Smothered Green Chile Bean Burritos

Smothered Green Chile Bean Burritos are a hearty and flavorful twist on a classic Mexican dish, perfect for anyone craving comfort food with a zesty kick. These burritos are stuffed with a delicious filling of crispy tater tots, savory ground beef, and chili beans, all seasoned with taco spices for extra depth.

The real star of the dish is the rich, creamy green chile sauce, made from sautéed onions, garlic, green chiles, and aromatic spices, which is generously smothered over the top for the ultimate indulgence.

With optional toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, and hot sauce, these burritos are customizable to your taste and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser! Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or a fun, flavorful meal for friends and family.

Why You’ll Love This Smothered Green Chile Bean Burritos

Bold, Flavorful Sauce:

The rich, creamy green chile sauce is a game-changer! Made with savory chicken broth, green chiles, garlic, and spices like cumin and oregano, it’s the perfect balance of tangy, spicy, and savory. Smothering the burritos in this sauce takes them to the next level, making each bite incredibly flavorful.

Comforting and Hearty:

These burritos are packed with a satisfying filling of crispy tater tots, savory ground beef, and chili beans. The combination of hearty ingredients makes them incredibly filling and comforting—perfect for a cozy dinner or a hearty lunch.

Crispy and Crunchy Tater Tots:

The crispy tater tots are an unexpected but delicious addition! Their golden-brown crunch provides a fun texture contrast to the soft burrito and savory fillings, making each bite a perfect balance of crispy and tender.

Customizable:

You can adjust the heat of the green chile sauce to your preference by choosing chiles with the desired level of spiciness. Plus, with optional toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, and hot sauce, you can easily make these burritos your own.

Quick and Easy:

This recipe is a great option for a fast, weeknight meal. With simple ingredients and a straightforward process, you can have a delicious, satisfying meal on the table in less than 45 minutes.

Perfect for Family or Gatherings:

The generous portions and customizable toppings make this recipe a hit for families or gatherings. Everyone can assemble their own burritos, adding their favorite toppings, and the rich green chile sauce ties it all together for a meal everyone will love.

Key Ingredients

Ground Beef: A savory and hearty base for the burrito filling, seasoned with taco seasoning for rich flavor.

Tater Tots: The unexpected yet delicious star of the burritos, offering crispy, golden-brown texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft filling.

Chili Beans: Adds a flavorful, hearty element to the burrito filling, bringing in a savory depth and subtle heat.

Green Chiles: The key ingredient in the smothering sauce, offering a mild to medium level of heat and a signature smoky flavor that elevates the dish.

Chicken Broth: Used as the base for the green chile sauce, adding richness and depth of flavor to the dish.

Taco Seasoning: A blend of spices that infuses the beef with bold Mexican-inspired flavors, including cumin, paprika, and chili powder.

Flour Tortillas: The classic, soft base that wraps up the flavorful filling, ready to be smothered in the green chile sauce.

Butter: Used for both cooking the tater tots and the beef, helping to create rich, savory flavors in the filling.

Optional Toppings (Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Hot Sauce): These toppings add extra creaminess, cheesiness, and a customizable level of heat to the burritos.

Smothered Green Chile Bean Burritos

Ingredients

For Green Chile Sauce

1 tablespoon butter

3/4 cups finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups chicken broth*

8 ounces green chiles of your desired heat

1 large garlic clove, pressed

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon cumin

For Burritos

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups leftover, or thawed, tatertots

1 pound ground beef

1 15 1/2-ounce can of chili beans

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Flour tortillas, we use the big ones

Optional Ingredients

Sour cream

Shredded cheese of choice

Hot sauce of choice

Instructions

For Green Chile Sauce

Step 1:

Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until butter is melted and starts to sizzle.

Add the onion and saute until the onion becomes fragrant and transparent.

Step 2:

Sprinkle in the flour and stir until the onion is evenly coated.

Pour in the chicken broth, stirring continuously until the sauce begins to bubble.

Step 3:

Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the garlic, green chiles, oregano and cumin.

