Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Smothered Burritos: Your Ultimate Weeknight Meal Solution
Imagine a meal that’s incredibly cheesy, bursting with flavor, and requires minimal effort. Now, imagine making it with just three simple ingredients, right in your trusty slow cooker! These super-cheesy, extra-delicious smothered burritos are a dream come true for anyone with a busy schedule, offering a comforting and satisfying meal that practically cooks itself. Perfect for hectic weeknights, lazy weekends, or even game day gatherings, this recipe is a true lifesaver. Plus, the leftovers are just as good, if not better, the next day, making it ideal for meal prep!
Why You’ll Love These Effortless Crockpot Burritos
If your slow cooker is a beloved kitchen appliance, and Mexican food always gets your taste buds tingling, then this recipe is about to become your new obsession! It brilliantly combines the convenience of slow cooking with the vibrant flavors of Mexican-inspired cuisine. What makes it even more incredible is the minimal ingredient list – just three core items stand between you and a wonderfully satisfying dinner. This makes it perfect for everyone, from beginner cooks just starting their culinary journey to busy parents and even college students living in dorms. My son, for instance, relied on these easy smothered burritos during his university days, as crockpots were permitted in dorms and the leftovers were easily reheated in his mini-fridge and microwave. It’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” meal that yields maximum flavor with minimum fuss.
The Magic of a 3-Ingredient Recipe: Slow Cooker Frozen Burritos Casserole
This recipe has been a beloved staple on my website for years, lauded for its incredible simplicity and delicious results. It truly shines when you need to whip up something quick and comforting without a lot of fuss. The beauty of this dish lies in its brevity: just three ingredients are all you need to create a hearty, cheesy, Mexican-inspired casserole. This minimal requirement saves you time at the grocery store, reduces prep work in the kitchen, and makes it incredibly budget-friendly. It’s truly one of those meals that proves you don’t need a long list of complex items to create something spectacular. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting out, this recipe is foolproof and guarantees a satisfying outcome every time.
Crafting Your Perfect Smothered Burrito Casserole: Customization at Its Best
One of the best aspects of this Crockpot Smothered Burrito Recipe is its incredible adaptability. It’s designed to be easily customized to suit your family’s preferences and dietary needs. The basic framework of frozen burritos, enchilada sauce, and cheese provides a versatile canvas for endless delicious variations.
Choosing Your Frozen Burritos
While we often lean towards beef and bean burritos for our smothered beef burritos, feel free to pick your absolute favorite. The market offers a wide array of frozen burritos, from spicy beef to savory chicken, or even vegetarian options like bean and cheese. Consider mixing and matching different flavors within one batch for a delightful variety! Just make sure to choose a brand you enjoy, as their quality can significantly impact the final taste of your smothered burrito casserole.
Selecting Your Enchilada Sauce
For this recipe, we typically use a classic red enchilada sauce, which delivers a rich, savory depth. However, this is another area where you can personalize your dish. If you prefer a brighter, tangier flavor, a green enchilada sauce works beautifully, especially with chicken burritos. You can opt for mild, medium, or hot sauces depending on your spice preference. Canned enchilada sauce offers ultimate convenience, but if you have a little extra time and want to elevate the flavor, consider making your Homemade Enchilada Sauce. The fresh taste makes a noticeable difference!
The Cheese Factor
A generous amount of shredded Mexican blend cheese is key to achieving that irresistibly gooey, cheesy topping. These blends typically combine cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, Asadero, and Queso Blanco, which melt beautifully and add a rich, savory dimension. If you’re feeling adventurous, try using Pepper Jack for a spicy kick, or a sharp cheddar for a more pronounced cheese flavor. The important thing is to use a good melting cheese that will create a luscious blanket over your burritos.
Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Slow Cooker Burritos
One of the best advantages of this burrito casserole is that it’s a one-pot wonder, serving right out of the crockpot! While it’s incredibly satisfying on its own, adding a few simple sides and toppings can transform it into a truly memorable meal. We typically keep it simple with a fresh lettuce salad and chopped tomatoes on the side, allowing everyone to customize their plate with their favorite accoutrements.
