Chicken Burrito Recipe for busy people! Meal prep 17 chicken burritos in an hour on the stove or in Instant Pot and freeze for later. Or turn it into shredded chicken burrito bowl.
If you love burritos but don’t feel like rolling, make this chicken burrito skillet or Mexican chicken and rice.
Table of Contents
We are huge fans of chicken quesadillas and chicken tostadas but the problem is they are not the best for meal prep.
This recipe yields 17 large chicken burritos. We freeze them for healthy lunches to reduce deli meat consumption, and for easy healthy dinners. We pack them on the road. My kids are obsessed with this healthy chicken burrito recipe.
And so are their and our friends who tried them. Better than Chipotle’s!
Ingredients for Chicken Burrito Recipe
To make this chicken burrito recipe you will need just a handful of simple ingredients.
- Brown rice: Unfortunately, white rice requires different cooking time and amount of liquid than cooked brown rice in Instant Pot. But if you are making chicken burritos on a stovetop, you can use white rice. Use the ratio of liquid indicated on the package.
- Black beans: For Instant Pot version, only dried beans you can use are black beans, black eyed peas, small navy beans or pinto beans. When I make black beans in Instant Pot, they take 12 minutes. All other beans cook much longer.
- Chicken breasts: I use fresh or frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you have cooked Instant Pot shredded chicken breast, add it to the mixture after.
- Salsa: Use salsa with a spice level you like. To add more healthy fats use salsa guacamole.
- Corn: Frozen or canned corn works.
- Cheese: Use any soft cheese that you can shred. It melts better and is healthier without extra preservatives found in store-bought shredded cheese. This time I added a bit of smoked gouda. It was the bomb dot com!
- Chicken burrito seasoning: Low sodium taco seasoning, cumin, garlic powder and salt.
- Chicken broth: You can use homemade chicken broth or Instant Pot chicken broth, bouillon cube diluted with water or chicken broth from a carton.
- Veggies: Cilantro, green onion and cabbage instead of lettuce if making chicken burritos for meal prep. For enjoying chicken burrito recipe right away, you can add any veggies.
- Tortillas: I used 10 inch wide whole wheat tortillas. For best experience, you have to use pliable and soft large flour tortillas. Do not use corn tortillas. Some gluten free tortillas are soft too.
How to Make Chicken Burritos on the Stove
Here is a quick overview how to make chicken burritos recipe on the stove.
- Cook rice and chicken: Cook rice with chicken and spices in the pot on the stovetop first. Add canned black beans that have been drained and rinsed.
- Chop herbs and veggies.
- Add canned beans: In a large bowl, shred chicken breasts. Add 2 x 15 ounces cans of rinsed and drained low sodium black beans, shredded chicken and remaining ingredients. Mix.
How to Make Chicken Burritos in Instant Pot
Your Instant Pot is meant for making a huge Instant Pot chicken burritos batch. Just like with Instant Pot rice and beans, you do not have to soak the beans and can cook rice, black beans and chicken at same time.
- Cook the filling: Add all ingredients including dried black beans (no soaking) to the pressure cooker and cook for 20 minutes on high pressure. Do Quick Release.
- Chop herbs and veggies: While rice is cooking, chop cilantro, cabbage, green onion and shred cheese. Get salsa and corn ready. Tear 17 foil sheets.
- Mix: Shred chicken and combine all ingredients in Instant Pot.
Recipe Tip
Looking for more dinner ideas? Check out my most popular collection of 45 healthy Instant Pot recipes.
How to Wrap Chicken Burritos
Here are a few tips when it comes to wrapping this chicken burrito recipe.
- Set up wrapping station with 17 torn foil sheets, tortillas, chicken burrito filling, toppings and cheese.
- Place tortilla on top of foil. Add 3/4 cup of chicken mixture below the center and close to the edge near you. Top with a bit of shredded cabbage and cheese.
- Fold up the bottom to almost cover the chicken burrito filling. Then fold up edges.
- Roll up tightly. Roll again in foil.
Recipe Tip
Don’t wanna wrap? Turn this chicken burrito recipe into a chicken burrito bowl. In a bowl, add filling and top with veggie fixings and cheese that you wrap in a burrito.
Tips for Best Results
Here are my top tips for the best chicken burritos in the world!
