11 Essential Recipes for Building Your Own Burrito at Home

Oh, the counter people at Chipotle make burrito assembly look so easy. We’ve all stared them down from across the plexiglass divide, watching them put a scoop of rice here, ladling some beans on there, and rolling the whole thing up in one swift motion.

But if you’ve ever tried to put together your own burritos at home, you’ll know that they aren’t exactly a quick, to-order item you can make on the fly. First, you’ve got to think about the stuff that goes in the darned thing.

If you’re wondering where to get started, there’s no need to fret. We’ve collected all the recipes you need to make your own killer burrito fillings at home. Just grab a stack of jumbo tortillas and let the stuffing begin!

1. Spanish Rice

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Why go for plain white or brown rice when you can use the grains as a vehicle for big flavors? This recipe lets them soak up the savoriness of tomato, onion, and hearty chicken broth. Get our Spanish Rice recipe.

2. Spicy Green Rice (Arroz Verde)

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If you’d rather go for more earthy, herbal take, try this recipe that gets its green hue from parsley, cilantro, serranos, and poblanos. Get our Spicy Green Rice recipe.

3. Refried Black Beans

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Beans can make or break a burrito—you want them to be a soft and oozy, not slippery and falling out of your wrap. This refried black beans recipe gets the texture just right, giving you all the creamy burrito backbone you need. Get our Refried Black Beans recipe.

4. Slow Cooker Ranch-Style Pinto Beans

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While black beans bring their own deep and slightly moody flavor, milder pinto beans can accommodate a whole host of rich and savory seasonings. Our recipe packs in plenty of spice and smoke before slow cooking them tender. Get our Slow Cooker Ranch-Style Pinto Beans recipe.

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde

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If you’re going to do a chicken burrito, for pete’s sake, please stay away from cardboard-dry diced chicken breasts. Instead, try something flavorful and juicy, like this chicken cooked in a tomatillo-based chile. Get our Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde recipe.

6. Carnitas

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Although we love our chorizo and al pastor, when it comes to pork for burritos, nothing beats a good, juicy carnitas. Get our Carnitas recipe.

7. Carne Asada

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In the mood for some beef? You could go the slow-cooked barbacoa route. But for a faster and easier option, look to a grilled flank or skirt steak, such as this citrus-marinated carne asada. Get our Carne Asada recipe.

8. Avocado Pico de Gallo Salsa

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If you’re doing a vegetarian burrito, some extra beans or grilled veggies are nice. But we might choose to amp it up with something fresh, like this chunky tomato and avocado pico de gallo. Get our Avocado Pico de Gallo Salsa recipe.

9. Easy Guacamole

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By now, you’ve probably started to get a little winded from coordinating all of your burrito elements. So take it easy with the guacamole—this one can be whipped together in two simple steps. Get our Easy Guacamole recipe.

10. Tomatillo Guacamole Salsa

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Or better yet, combine your guac and your salsa into one. This sauce adds in juicy, tangy tomatillos, for a loose condiment to drizzle in or on your burrito. Get our Tomatillo Guacamole Salsa recipe.

11. Ancho Chile Salsa

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If you can’t do without your red sauce, this recipe will serve you well. Featuring both ancho and guajillo chiles, it’s got a mellow kick that brings the spice without overdosing on heat. Get our Ancho Chile Salsa recipe.

Miki Kawasaki is a New York City–based food writer and graduate of Boston University's program in Gastronomy. Few things excite her more than a well-crafted sandwich or expertly spiced curry. If you ever run into her at a dinner party, make sure to hit her up for a few pieces of oddball culinary trivia.