Freezer Burrito Recipe (2024)

This Chicken Quinoa Freezer Burrito Recipeis the perfect make-ahead recipe (freeze, microwave, serve), for healthy school lunches or a quick meal!

Friends, thisChicken Quinoa Freezer Burrito Recipe has been a staple in our home (freezer) for years! Easy to grab for a quick bite to eat, it only takes a little prep to make and freeze!

This week is bittersweet for me, as one of our sons is heading back to college. The good news is that the other one is home for a sweet season, and we’re savoring every moment with him. Back in the day, when kids went off to college, parents waved goodbye as they drove away.

This week we’re not driving with him, but we’ll be waving goodbye as he drives off with friends to head back to school. The dynamics of our family will be changing once again. It’s all good, because it’s a season of life. We’ve let our kids choose their path for colleges and careers, our responsibility not to choose the path we wanted our boys to take, but to ask questions, make suggestions, and guide them. You might call it a collaboration process, but it’s all part of the road-map of being a parent.

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Table of Contents

Khan Academy.

Khan Academy has been a huge resource tool for all 3 of our kids in their studies. When they have problems learning in college, they turn to the internet to get free lessons and videos. Two weeks ago our oldest son, who just graduated from U of O, was giddy over the fact that Khan Academy now has the MCATS posted on their site. Every day for the last 2 weeks, he’s been studying at least 2 hours a day. Studying and working this next year is part of his journey to get in to medical school.

Our other son studied in China over the summer, taking 15 credit hours of Mandarin. He’s since finished with his Mandarin degree, but is working now on international business. Both hard workers, we’re proud of our sons and their drive to “get it done” … and fast!

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Tying this in with food, last year I made Black Bean Burritos with Cheese and Summer Squashfor the boys to take to college. They’d live off of these healthy bites of substance and yummy flavors (beans, quinoa, sometimes rice, chicken, beef – I make all different combinations).

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Freezer Burrito Recipe.

My son and I whipped up a rather large batch of freezer burritos. (By the way, I love having a new helper in the kitchen!)

I like to call it the 4-Ingredient Freezer Burritos, because it’s basically 4 cups each of the key ingredients! You take 4 cups of cooked quinoa, 4 cups of diced chicken, 4 cans of beans, 4 cups of salsa. (We used 2 pints of my Home Canned Salsa.)

We put chicken breasts on the grill, but you can use rotisserie chicken or even boiled chicken breasts. Any kind of chicken will work!

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Mix together in a giant bowl (I often double this recipe!) all ingredients, and salt and pepper to taste!

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What comes next is filling the tortillas with the mixture, and adding cheese and sour cream or any other toppings that you wish (and that will freeze well).

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I like to keep it simple by only adding sour cream, but sometimes we freeze them plain.

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Fold, wrap, and freeze. When it’s time to eat them, simply discard the plastic wrap, wrap the burrito in a paper towel, and microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes, or until heated through. At this point you can add extra toppings if you prefer.

Length in freezer.

Wrap individually in plastic and freeze up to 3 months.

Pack for school lunches.

You can also pack these burritos for lunch in morning (frozen), so by lunch the burrito is mostly thawed and only needs 1:00-1:30 (depending on how large you make them) to heat inthe microwave!

Hungry boys? Pack 2!

So many options!

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Healthy eating.

Such a healthy approach to eating better in college. I know our sons appreciate mama’s touch with yummy food as they walk into their apartment, starving, and wanting something healthy to eat! So cheers for frozen burritos, kids that are doing well in life, and not taking for granted the blessings that we’ve been handed with healthy food, families, and love to spread to those around us!

Do you have any freezer meal ideas or recipes that would benefit a college student?

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Chicken Quinoa Freezer Burrito Recipe

This Freezer Burrito Recipe with Chicken and Quinoa is the perfect make-ahead recipe for healthy school lunches or quick dinners!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Yield: 12 large burritos, 24 small

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked quinoa
  • 4 cups cooked chicken, diced (grilled, rotisserie, boiled, baked – any kind of chicken)
  • 4 cans Bush’s beans, such as black, kidney, or pinto, drained
  • 4 cups of salsa
  • Salt and pepper to taste, optional to add 1 T. chili pepper and 1 tsp. cumin
  • Tortillas

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, diced chicken, drained beans, and salsa.

  • Salt and pepper to taste.

  • Fill tortillas with quinoa mixture, depending on the size of the tortilla. Add sour cream or cheese (optional).

  • Wrap tightly, roll in plastic wrap, and freeze.

  • MICROWAVE: Pull out of the freezer and remove the plastic wrap. Wrap the burrito in a paper towel, and microwave (frozen) for 1 1/2-2 minutes, or until heated through. At this point you can add extra toppings if you prefer.