Give it a stir and let the sauce simmer until it thickens.

Reduce the heat to low to keep warm until burrito assembly.

Occasionally give it a stir to make sure it doesn’t start to stick to the bottom of the saucepan.

For Burritos

Step 1:

In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat.

Once the butter is hot, add the tots, break up and cook until they become beautifully golden brown and scrumptiously crispy.

Remove the tots from the skillet and set aside for just a bit.

Step 2:

In the same skillet, add the ground beef, stir, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked thoroughly (about 8 minutes or so).

Step 3:

Once the ground beef is done, drain if necessary, reduce heat to low, and add the taco seasoning, tots, and chili beans, mix well, and heat through.

Remove from heat and prepare for assembly.

Step 4:

Warm the tortillas in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Spoon meat into the middle of each of the tortillas, followed by any (or all) of the optional ingredients.

Fold the tortilla, neatly wrapping up the contents, and cook on a griddle over medium-high heat until the burritos are a light golden brown on all sides.

Put them on plates, pour the green chile sauce over them smothering them real good.

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Notes:

Adjusting Heat: Choose the heat level of green chiles based on your preference. Use mild chiles for a gentler sauce or hotter varieties for more spice.

Make-Ahead Sauce: The green chile sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently and thin if necessary.

Vegetarian/Vegan Options: Substitute ground beef with plant-based protein or extra beans. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Choose dairy-free cheese and sour cream alternatives.

Freezing Burritos: Assembled burritos can be frozen for later use. Wrap individually and store in an airtight container or bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

Alternative Meats: Ground turkey, chicken, or shredded cooked chicken can replace ground beef. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Substitute for Tatertots: If tatertots are unavailable, use diced potatoes or hash browns, cooking until crispy before adding to the meat mixture.

Serving Suggestions: Serve burritos with a side of rice, beans, or a fresh salad. Top with additional green chile sauce, hot sauce, or guacamole for added flavor.

Nutrition Information:

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can I adjust the heat level of the green chile sauce?

The heat level of the green chile sauce can be adjusted by choosing green chiles of different heat levels.

If you prefer a milder sauce, choose mild green chiles.

For more heat, opt for hotter varieties.

You can also adjust the amount of green chiles used based on your preference.

Can I make the green chile sauce in advance?

Yes, you can make the green chile sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

Reheat it gently on the stovetop before serving, and if needed, you can thin it out with a little chicken broth or water.

Are there vegetarian or vegan options for this recipe?

Yes, you can make this recipe vegetarian or vegan by omitting the meat and using plant-based substitutes.

Replace the ground beef with crumbled plant-based protein or additional beans, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

You can also choose dairy-free options for any cheese or sour cream toppings.

Can I freeze the assembled burritos for later?

Yes, you can assemble the burritos and freeze them for later consumption.

Wrap each burrito individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.

When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or oven.

Can I use a different type of meat for the burritos?

Yes, you can substitute the ground beef with other meats like ground turkey, chicken, or even shredded cooked chicken.

Adjust the cooking time and seasonings as needed.

Can I make the green chile sauce spicier or milder?

Absolutely! The heat level of the green chile sauce can be adjusted by choosing green chiles with different heat levels.

For a milder sauce, opt for mild green chiles, and for spicier results, choose hotter varieties.

You can also adjust the quantity of green chiles based on your preference.

Is there a way to make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, you can make a vegetarian version of this recipe by omitting the ground beef.

Instead, you can use plant-based meat alternatives or extra beans for protein.

Use vegetable broth in the green chile sauce and choose vegetarian-friendly toppings.

Can I prepare the green chile sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the green chile sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

Reheat it gently on the stove when you’re ready to use it.

If the sauce thickens, you can thin it out with a bit of chicken or vegetable broth.

What can I substitute for tatertots if I don’t have them?

If you don’t have tatertots, you can substitute diced potatoes or hash browns.

Simply cook them in a skillet with a little oil until they’re crispy and golden before using them in the recipe.