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Taco Bell Bean Burritos Copycat

Make this Copycat Taco Bell Bean Burritos recipe at home in about the same time it takes to go through the drive-through.

The Taco Bell Bean Burrito is a simple, meatless burrito.

A flour tortilla is filled with beans, onions, cheddar cheese, diced onions (optional), and the delicious Taco Bell Red Sauce, we’ll show you how to make it all right here. 

When the schedule is on overload, we make a run for the border for Taco Bell Bean Burritos.

How about one for 19 cents at the original Taco Bell (read about it on the HuffPost)?
 
Original Taco Bell

 

They have been a part of my diet since high school.

I’d save my lunch money for the long walk home and buy a couple of Taco Bell Bean Burritos and savor them as I wandered home.

They are relatively inexpensive, and my kiddos seem to like them.

We aren’t alone; Over 2 billion tacos and 1 billion burritos of all varieties are served in Taco Bell restaurants each year.

These days, I don’t have to wait to fill the schedule, and I don’t have to give in to fast food.

I can make Taco Bell Bean Burritos in my kitchen in less time than it takes me to go through the drive-through.

I know. 

Sure, it’s easy to hat up that can of refried beans, but this recipe is just a few simple steps to tacos made more flavorful. 

You’ll love the taste difference.

 

taco bell bean burrito

Taco Bell Bean Burritos are cheap so why bother making them at home?

These Copy Cat Taco Bell Bean Burritos taste incredibly like the real deal–though my kiddos might tell you they like the homemade version better.

I like that I know exactly what is going into each and every one.

I control the ingredients.

Besides, this recipe is so simple to make and even more budget-friendly than the actual Taco Bell Bean Burritos.

I usually have the ingredients on hand, in my pantry.

My children don’t even care that the era of the Taco Bell Dog was saying, “Yo! Quiero Taco Bell!” is over.

Taco Bell Bean Burritos are an excellent make-in-minutes lunch recipe and are perfect to make ahead of time.

Perfectly freezer-friendly for a pre-made meal that you can take on the go.

They’re also wonderfully kid-friendly and make an easy dinner any night of the week or curb the craving when you want Mexican!

While Taco Bell Bean Burritos may be cheap and convenient, there are several reasons why making them at home could be beneficial:

  1. Healthier ingredients: When you make your own bean burritos at home, you have control over the ingredients that go into them. You can choose to use healthier ingredients, such as fresh vegetables and whole-grain tortillas, which can make your burritos more nutritious than the ones you get at a fast-food restaurant.
  2. Customization: Making your own bean burritos allows you to customize them to your liking. You can add or remove ingredients based on your personal taste preferences, dietary restrictions, or allergies.
  3. Cost-effective: While Taco Bell Bean Burritos may be cheap, making your own at home can be even more cost-effective. You can buy ingredients in bulk and make multiple burritos for the price of one fast-food burrito.
  4. Satisfaction: Making your own food can be a rewarding experience. It allows you to take pride in your cooking skills and can give you a sense of accomplishment. Plus, homemade food often tastes better than fast food.

In summary, while Taco Bell Bean Burritos may be cheap and convenient, making your own bean burritos at home can provide you with healthier ingredients, customization, cost-effectiveness, and satisfaction.

History of Taco Bell:

Here’s a fun fact: The “Bell” in Taco Bell comes from the founder’s last name.

In the early 1960s, Glen Bell wanted to open a miniature golf course.

That idea wasn’t up to par so…he opened a hamburger restaurant.

It failed.

original taco bell menu

 

Taco Bell is a fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine, particularly tacos and burritos.

Here is a brief history of Taco Bell:

Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell in 1962 in Downey, California. Prior to starting Taco Bell, Glen Bell owned a hot dog stand and a hamburger restaurant. He noticed a Mexican restaurant across the street that was always busy and decided to try his hand at Mexican food.