Classic Toppings
Set up a toppings bar and let everyone get creative! Our go-to toppings include tangy pickled jalapeños for a delightful kick, earthy black olives for a briny touch, cooling sour cream or a dollop of Greek yogurt, creamy guacamole or sliced avocado, fresh salsa (pico de gallo or a chunky garden salsa), and a sprinkle of vibrant cilantro. Don’t forget a splash of your favorite hot sauce for those who crave extra heat!
Perfect Side Dishes
To round out your meal, consider pairing these smothered burritos with some classic Mexican sides. A simple pot of fluffy Mexican rice or zesty cilantro-lime rice is always a hit. Refried beans or black beans, seasoned with a touch of cumin and garlic, make an excellent accompaniment. For something fresh, grilled corn on the cob or a vibrant corn salad would be fantastic. And, of course, a bowl of crispy tortilla chips alongside some extra salsa or queso provides the perfect textural contrast. Pair it with a refreshing agua fresca or a homemade margarita for a complete experience!
Ingredients in this Crockpot Burrito Casserole
As we’ve mentioned, the beauty of these slow cooker burritos lies in their simplicity, requiring only 3 primary ingredients. You’ll find all the precise measurements and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Frozen Burritos – Choose your family’s favorite brand and flavor. Whether it’s beef and bean, chicken, or a vegetarian option, any type will work wonderfully here.
- Enchilada Sauce – We typically use red enchilada sauce for a classic flavor. A good quality canned sauce works perfectly for convenience, or you can elevate the dish with my Homemade Enchilada Sauce if you have the time! Green enchilada sauce is also a fantastic alternative, especially with chicken burritos.
- Mexican Cheese – A pre-shredded Mexican blend cheese is ideal for its melting properties and balanced flavor profile.
- Optional Toppings – These are where you can truly make the dish your own. Think fresh cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pickled jalapeños, or black olives.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Crockpot Smothered Burritos
This incredibly simple recipe comes together effortlessly, relying on the convenience of frozen burritos and the magic of your slow cooker.
Prep the Slow Cooker
First, ensure your slow cooker is ready for action. Lightly spray the interior with a non-stick cooking spray. This crucial step helps prevent the burritos from sticking to the bottom and sides, making cleanup a breeze.
Layering for Success
Next, arrange half of your chosen frozen burritos evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker. Once in place, pour one can of enchilada sauce directly over this first layer, ensuring each burrito is well coated. Follow this by adding the remaining half of the burritos on top, creating a second layer. Finish by pouring the second can of enchilada sauce over this upper layer, ensuring full coverage for maximum flavor and moisture.
Slow Cooking to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker securely with its lid. Set the temperature to low and let the burritos cook undisturbed for 4 hours. This slow and steady cooking method allows the burritos to heat through gently, absorbing the rich flavors of the enchilada sauce, and resulting in tender, flavorful goodness.
The Cheesy Finish
Approximately 30 minutes before you plan to serve, it’s time for the crowning glory! Generously sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese over the entire top surface of the burritos. Re-cover the slow cooker and continue cooking until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. This final step adds an irresistible, gooey texture and a burst of cheesy flavor that truly completes the dish.
Once the cheese is perfectly melted, it’s ready to serve! Gather your favorite toppings and let everyone customize their delicious smothered burritos. Enjoy!
Storage and Reheating for Delicious Leftovers
One of the best things about this slow cooker burrito casserole is how well it holds up as leftovers. Any remaining portions can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you’ve made a larger batch or want to prepare meals in advance, these burritos freeze exceptionally well. Place them in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, simply reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. For a crispier texture, you can also reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly, especially if coming from the freezer.
Love It? Pin It!
