later – they may not be as crispy though!

More Delicious Recipes

• Mexican Queso Dip (from scratch)
• Instant Pot Taco Soup
• Instant Pot Taco Pasta (Easy Cheesy Recipe)
• Epic Spaghetti Grilled Cheese on Garlic Bread
• 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip (Quick & Easy)

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