  • OVEN: Remove burritos from plastic wrap; rewrap individually in aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil, and bake to crisp for another 5 minutes.

  • For extra flavor, serve with hot sauce!

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

Here are some tips for great frozen burritos.

Shutterbean writes the date on them with this.

Tessa makes freezer breakfast burritos – watch her video!

10 great freeze-ahead burrito recipes

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Freezer Burrito Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you freeze burritos so they don't get soggy? ›

Wet your finger and rub a little bit of water on the edge of the tortilla to seal it. If wrapping to freeze: Lay out your foil, wax paper, or plastic wrap in a diagonal. Fold over the foil, plastic wrap, or wax paper that's underneath to wrap it up tight, then label and store!

What is the best way to cook a frozen burrito? ›

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrapper and cover in foil. Place on pan and bake for 20 minutes.
  2. Flip and cook for an additional 25 minutes.
  3. Uncover for last 5 minutes of cooking, or until golden brown.
  4. Let sit one minute and serve! Garnish with fresh greens, salsa, (vegan) sour cream and jalapeño peppers.

How long will homemade burritos last in the freezer? ›

Freeze the burritos: Transfer the wrapped burritos to a freezer-safe plastic container or bag. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months (but ideally use within 3 months, or else they might have some freezer burn and off flavors).

Why should you wrap frozen burritos in paper towel? ›

But here's the secret: Wrap the burrito in a damp paper towel. This will keep the tortilla from drying out in the microwave while steaming the tasty fillings.

Can you wrap burritos in parchment paper to freeze? ›

Wrap up in parchment paper. Place the parchment-wrapped burritos in a 1 gallon freezer bag and place in the freezer to store for up to one month. To Reheat: Remove the frozen burrito from the freezer. Unwrap from parchment paper and wrap the frozen burrito up in a damp paper towel.

Should I let burritos cool before freezing? ›

Not only does this help the burritos hold their shape but it will also helps the tortilla from becoming soggy when reheated! After the burritos have cooled COMPLETELY wrap them in parchment paper and place in a freezer safe container or bag to pull out later.

Can you eat a frozen burrito that was left out overnight? ›

If a burrito has been left out at room temperature (above 40°F) for more than two hours, it should be discarded to prevent food poisoning. In warm environments (90°F/32°C or above), this time reduces to just one hour.

Can I eat a 3 day old burrito? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.

Does sour cream freeze well? ›

You absolutely can freeze sour cream. As with any food, freezing will stop the growth of microorganisms indefinitely, keeping it safe until you thaw it for reuse. The caveat is that like other dairy products, sour cream will lose some of its thickness and smooth, creamy texture once it's frozen and thawed.

Why do people put rice in burritos? ›

Cheese – shredded cheese is a must-have on a burrito, but what kind you choose is up to you! Stick to classic Cheddar cheese, go for gooey mozzarella or try some creamy Monterey Jack cheese for a change. Rice – while it's optional, adding rice into your burrito can make it extra filling and provide a bit more texture.

Can I freeze burritos in Saran wrap? ›

How to freeze them: Wrap each individual burrito in plastic wrap, wax paper, or aluminum foil. I like to place my foil/wrap diagonal for easy to wrap! Lay the wrapped burritos on a sheet pan and flash freeze until frozen solid.

How do you keep frozen burritos from sticking to foil? ›

But when you're ready to eat a burrito, there's nothing worse than getting bits of tortilla stuck to the foil—this causes the filling to spill out and makes for a messier eating experience. Lightly greasing the foil before wrapping and freezing allows for easier removal when reheating the burritos at a later date.

How do you keep wet burritos from getting soggy? ›

Similar to how the toasted tortilla creates a barrier, stacking ingredients to keep wetter ingredients away from the surface can help to lessen a soggy situation. For example, a layer of cheese, rice, or beans directly on top of the tortilla can help.

Do frozen burritos get soggy? ›

Here are a few tips to keep your burritos crisp and taste like you just made them from scratch 5 minutes ago. Let burritos come to room temperature before freezing. If ingredients are hot or warm when you put them in the freezer, it will create condensation, making the burrito soggy when you reheat.

How do you keep burritos crispy when reheating? ›

Place a damp paper towel over your burrito and microwave it on medium for 2+ minutes until it's heated through. Alternatively, wrap your burrito in foil and bake it for 30+ minutes at 225°F until it's up to temperature.

How do you keep burritos soft? ›

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the foil-wrapped burritos on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. This gentle, slow baking method will help ensure that the burritos heat evenly and stay soft throughout. Avoid using high temperatures, as this can cause the tortillas to become tough and dry.

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