Enchilada vs. Burrito: How Do The Dishes Compare?

Enchiladas are a classic Mexican entrée consisting of rolled-up soft corn tortillas stuffed with different ingredients (typically proteins like chicken, cheese, or beef), covered in a savory sauce (often salsa or chili sauce), and baked in the oven. The Spanish word “enchilada” literally translates to “to season with chili” in English, and diners typically enjoy warm enchiladas with utensils rather than their hands. Like tacos and fajitas, diners can enjoy many varieties of this popular Mexican dish throughout the United States. For example, a Tex-Mex enchilada will typically incorporate red sauce or salsa instead of chilis.

There are other dishes across Latin America that also go by the name “enchilada,” but they do not resemble the Mexican-style food.

Originating in Northern Mexico, a burrito is a dish that involves tightly wrapping a large flour tortilla around a variety of fillings, which often include meat, cheese, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and veggies. Rather than cooking the dish after assembling all of its ingredients, chefs place the cooked burrito fillings inside of the tortilla and roll it up so diners can enjoy the handheld meal, similar to a sandwich.

There are many styles of burritos (with unique names) that one might encounter traveling throughout Mexico or simply attending different regional Mexican restaurants. For example, preparing a wet burrito involves covering the bundle with sauce or melted cheese, and a chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito. Condiments like sour cream and pico de gallo often accompany a burrito for extra fresh and cool flavor.

While both are staples in Mexican cuisine, enchiladas and burritos have a few key differences:

1. 1. Eating methods: Most diners eat burritos by hand because they are fully enclosed. An enchilada, however, is easier to consume with a fork and knife because the ends of the rolled corn tortillas are open and the dish is typically covered in sauce.
2. 2. Fillings: Large burritos can fit an array of your favorite fillings—including meat, cheese, beans, and toppings—making them endlessly customizable. A small corn tortilla can only accommodate so many fillings, so enchiladas typically only have a couple of ingredients. For example, chicken enchiladas may only have chicken inside of the tortilla.
3. 3. Size: Enchiladas use small corn tortillas, so they are generally not as big as burritos. At Mexican restaurants, enchiladas often come in an order of three, whereas one large burrito makes an entire meal unto itself.
4. 4. Tortillas: The main difference between these dishes is that enchiladas use small corn tortillas and burritos use large flour tortillas, giving them slightly different tastes and textures with the former being slightly more grainy than the latter.

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