Glen Bell initially called his restaurant “Taco-Tia” but later changed it to Taco Bell. The first Taco Bell restaurant was a small building with a walk-up window and no indoor seating. The menu consisted of tacos, tostadas, and burritos.

Taco Bell quickly grew in popularity and began expanding across California. In 1964, the first Taco Bell franchise was opened in Torrance, California. By the end of the 1960s, there were over 100 Taco Bell locations throughout the United States.

In 1978, PepsiCo, the soft drink and snack food company, acquired Taco Bell. Under PepsiCo’s ownership, Taco Bell continued to expand and introduced new menu items, such as the Crunchwrap Supreme and the Doritos Locos Tacos.

Did you know the Mountain Dew BAJA BLAST was made specially to go with great-tasting Taco Bell® food?

In 1997, Taco Bell became a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns KFC and Pizza Hut. Today, Taco Bell has over 7,000 locations in the United States and around the world.
Throughout its history, Taco Bell has been known for its innovative menu items, such as the Bell Beefer, the Chilito, and the Enchirito. The chain has also been involved in several marketing campaigns, including the popular “Yo Quiero Taco Bell” ad campaign featuring a talking Chihuahua.

In weird news: 

A group of four guys in Oregon once hit 19 restaurants in a single day on their cross-country trip, visiting 100 Taco Bell restaurants in a week. 

There are a few strange and unusual stories about Taco Bell, but perhaps one of the weirdest happened in 2018.

In January of that year, a Taco Bell location in Montgomery, Alabama had to close temporarily due to a strange incident. According to news reports, the restaurant’s manager had received a delivery of 70 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs had been shipped from California and were mistakenly delivered to the Taco Bell instead of the intended destination.

When the manager opened the boxes and discovered the drugs, they immediately contacted the police. The restaurant was closed for several hours while officers investigated the scene. The street outside was also closed off as a precaution.

It’s unclear how the mix-up happened or who the intended recipient of the drugs was. The case was investigated by both local police and federal authorities, but no arrests were reported in connection with the incident.

The incident was certainly a bizarre one and is not something you would expect to happen at a fast-food restaurant. It’s also a reminder that you never know what strange things might happen in the world of fast food.

Taco Bell Fun Facts:

Taco Bell has attempted to enter the Mexican market twice.

After a highly-publicized launch in Mexico City in 1992, all the restaurants were closed two years later.

In September 2007, Taco Bell returned to Monterrey, projecting an American image with an Americanized menu that included french fries, but it closed in January 2010 due to low patronage.

Here are some fun facts about Taco Bell:

  1. Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell, who also founded the restaurant chains Der Wienerschnitzel and Bell’s Hamburgers.
  2. The first Taco Bell restaurant was a small building with a walk-up window and no indoor seating. The menu consisted of tacos, tostadas, and burritos.
  3. Taco Bell’s menu was initially inspired by the food served at Mitla Cafe, a Mexican restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
  4. The famous Taco Bell logo features a bell with a stylized “T” in the middle, which is meant to resemble a taco.
  5. The Crunchwrap Supreme, one of Taco Bell’s most popular menu items, was invented by a franchisee in Toledo, Ohio in 2005.
  6. Taco Bell’s menu has featured several unusual items over the years, including the Bell Beefer, the Chilito, and the Enchirito.
  7. In 2001, Taco Bell sent a proposal to the Russian space agency offering to pay $500,000 to have a 40-foot-by-40-foot advertisement placed on the side of the International Space Station. The proposal was declined.
  8. Taco Bell has its own clothing line, which includes items such as T-shirts, hats, and socks.
  9. The Taco Bell Foundation, established in 1992, provides educational opportunities and scholarships to young people across the United States.
  10. Taco Bell has experimented with several unusual marketing campaigns over the years, including a 2018 pop-up hotel in Palm Springs, California called “The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort.” The hotel featured Taco Bell-themed rooms, food, and activities.

Ingredients for Taco Bell Bean Burritos:

Wondering what sauce is in Taco Bell bean burrito?

