These crispy beef and bean wraps are one of our favorite weeknight dinners! The crispy tortilla (no frying!) and flavorful filling are delicious.
Bring on the easy, easy, easy dinners! If they are really tasty and incredibly cheesy, bonus points. These wraps tick all the boxes!
Crispy Wraps Filling
As you may know, I am obsessed with crunchy wraps. These beef and bean wraps may be my all-time favorite in the Land of Crispy Wraps that Mel loves.
The filling is simple:
- Cooked ground beef + onions
- Refried beans
- Green chiles
- Everyday seasonings: chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt
How to Assemble the Wraps
Assembling the crispy beef and bean wraps is super easy.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese over the tortillas.
- Spread the filling down the center.
- Fold one side of the tortilla over the filling, then the other.
- Press lightly to flatten.
- Spray the seam side of the wrap with cooking spray or brush with olive oil (it helps achieve a crispier texture).
The important thing to remember here is that we’re making a wrap and not a burrito. Spread the filling in a wide strip over the tortilla and press flat once the sides are folded.
Crispy Tortillas without Frying
Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat to cook the wraps.
After placing the seam-side down, fry the wraps until golden. Using a spatula, gently press down on the wraps while they cook to slightly flatten them.
Flip and cook on the other side until everything is crispy, cheesy, golden and bubbly.
I love beef and bean burritos, but there’s something about squashing the prep and leaving the tortilla crispy that makes me incredibly happy.
Since these wraps come together incredibly quickly, we eat them a lot for quick, speedy weeknight dinners, especially on nights when I haven’t even thought about what to make (why does that happen so often?).
If you plan ahead (read: be smarter than me), make extra wraps. They keep well in the fridge for a couple of days and also freeze perfectly for reheating in the microwave or air fryer.
Like they do for us, I hope these wraps save your dinnertime! Enjoy!
What to serve with
- Chopped Mexican salad
- Fresh fruit
- Pan-fried green beans
Crispy Beef and Bean Wraps
Makes: 8 wraps
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 16-ounce can refried beans
- 4-ounce can green chiles, drained
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wraps:
- 2 to 3 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
- 8 to 10 8- or 10-inch tortillas
- Olive oil or cooking spray for brushing
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
- Mix the refried beans, green chilies, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and chili powder in a medium-sized bowl. Stirring to ensure consistent blending, add the onions and ground meat.
- For every wrap, top the tortilla with about 1/4 cup cheese and then evenly distribute about 1/2 cup filling in the middle in a broad strip.
- The tortilla should be folded into thirds by folding one side over the filling and then the other. Press lightly to flatten. Instead of being spherical like a tortilla, it should be thick and flat.
- Over medium heat, preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle to a hot temperature. I heat up an electric griddle to roughly 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Apply a thin layer of nonstick cooking spray or dab the seam side of the wraps with a small amount of olive oil. Sewn side down, place the wraps on the griddle or skillet and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
- While they cook, use a broad spatula to carefully flip them over and gently press down to flatten them somewhat. You may also coat them with olive oil or use nonstick cooking spray. When flipping, it’s common for some filling to spill out. Simply use the spatula to tuck the filling back into the ends of the wrap.
- Cook for a further two to four minutes, or until the filling is hot and melted cheese-like
- Warm up and serve with your preferred toppings, such as salsa or sour cream!