- Veggies variations: Do not use high water content vegetables like tomato, avocado and lettuce. They do not freeze well and make chicken burritos soggy. Pan fry ingredients like bell pepper, onion and zucchini before adding to a filling.
- Cutting recipe in half for Instant Pot: Sure, you can do so but keep same cooking time.
- Types of rice you can use: For stovetop chicken burritos you can use any rice which package indicates cook time of 30 minutes and more. To my knowledge it would be red rice, black rice, purple rice and yellow rice. Wild rice might have to be soaked however wild rice blend will work.
- Using white rice: I have not tested it but I think this chicken burrito recipe will work with white rice. Just follow the recipe and cook everything in a pot for at least 15 minutes and go from there.
- Chicken thighs: You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Cook time remains the same, just your chicken burritos will be more flavorful and fatty.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Chicken Burritos
Here are my top tips how to freeze and reheat this chicken burrito recipe. It is perfect for meal prep!
- If frozen, always thaw chicken burritos overnight in the fridge.
- Bake at 450 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. It takes a while for baked chicken burritos to get warmed through and cheese to melt. I was surprised as well.
- That’s why I like to broil chicken burritos for 10-15 minutes.
- You can also warm up burritos in a microwave without tin foil. Keep your eye on it as ovens vary. I would start with 2 minutes.
Check out my full list of 20 freezer meals. I’m obsessed!
FAQs
Serve chicken burritos with guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa guacamole, salsa verde, Instant Pot refried beans, sour cream or yogurt.
Chicken burrito usually contains rice, beans, seasonings, lettuce and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.
To make chicken burrito taste even better feel free to add chopped avocado, jalapenos, green onions, tomatoes and fresh cilantro leaves.
Yes. If you use 1.5 cups rice and 1.5 cups water, it should be fine! With stove top chicken burrito recipe just omit a can of black beans.
More Mexican Recipes
- Mexican chicken and rice
- Instant Pot shredded chicken tacos
- Tex Mex rice and beans
- Taco skillet
- Cilantro lime chicken rice skillet
- Chipotle barbacoa
Chicken Burrito Recipe
Ingredients
Add to Cook in Instant Pot:
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice rinsed & drained
- 1 cup dried black beans rinsed & drained (skip if cooking on the stove)
- 2-3 large chicken breasts boneless & skinless
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning low sodium
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups water or low sodium broth
Instructions
Stovetop
- In a large pot, add brown rice, chicken breasts, taco seasoning, cumin, garlic powder, salt and chicken broth or water (everything but black beans). Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 45 minutes or until water is absorbed.
- Shred chicken right in the pot. Add canned black beans, salsa, corn, cilantro and green onion. Stir. Your chicken burrito filling is ready.
Instant Pot
- In Instant Pot, add brown rice, black beans, chicken breasts, taco seasoning, cumin, garlic powder, salt and chicken broth or water. No need to stir.
- Close the lid, turn pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 20 minutes. In the meanwhile, chop cilantro and onion; shred cabbage and cheese.
- After Instant Pot has finished cooking, do Quick Release by turning the valve to Venting. If beans look a bit dry on top, it’s OK. They will soak up more liquid as you stir.
- Shred chicken using 2 forks right in the pressure cooker. Then add salsa, corn, cilantro and green onion. Stir. Your chicken and rice burrito filling is ready.
How to Wrap Chicken Burritos
- Tear 17 sheets of aluminum foil for wrapping the burrito.
- Place tortilla on top of foil. Add 3/4 cup of filling below the center and near to the edge closer to you. Top with some shredded cabbage and cheese.
- Fold up the bottom to almost cover the filling. Then fold up the edges. Roll up tightly and then roll again in foil. Picture tutorial above will help.
How to Reheat Chicken Burritos
- If frozen, thaw first overnight in the fridge.
- Bake at 450 F for 20-25 minutes. It takes a while for chicken burritos to get warmed through and cheese to melt. That's why I like to broil for 10-15 minutes.
- You can also warm burritos up in a microwave without tin foil. Keep your eye on it as ovens vary. I would start with 2 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate chicken burritos for up to 2-3 days.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months. Reheat as per instructions in recipe card.
- Veggies variations: Do not use high water content like tomato, avocado and lettuce. They do not freeze well and make chicken and rice burrito soggy. Pan fry ingredients like bell pepper, onion and zucchini before adding to a burrito filling.
