Want a great camping meal that you can make ahead of time and warm up at camp? Look no further than these easy make ahead camping burritos. They're stuffed with all your favorite burrito fillings, including beans, rice, cheese, and spiced ground beef and only need to be warmed up over your fire, portable grill, or in a pan on your camp stove.
I'm all about the make ahead camping meals. Because camping is supposed to be relaxing, right? So, if there's any prep I can do before heading out, I do it. If I can prepare the whole meal before leaving my house, that's an even bigger bonus.
Which is why these campfire burritos make a frequent appearance on our camping menu plans. Everyone loves that they can customize their own to suit their tastes, and I love that all I have to do is toss them on the fire grate and let them warm up.
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Why This Recipe is Great for Camping
- You can customize each burrito based on personal tastes.
- They're great for all ages and are easy to eat at camp or on the go, so you can toss them in your bag or cooler for a picnic or hike.
- No dishes at camp!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground beef--I recommend lean ground beef (85/15). This will give off a little bit of fat which adds plenty of flavor to the meat and helps to distribute the seasoning.
- Refried beans--If the beans are difficult to spread, warm them in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave and give them a good stir before spreading. You can substitute canned black beans, if you prefer.
- Cheese--I like using Cheddar cheese, but you can substitue any type of good shredding cheese, such as Monterey or Pepper Jack. Grate the cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese, as it doesn't melt well.
- Rice--You can use white or brown rice. If you're making the burritos in advance, let your rice cool before assembling the burritos as the heat can cause the cheese to melt.
- Tortillas (not shown)--Use your favorite type of tortilla. If you want a heartier burrito, go ahead and use whole wheat tortillas. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to get the large or burrito size, as the smaller ones won't be able to hold all the filling.
How to Make Burritos for Camping
- Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- Sprinkle in the spices and cook for a couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Top each tortilla with ¼ cup of refried beans, spreading it evenly over the tortilla, and leaving a border around the edge.
- Add ¼ of the beef, ¼ cup rice, and ¼ cup cheese to each burrito.
- Roll each burrito and wrap it in foil. Store it in the fridge, freezer, or cooler until you're ready to heat it.
- Warm the burritos until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted.
Variations
Got a picky crowd that wants different fillings? Me, too. Here are a few of the variations I've tried over the years for those who don't enjoy a taco meat filling.
- Chicken--Cook diced chicken breast with the same spice mixture as in the recipe and use that instead of ground beef in the filling.
- Pork--Shredded slow-cooked pork shoulder or pork butt is a great filling. This roast pork butt recipe is my favorite, but feel free to use your go-to shredded pork recipe. Carnitas also work really well, as they add amazing Mexican flavors to the dish. Use the pork in place of the ground beef.
- Vegetarian--Omit the meat. Add extra beans or cooked vegetables, such as onions, corn, and peppers.
How Far in Advance Can I Make Them?
If you're storing your camping burritos in the fridge or cooler, you can make them 3 days before eating them.
If you're freezing the burritos, you can prepare them up to 3 months ahead of time. To avoid freezer burn, keep them wrapped in foil and stored in a sealed bag or container. You can let them thaw in your cooler or cook them directly from frozen, adding an extra 5 to 10 minutes to your cooking time.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Make a double batch of the meat and use it for another ground beef camping recipe, like walking tacos.
- To keep things organized, stash your burritos in a large freezer resealable bag. I can usually fit all four burritos in a single gallon-size bag.
- If everyone has customized their own with different fillings, remember to write names or initials on the foil with a Sharpie.
- If you freeze the burritos before heading out, they'll double as an ice block in your cooler until they thaw.
- If you're heating the burritos over the campfire, place them over hot coals or very low flame. Do not attempt to heat them over strong flames as they will burn.
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Recipe
Make-Ahead Camping Burritos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 cup refried beans or black beans
- 1 cup cooked rice cooled
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- Hot sauce for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the oil.
- Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently to break it up, until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the ground beef cool before assembling the burritos.
- Lay the tortillas on a flat surface. Spread ¼ cup beans over the surface of each tortilla, leaving a 2-inch border around the edges.
- Top each tortilla with ¼ of the ground beef, ¼ cup of rice, and ¼ cup of cheese.
- Roll each burrito up by folding in the sides and then firmly rolling from one edge, keeping the sides tucked in. Wrap each burrito in foil, and label if necessary. Refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to cook.
- To heat the burritos, set them on a campfire grate over hot coals, or on a portable grill over low flame, or in a skillet on a camp stove over medium heat. Cook until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes for thawed burritos. Frozen burritos will require an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
- Serve with hot sauce, if desired.
Notes
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- Storing--To keep things organized, stash your burritos in a large freezer resealable bag. I can usually fit all four burritos in a single gallon-size bag.
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- Use them as an ice block--If you freeze the burritos before heading out, they'll double as an ice block in your cooler until they thaw.
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- Avoid direct flame--If you're heating the burritos over the campfire, place them over hot coals or very low flame. Do not attempt to heat them over strong flames as they will burn.
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