How should I reheat leftover burritos?

Preheat an air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. You can also cook a quesadilla in a skillet over medium-low heat. A microwave will cook a quesadilla, but the tortilla may not be as crispy.

Why does my tortilla tear when folding?

A cold tortilla is more likely to tear. To prevent tearing, microwave tortillas for 15-20 seconds until soft and use a small amount of filling. Too much filling in a burrito will make it hard to wrap and can cause tearing along the seam. A hot tortilla is less likely to tear during the wrapping process.

How do I make homemade fiesta strips?

Corn tortillas are sliced into strips and seasoned with oil and paprika or red food coloring. They are baked at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes or until crisp. Crushed tortilla chips are used as a quick alternative, as are crushed nacho cheese tortilla chips.

Can I use Spanish-style rice?

Yes. Use equal amounts of Spanish-style cooked rice as seasoned rice. Buying Spanish-style cooked rice in a package will ensure that the filling mixture is comparable to that containing other rice and save time.

Is the Beefy Melt Burrito still on the menu?

It may not always be on the Taco Bell menu. Items on the Taco Bell menu are regularly changed. This item includes Taco Bell beef and other toppings.

Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito with Nacho Cheese and Fiesta Strips

By Mason BrooksNov 7, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

20 min

Total

35 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

These beef melt burritos are a homemade fast-food alternative. Other ingredients in these burritos include seasoned beef, melted cheese, rice, sour cream, and fiesta strips wrapped in a flour tortilla. I always serve these burritos with fiesta strips to provide a different texture.

Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito with Nacho Cheese and Fiesta Strips

I brown ground beef in a large pan on medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. I discard excess grease and add spices. I cook for 3 to 5 minutes to thicken the sauce, which should help it adhere to the beef. The seasoned meat mixture probably won't spill into the pan when making a burrito.

I warm the tortillas in the microwave before adding other ingredients. Warming the tortillas is a critical step I never skip. Don't pack too many ingredients into the tortillas. Fold the tortillas to enclose the ingredients, with the seam side down. Fry both sides of the tortillas in a pan until crispy and brown. Frying helps keep the cheese inside the tortillas, among other benefits. This is why I choose to fry my tortillas.

For a faster option, substitute crushed tortilla chips for fiesta strips and queso sauce for nacho cheese sauce. Ten-inch tortillas should be sufficient for rolling without having to push the unbaked filling out toward the edges.

Why you'll love this recipe

The recipe makes six large burritos. 10-inch tortillas work well as burrito wraps.
Cook the seasoned beef early to reduce cooking time for other dishes.
Fiesta strips are added near the end of preparation to avoid a loss of texture in the filling due to heat.
Nacho cheese sauce and a three-cheese mixture contribute to a cheese pull effect in the center.
Crushed tortilla chips are another alternative if you don't have fiesta chips.
Leftover tortilla-wrapped food can be air fried or skillet cooked to reheat the tortillas.

Instructions

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon.

Drain the excess grease from the cooked beef.

Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.

Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, until soft and pliable.

Lay one tortilla flat and add seasoned rice, seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, three-cheese blend, sour cream, and fiesta strips in the center.

Fold the bottom edge over the filling, fold in both sides, and roll the burrito tightly.

Set the burrito seam-side down on a preheated skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown and toasted.

FAQ

Make the sandwiches without fiesta strips and keep them refrigerated for up to 3 days. Serve the sandwiches with fiesta strips for the best texture. Fiesta strips will get soggy if added to the sandwiches ahead of time.

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Lunch Dinner Beef Mexican Meal Prep Stovetop

Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito with Nacho Cheese and Fiesta Strips

Name: Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito with Nacho Cheese and Fiesta Strips
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 burritos
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 recommended); 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning); 2/3 cup water; 6 large flour tortillas (10-inch burrito size); 2 cups cooked seasoned rice; 1 cup nacho cheese sauce (warmed); 1 1/2 cups three-cheese blend (shredded); 1/2 cup sour cream; 1 cup fiesta strips (or crushed tortilla chips)

By Mason BrooksNov 7, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

20 min

Total

35 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

The recipe makes six large burritos. 10-inch tortillas work well as burrito wraps.
Cook the seasoned beef early to reduce cooking time for other dishes.
Fiesta strips are added near the end of preparation to avoid a loss of texture in the filling due to heat.
Nacho cheese sauce and a three-cheese mixture contribute to a cheese pull effect in the center.
Crushed tortilla chips are another alternative if you don't have fiesta chips.
Leftover tortilla-wrapped food can be air fried or skillet cooked to reheat the tortillas.

Ingredients

Servings6

•1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 recommended)
•1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
•⅔ cup water
•6 large flour tortillas (10-inch burrito size)
•2 cups cooked seasoned rice
•1 cup nacho cheese sauce (warmed)
•1 ½ cups three-cheese blend (shredded)
•½ cup sour cream
•1 cup fiesta strips (or crushed tortilla chips)

Instructions

1
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon.
2
Drain the excess grease from the cooked beef.
3
Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
4
Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, until soft and pliable.
5
Lay one tortilla flat and add seasoned rice, seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, three-cheese blend, sour cream, and fiesta strips in the center.
6
Fold the bottom edge over the filling, fold in both sides, and roll the burrito tightly.
7
Set the burrito seam-side down on a preheated skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Grill for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown and toasted.