- Cutting recipe in half for Instant Pot: Sure, you can do so but keep same cooking time.
Incredibly delicious and so easy to make!!!! A fantastic one pot meal that uses simple healthful foods. The burrito was filling without being heavy. I appreciated the detailed instructions for wrapping and freezing the burritos.
This was delicious. We omitted the soft taco shell and just ate it as a “taco salad” on shredded cabbage. Loved the crunch of the cabbage. I froze it in individual serving sizes so I can just defrost and eat it on fresh shredded cabbage. I was surprised by how much food this recipe makes.
So happy to hear! Yes, rice and beans expand. We eat a lot, what can I say lol.
This looks really yummy, filling and nutritious. I was thinking of prepping this for my teenage son to have as an after-school snack before the extra activities but was wondering how to keep the burrito warm for many (8) hours and not let it get soggy. Any suggestions?
I honestly don’t think there is a way to do so. My kids often eat burritos after school and before hockey. I hear ya. We keep them thawed in the fridge and then our 12 year old warms them up in the oven. Your son can also use a panini press. My kids do a lot with cooking their own food. Lunches in the morning and breakfast too.
Wow these are SO good! I made them in the Instant Pot but didn’t have dried beans so I added canned beans after it was done. These are so flavorful, easy and fun to make. I had also never rolled burritos before so I appreciated the how-to on that! These are great for my work lunch paired with a guacamole cup. I will definitely be making these again!
You are very welcome, Veronica! Happy I got you on a chicken burrito train.:) So easy, who need Chipotle!
Made these on the stovetop, and loved that everything was made using just one pot. They are really good, but the cabbage doesn’t stay crisp once you freeze and reheat. I didn’t put the cilantro in the mix, because I like it as a fresh element to add when I’m ready to eat. All in all, I will be making these again. Appreciate that it makes so many burritos!
So happy to hear you are enjoying these chicken burritos.:) No vegetable can stay crispy after being frozen. But it has never been an issue for us because burritos originally do not have crunchy vegetables in them. I am happy they are not dry or soggy. Cabbage adds so much juice! Enjoy!:)
Was in the mood for beef so subbed a 2 pound roast for the chicken. Ended up with 8 very large overstuffed and delicious beef burritos!
That sounds like success!:) Glad you enjoyed my “chicken burritos”, Bill!
What a hit!! I wanted to make something hearty but healthy for my teen girls for dinner and remembered I spotted this recipe yesterday. I made it with ground turkey on stovetop instead and it turned out so good!!! My girls loved it!!! Plus, I have tons of leftovers now so I can freeze for later!! Love this sooo much!!! 😀
You are very welcome. Glad you could feed your growing teenagers without having to listen to whining LOL. Chicken burritos for the win! Mucho burrito. Can never go wrong with kids.
These burritos are amazing! The smoked cheese is the bomb – never would have thought of this. Can’t wait to make these again! Thank you so much!
Oh, yay! Really? I remember from childhood how that expensive smoked cheese made any day better lol. Shooting this recipe as a video tomorrow. So requested. And having a burrito for lunch today haha.
Just made these for dinner prep and had a bowl of just the filling for lunch and so delicious! I’m so excited to have burritos in the freezer for the nights we are eating dinner in the car (SPORTS MOM LIFE). My favorite is the added cabbage and green onion, so smart and bulks it up. Left out the beans for the non bean eater but next time I will probably separate and make half and half 🙂
Yay! Yes I can totally relate with this never ending rush of kids playing sports. What other recipes do you like to eat in the car? I mean not “like” because I can’t see anyone eating in a car by choice, but you like to bring in a car to eat in a car? LOL
First time tried burrito- and one of my boy ate three! My other boy couldn’t wait me wrapping, just kept stealing the filling from the pot!
Thanks – really happy with the recipe. Next time may soak the black bean for a few hours ahead- it is a bit firm to me. My kids seem no complaints about that 🙂
We gathered last night and these burritos were on the menu. We will never go back to canned beans (or Qdoba) again! The only change we will make when we have these again will be to soak the black beans for a couple of hours before putting them into the instant pot. Otherwise, the flavor was fantastic and everyone loved it. We fed eight people and many leftover burritos to put in the freezer. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Yay! You are welcome. You can add 2-3 minutes to cooking time without soaking too.:)