A chili cheese burrito is a type of burrito that contains ingredients such as refried beans, ground beef, shredded cheese, chili powder, tomato paste, and jalapeno slices. Diced onions, distilled vinegar, cayenne pepper, corn starch, and salt are also commonly used in the burrito. Canned chili can also be used to substitute tomato paste, chili powder, and cayenne pepper, if preferred. The burritos are usually eaten with flour tortillas, but can also be eaten with corn tortillas.
Like most traditional burrito recipes, a chili burrito usually consists of ground beef, beans, and shredded cheese. Instead of including sauce, lettuce, and other diced vegetables, a chili cheese burrito uses chili as the other key ingredient. Typically, the chili is prepared with the ground beef before being added to the refried beans, shredded cheese, and tortillas.
The chili used in the burrito is generally made by combining browned beef, tomato paste, water, seasoning, diced onions, and vinegar and cooking these ingredients in a saucepan. Jalapeno peppers or hot sauce can also be added for spicier versions of the chili. For a thicker consistency, corn starch or flour can be used in the chili.
Instead of making homemade chili, many prefer to use canned chili, as it is normally faster and more convenient. The chili can be left as is, or combined with more vegetables, spices, and meat. Typically, if the canned chili already contains meat, the cook will not need to add any additional ground beef to the burrito.
While chili is not commonly used in most variations of Mexican burritos, the tangy taste of the chili combined with shredded cheese, ground beef, and refried beans can give a burrito a unique, spicy flavor. Most versions of the chili cheese burrito contain refried beans, but the dish can be eaten with just chili, cheese, and ground beef, as well. The chili can also be poured on top of the burrito as a sauce instead of being included as a filling, if preferred.
Most often, however, the chili is used as a filling inside the burrito with the beans and shredded cheese. Some prefer to mix the refried beans with the chili, while others like to pour to chili mixture on top of the beans and cheese instead. As with the majority of Mexican dishes, diced vegetables and salsa can also be added to the chili cheese burrito for more flavor and texture.