How to Reheat a Burrito So the Tortilla Is Soft, Not Soggy

What’s so great about a tortilla stuffed with beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and chicken? Pretty much everything, as long as you know how to reheat a burrito. The beauty of a burrito is you can put anything in it, and it still tastes amazing. Plus, you can whip up an extra batch and then store them in the refrigerator for a few days. Leftover burritos are an easy grab and go meal for lunch or dinner in the car. But if you don’t like your beans and cheese cold, you need to know how to reheat burritos. 

How to Reheat a Burrito in the Oven

Ask any burrito connoisseur what the best way to reheat a burrito is, and you’re likely to hear “the oven.” Katsuji Tanabe, a Top Chef alum and executive chef of the Mexican restaurant Barrio, says the oven is the easiest way to reheat burritos. Plus, your burrito will come out nice and crispy, not soggy.

1. Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Take your burrito out of the refrigerator and loosely wrap the burrito in aluminum foil.
3. Place the wrapped burrito in the oven for about 30-minutes.
4. Use oven mitts to take the burrito out of the oven. Make sure the burrito is heated all the way through. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The burrito is ready to eat when the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Unwrap the foil and enjoy!

How to Reheat a Burrito in the Microwave

If the microwave is your “go to” when it comes to warming up your leftovers, you’re not alone. While it’s certainly not the best way to reheat a burrito, it does work — just don’t expect perfection. But if you’re in a hurry and need to reheat Chipotle burritos or reheat Taco Bell burritos, give this method a try. Tanabe says the way he likes to reheat burritos in the microwave is a little more complex, since he prefers to do it in stages. Here, he tells us how to reheat a burrito in the microwave. 

1. Put the burrito on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Reheat burrito for one minute, then let it sit in the microwave for 45 seconds, so the heat spreads evenly. 
3. Repeat the reheating process for one minute, and then let your burrito sit for 30 seconds. 
4. Your burrito is ready to eat when the fillings are warm, and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

How to Reheat a Burrito with Sour Cream

So, you slathered your burrito in sour cream, and now you’re trying to figure out the best way to reheat it. If you’re dealing with a burrito that has wet fillings in it, you have two choices: reheat your burrito with everything in it, or scoop out the cold fillings and add them back in later. If scooping out the sour cream is difficult, Tanabe recommends leaving it in and then adding some extra on the side. You can add in more once the burrito is hot. Here are Tanabe’s steps for how to reheat burritos with sour cream in the oven. 

1. Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Take your burrito out of the refrigerator and loosely wrap the burrito in aluminum foil.
3. Place the wrapped burrito in the oven for about 30-minutes.
4. Use oven mitts to take the burrito out of the oven. Make sure the burrito is heated all the way through. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The burrito is ready to eat when the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Unwrap the foil and enjoy!

How to Reheat a Chipotle Burrito

Chipotle is known for their fresh stuffed burritos. And whether you’re craving chicken, beef, beans, or hot salsa, finishing off that huge meal can sometimes be a task. So, rather than leave half of it on your plate, why not wrap it up and take it home for a midnight snack or leftover dinner the next day? Here are two methods for reheating Chipotle burritos. 

Toaster oven:

1. Open up your burrito so the foil is only covering the tortilla. Note: Reheating this way warms all of the fillings. 
2. With the fillings exposed, place the burrito bottom-down in the toaster oven. 
3. Reheat in the toaster oven for eight to 12 minutes on 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
4. Your burrito is ready to eat when the fillings are heated all the way through. 

Traditional oven:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Leave your burrito wrapped in the aluminum foil. Note: Reheating this way warms all of the fillings. 
3. Place the burrito in the oven for 15 minutes. 
4. Your burrito is ready to eat when the fillings are heated all the way through.

If you want the cold ingredients to stay cold, remove them before placing burrito in toaster oven or oven. Then add them back on after the burrito is warm. 

How to Reheat a Taco Bell Burrito

Sure, you can pack and roll some pretty fantastic burritos at home, but sometimes it’s nice to drive up and take a few to go. If your dinner plans for the week include a trip to Taco Bell, you might want to consider ordering an extra burrito or two to have on hand for lunch the next day. But if the thought of chowing down on a cold leftover burrito makes you want to toss it in the trash, take some notes — we’re about to tell you how to reheat Taco Bell burritos.

Toaster oven:

1. Open up your burrito so the foil is only covering the tortilla. Note: Reheating this way warms all of the fillings. 
2. With the fillings exposed, place the burrito bottom-down in the toaster oven.
3. Reheat in the toaster oven for eight to 12 minutes on 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
4. Your burrito is ready to eat when the fillings are heated all the way through. 

Traditional oven:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Leave your burrito wrapped in the aluminum foil. FYI: Reheating this way warms all of the fillings. 
3. Place the burrito in the oven for 15 minutes. 
4. Your burrito is ready to eat when the fillings are heated all the way through.

Tip: If you want the cold ingredients to stay cold, remove them before placing burrito in toaster oven or oven. Then add them back on after the burrito is warm. 

How to Reheat a Burrito on the Grill

If using the grill to reheat burritos is nowhere on your list of “how to” methods, you’re not alone. Most of us would not consider heading outdoors to reheat a leftover burrito, but it is an option — as long as you have the time. This is definitely not the method to use if your stomach is growling, but if you have 30-45 minutes, it might be worth trying. Tanabe says the indirect grilling method is the best way to reheat burritos on the grill. Here are the five steps to reheat burritos on the grill. 

1. Light half the grill and place the burrito wrap on the side that is not lit. 
2. Grill the burrito on the unlit side for about 30-minutes.
3. After 30 minutes, move the burrito to the hot part of the grill to get some nice grill marks. 
4. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the burrito. 
5. Your burrito is ready to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Sure, a burrito is perfect on its own. But if you’re looking to expand your taste buds, why not add some additional fillings? What makes burritos so versatile is the fact that you can put just about anything in it! Cilantro, hot sauce, pork, shrimp, chicken, rice, pinto beans, peppers, and so much more make this tasty meal a family favorite. 

This post was written by Sara Lindberg.

More From FIRST

How to Make Switchel, The Gingery Drink That’s Good for Your Gut

This Healthy Eggs Benedict Recipe Is a Lighter Spin on the Breakfast Classic

How to Reheat Tamales That Taste Fresh and Fabulous