Vegan Burrito Recipe: How to Make Vegan Burritos

A vegan burrito is a handheld dish composed of cooked rice, beans, sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, shredded lettuce, salsa, and plant-based cheese or vegan sour cream tucked neatly into a warm flour tortilla. Though Mexican burritos are often relatively small and modestly filled, Tex-Mex and California-style burritos are typically bigger and heartier. The options are endless when crafting your own vegan burrito at home.

Quick to assemble and packed with nutritious plant-based protein and vegetables, vegan bean burritos can accommodate just about any dietary restriction. (Use gluten-free tortillas, like corn tortillas, for a wheat-free option.) Here are some variations that burst with diverse flavors.

1. 1. California-style vegan burrito: Plant-based ground meat and french fries make this over-the-top burrito sing. Or, in place of fries, crumble in corn tortilla chips; like chips in a sandwich, the crispy corn tortilla strips offer a delectable salty crunch.
2. 2. Chimichangas: These burritos are either deep-fried or pan-fried for an intensely crisp, crunchy exterior. Learn more about chimichangas.
3. 3. Korean-style burrito: Add kimchi for a bold, spicy tang, gochujang instead of hot sauce, and fried rice instead of Latin-style rice. Take inspiration from Chef Roy Choy and use his Korean BBQ–inspired grilled mixed vegetables to fill your vegan burrito.
4. 4. Vegan breakfast burritos: The inclusion of a tofu scramble (in place of eggs) makes these burritos a protein-rich brunch, drizzled in hot sauce and spoonfuls of pico de gallo. Learn how to make a vegan breakfast burrito at home.
5. 5. Vegan burrito bowls: Turn your burrito into a nourishing bowl of cilantro-lime rice, topped with your favorite fillings. Drizzle with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
6. 6. Vegan wet burrito: Drenched in a sweet, smoky tomato-based sauce, a wet burrito is a knife-and-fork affair. Broil vegan cheese on top to attain creamy, melty goodness in every bite.

A vegan burrito is a filling, portable main dish or lunch that’s easy to make at home. Here’s what to know.

1. 1. Make refried beans in a sofrito. Prepare beans from scratch in a pressure cooker for a slow-cooked taste, then fry them up in a bit of oil with a spiced sofrito. A mix of aromatics, spices, and herbs, sofrito is an ideal base to take beans to the next level.
2. 2. Amp up the spice. For fans of heat, there are countless ways to infuse your burrito with extra spiciness. Cook the beans in chipotles in adobo sauce, top them with pickled jalapeños, or even make your own homemade, fresh hot sauce, like Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s quick shatta.
3. 3. Store the ingredients separately. Burritos are best made fresh—otherwise, the tortilla can get mushy and wet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the process easy for yourself. Make extra fillings (you can double the recipe) and store them separately to help with meal prep for the days ahead. Although they won’t taste as good as freshly made burritos, you can reheat leftover burritos in the oven or microwave for even temperature.