We hacked the secret recipe and now you can make the Taco Bell Red Sauce at home.

There’s no need to save the packets of sauce from Taco Bell, we have an easy homemade red sauce, that tastes incredibly like Taco Bell’s and you can make it in minutes.

It stores easily in the refrigerator.

Taco Bell Red Sauce:

8-ounce can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1-1/2 tsp ground cumin

1-1/2 tsp. dried minced onions

1 Tbsp. white vinegar 

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Taco Bell Bean Burrito:

What does Taco Bell put in their bean burritos?

16 ounce can refried beans

3 (8″) tortillas

1/4 cup diced yellow onion

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

copy cat taco bell bean burrito with red sauce

 

How to Make Taco Bell Bean Burritos:

Make the Red Sauce:

In a small saucepan, over medium-low heat, prepare the sauce by mixing the first eleven ingredients (tomato sauce through cayenne pepper).

Cook at a low simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Make the Burritos:

To make the burritos, heat the refried beans in a small sauce pan over low heat.

One at a time, heat the tortillas in a warm skillet over low heat for about 30 seconds on each side.

Add the Toppings:

Top each heated tortilla with one-third of the beans, placing in the center of the tortilla, and a tablespoon or more of the sauce.

Add the onions and shredded cheese, fold the tortilla sides over the filling and roll up tightly.

Makes 3 servings that taste just like Taco Bell Bean Burritos!

taco bell bean and cheese burrito copy cat

 

You can also turn this into a Copy Cat Taco Bell Pintos and Cheese:

Ingredients (same as above)

Make the Taco Bell Red Sauce

1 (15 ounces) can refried beans

1/4 cup onions

1/2 cup cheese

How to Make Taco Bell Bean Burritos:

Lightly coat an 8×8 baking pan with cooking spray.

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.

Spread can of beans in prepared baking dish.

Scatter diced onions over the beans, optional.

Spread prepared red sauce over top of onions and beans.

Top with cheese.

Cover baking pan with aluminum foil.

Place on center rack in preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and serve warm refried beans with tortilla chips.

best taco bell bean burritos copy cat stacked

 

VARIATIONS ON TACO BELL BEAN BURRITO

Meat:

Add seasoned ground beef or chicken to go from meatless to a meat burrito. 

Black Bean Burrito:

You can use black beans (great recipe) instead of refried or try mixing the two. 

Pinto beans and kidney beans work well too.

Rice Burrito:

Try adding rice to your burrito.

For even more flavor add Spanish rice.

Cheese:

Change the flavor profile with your favorite cheese.

Try pepper jack, Monterey, cotija, swiss cheese, mozzarella, or a combination of cheeses.

Add-ins:

Set up a Burrito Bar. 

There are so many easy and delicious add-ins you can add to your burritos.

  • Lettuce
  • tomatoes
  • green onions
  • black olives
  • avocado
  • sour cream
  • nacho cheese sauce
  • salsa
  • green chiles
  • relish

MORE TACO BELL BURRITO RECIPE

Burrito Supreme:

Go from classic bean burrito to the Taco Bell Burrito Supreme.

Layer seasoned ground beef mixed with tomato paste (or red sauce), refried beans, sour cream, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and cheddar cheese (or try Mexican blend cheese) all tucked into your tortilla.

The Taco Bell Burrito Supreme and Bean Burrito have several differences in terms of ingredients and flavors.

Here are some of the main differences:

  1. Meat: The Burrito Supreme includes seasoned beef, while the Bean Burrito is vegetarian and contains only refried beans.
  2. Additional ingredients: The Burrito Supreme includes additional ingredients such as diced onions, diced tomatoes, and red sauce. The Bean Burrito has a simpler ingredient list that includes only refried beans, red sauce, and shredded cheese.
  3. Sour cream: The Burrito Supreme includes a dollop of sour cream, while the Bean Burrito does not.
  4. Size: The Burrito Supreme is slightly larger than the Bean Burrito, making it a more substantial meal option.
  5. Spiciness: The Burrito Supreme has a slightly spicier flavor profile than the Bean Burrito due to the addition of red sauce and seasoned beef.

