Slow Cooker Beef Burritos with Veggies (Make-Ahead Options) (2024)

With lots of vegetables right in the mix and a simple slow cooker method, this Easy Beef Burrito Recipe is an easy family dinner for the little kids and the parents at the table! And, you can simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning and the burritos are ready to roll come dinnertime.

Beef Burrito Recipe

We regularly have Mexican foods on Tuesday nights, so this Slow Cooker Beef Burrito Recipe is now firmly in our family dinner rotation. You can get it going in the morning, it makes plenty for dinner and lunches the next day, and it’s super versatile and yummy!

The beauty of this meal is that there are a nice amount of vegetables right in the mix so you don’t have to worry about making additional sides, and those veggies add lots of flavor and moisture (and nutrition).

They blend in though, so there aren’t big chunks to raise alarm bells.

Plus, the whole thing cooks in the slow cooker while you’re off doing other things!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process of making these burritos. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

1. Assemble your veggies. (photo 1)
2. Place the vegetables into a food processor. (photo 2)
3. Grind until finely chopped. (photo 3)
4. Gather your spices. (photo 4)
5. Add to a slow cooker along with the beef, salsa, and spices. (photo 5)
6. Cover and cook. (photo 6)

TIP: I like the smaller size of tortillas meant for fajitas since they are often a more proportional size for kids. You can use larger burrito-size if you prefer.

How to Make Homemade Burritos

Once you have the filling ready, this is how to assemble the burritos.

1. Stir in prepared rice. (photo 1)
2. Place some into the center of each tortilla. (photo 2)
3. Sprinkle with cheese and warm briefly. Fold in the sides. (photo 3)
4. Roll up. (photo 4)
5. Place onto a sheet pan if you plan to reheat them later. (photo 5)
6. Serve with whatever simple sides you like! (photo 6)

Easy Beef Burrito Recipe for Kids

My 10 month old likes to feed herself the filling of these burritos, which again is pretty messy, but at least it makes her happy! And my older daughter loves picking up her beef burrito and eating it like a grown up!

Nutrition-wise, there is iron and protein from the beef, Vitamins A and C and fiber from the veggies, and fiber and complex carbs for balanced energy from the rice and tortillas.

What can I do with the leftovers?

This recipe makes a decent amount of filling, so I use it to make 8 burritos and then serve any leftovers over rice or make them into burritos to store in the freezer for future meals.

Can I make these ahead?

You can make the rice a few days ahead, or even store the filling or prepared burritos in the freezer until you’re ready to make this dinner. They hold together decently well without cheese, though everyone in my family loves these with cheese, so do add it if you can.

Serve these burritos with salsa or sour cream for dipping and try not to stress if your toddler takes it apart and eats it in components. Because they very well might!

Best Tips for Success

• Serve any leftovers over rice or make them into burritos to store in the freezer for future meals.
• You can make the filling ahead of time and/or make the whole recipe ahead and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve.
• Use mild salsa to keep the flavors mellow enough for the kids.
• Try not to overfill your tortillas to ensure that they are easy to roll up.
• I like the smaller size of tortillas meant for fajitas since they are often a more proportional size for kids. You can use larger burrito-sized tortilla if you prefer.
• Prepare your rice ahead of time or use purchased precooked rice.
• Serve some of the filling alongside cut up strips of tortilla for little kids.

I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe, so please chime in below in the comments!

This post was first published October 2019.