If you’re already dreaming of these incredible smothered burritos, make sure you keep this recipe handy! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board now so you can easily find it whenever that Mexican food craving hits. You won’t want to miss out on this super simple, incredibly delicious meal solution!
Explore More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes to Love
We absolutely adore our crockpot, and sharing easy slow cooker recipes is one of my favorite things to do – and my readers love them too! If you’re a fan of simple, flavorful meals, you’re in the right place. Beyond these amazing smothered burritos, I have a treasure trove of other slow cooker gems that are sure to become family favorites.
- My Shredded Beef Burritos (pictured above) are perfect for a heartier, homemade take on burritos, offering tender, slow-cooked beef.
- For a comforting classic, my Slow Cooker French Dips deliver succulent beef and rich au jus, ideal for a cozy dinner.
- If you’re looking for something with a unique flavor twist, don’t miss my Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs and Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Sandwiches, both offering a sweet and tangy BBQ experience.
- And for another Mexican-inspired delight, try my Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole, which is packed with zesty flavors and creamy goodness.
- For a simple Italian-American comfort food, my Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna combines easy-to-use ravioli with rich sauce and cheese for a shortcut to a beloved dish.
This particular Slow Cooker Smothered Burrito recipe came from my talented friend Candi over at The Devilish Dish. She constantly impresses with her creative and delicious recipes, including a fantastic new one for Mississippi Meatball Subs! Be sure to check out her site for more culinary inspiration. You can find all of my easy and delicious slow cooker recipes here on my website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions you might have about making these delicious slow cooker smothered burritos:
- Can I use fresh burritos instead of frozen? While frozen burritos are designed to withstand slow cooking without becoming mushy, you could try fresh burritos. However, they might cook faster and could become softer in texture. Keep a closer eye on them and adjust cooking time as needed.
- Can I add extra ingredients to the crockpot? Absolutely! Feel free to add a layer of diced onions, bell peppers, or even a can of drained corn or black beans between the burrito layers for extra flavor and nutrition. Just remember these additions might add a little more liquid, so be mindful.
- What if I don’t have Mexican blend cheese? No problem! A mix of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese works perfectly. Even just one of these would be delicious. The key is to use a cheese that melts well.
- How can I make this spicier or milder? For more heat, choose a “hot” enchilada sauce, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, or mix in some chopped pickled jalapeños before cooking. For a milder dish, opt for a “mild” enchilada sauce and skip any spicy toppings.
- Can I freeze these burritos before cooking? It’s generally not recommended to freeze uncooked burritos along with the sauce in the slow cooker, as the texture can change significantly. It’s best to cook them first, then freeze the leftovers as instructed.
Final Thoughts on Your New Favorite Meal
I genuinely can’t wait to hear what you think about this recipe! What’s not to love about something so quick, easy, and satisfying that starts with simple frozen burritos? It’s the ultimate answer to that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” This Slow Cooker Smothered Burrito recipe is incredibly versatile and perfect for any occasion – from lazy weekends when you want minimal kitchen time, to busy weeknights where convenience is key, or even for tailgates where you need a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish. It’s a true culinary hack that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. Give it a try and enjoy the delicious results!
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Print Recipe
Slow Cooker Smothered Burritos
Equipment
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Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker
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Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker
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Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 8 frozen burritos your choice of flavor
- 2 10 ounce cans enchilada sauce your flavor choice
- 1 pound bag shredded Mexican cheese
- Fresh cilantro chopped for garnishing if desired
Optional Toppings
- Lettuce, tomatoes, olives, avocado, sour cream for serving if desired
Instructions
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Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
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Place half of the frozen burritos in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour one can of enchilada sauce over the top.
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Add the other half of the burritos. Pour second can of sauce over the top.
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Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
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30 minutes before serving, top with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Garnish with fresh cilantro and other desired toppings.
Notes
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Adapted from Busy Day Casserole – The Devilish Dish
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on June 26, 2017. It has been updated to improve user experience, expand content for SEO, and reshared on October 10, 2025.