Overall, the Burrito Supreme is a more complex and flavorful option than the Bean Burrito due to its additional ingredients and meat. However, the Bean Burrito is a good choice for vegetarians or anyone who wants a simpler, milder flavor profile.

7-Layer Burrito:

The seven layers in Taco Bell’s Seven-Layer Burrito are:

  1. Refried beans: The first layer is a generous portion of warm, seasoned refried beans, which serve as the base of the burrito.
  2. Mexican rice: The second layer is a scoop of fluffy Mexican-style rice, which adds texture and flavor to the burrito.
  3. Shredded lettuce: The third layer is a bed of fresh shredded lettuce, which provides a refreshing crunch.
  4. Three-cheese blend: The fourth layer is a mix of three different cheeses – cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella – that have been melted together.
  5. Sour cream: The fifth layer is a dollop of tangy sour cream, which provides a cool contrast to the other warm ingredients.
  6. Guacamole: The sixth layer is a scoop of creamy guacamole, which adds richness and a subtle avocado flavor.
  7. Diced tomatoes: The final layer is a sprinkling of diced tomatoes, which add a pop of bright color and a burst of juicy freshness.

All of these layers are then wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla to create Taco Bell’s Seven-Layer Burrito.

taco bell refried beans copycat

 

My family loves when we can make a homemade version of our favorite restaurant recipes, like these homemade (taco bell) bean burritos.

With this easy Taco Bell Bean Burrito Copycat, you’ll have all the cheesy flavor of a bean burrito from Taco Bell without having to leave the house. 

Copycat recipes like this one, are also great because you can experiment with the ingredients to find a combination that’s personalized to you and your taste.

Enjoy!

What Makes the Taco Bell Bean Burrito a Favorite?

The Taco Bell Bean Burrito is a popular menu item for several reasons:

  1. Affordable price: The Bean Burrito is one of the most affordable items on the Taco Bell menu, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious diners.
  2. Vegetarian option: The Bean Burrito is vegetarian-friendly, which is a plus for people who don’t eat meat or are trying to reduce their meat consumption.
  3. Customizable: Like many items on the Taco Bell menu, the Bean Burrito is highly customizable. Adding or removing ingredients to suit your taste makes it versatile.
  4. Filling: The Bean Burrito is a substantial item that can be quite filling, especially when paired with other items on the menu. This makes it a good choice for people who are looking for a satisfying meal.
  5. Classic flavor: The Bean Burrito has been a menu item at Taco Bell for decades and has a classic, comforting flavor that many people enjoy.

Overall, the Taco Bell Bean Burrito’s combination of affordability, vegetarian-friendliness, customization options, filling nature, and classic flavor make it a favorite among many Taco Bell fans. This homemade version of Taco Bell’s Bean Burrito delivers on all fronts.

copy cat taco bell bean burrito with red sauce

Copycat Taco Bell Bean Burritos Recipe

Yield: 3 bean burritos
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

These copycat Taco Bell Bean Burritos are easy to make and taste amazingly like the real deal. Easy recipe for delicious results.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried minced onions
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 16 ounce can refried beans
  • 3 8" flour tortilla
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. n a small pan, over medium-low heat, prepare the sauce by mixing the first eleven ingredients (tomato sauce through cayenne pepper).
  2. Cook at a low simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  3. To make the burritos, heat the refried beans in a small pan over low heat.
  4. One at a time, heat the tortillas in a warm skillet over low heat for about 30 seconds on each side.
  5. Top each heated tortilla with one-third of the beans and a tablespoon or more of the sauce.
  6. Add the onions and shredded cheese, fold the tortilla sides over the filling and roll up tightly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 680Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 1963mgCarbohydrates: 103gFiber: 12gSugar: 5gProtein: 25g

Nutritional INformation may not be accurate

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