Can you make a frozen burrito in air fryer? Absolutely! Cooking frozen burritos in an air fryer makes for a fast breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can make El Monterey burritos in the air fryer, or any of your favorite burrito brands. Learn how long to cook frozen burritos in the air fryer, cooking temps, and more! Who needs a microwave when there’s an air fryer available?
We’re covering how to cook frozen burritos in the air fryer today. Airfrying frozen burritos is so easy, I’m surprised I haven’t done a post on this before now.
You’re going to love this because you can cook practically any microwave burrito in the air fryer. Enjoy an air fryer frozen breakfast burrito, or make a frozen bean burrito in the air fryer for a plant-based entrée.
Frozen burritos made in the air fryer become crisp and golden brown on the outside. They’re cooked to perfection in the middle. A microwave really can’t work the magic that happens when you air fry frozen burritos.
This air fryer frozen burrito recipe is another great example of how the air fryer can take the place of multiple appliances. It can do anything your toaster oven can do, and almost everything the oven can do as well!
If you have a small kitchen, the air fryer and Instant Pot are my top two picks for must-have kitchen gadgets. With these, you can do without most other kitchen appliances- including (maybe) an oven! You’ll save energy cooking foods like frozen burritos in the air fryer compared to the oven as well.
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📋 Calories, Net Carbs, Protein
One frozen burrito cooked in the air fryer has 280 calories, 35 grams net carbs, and 9 grams protein. This nutrition information is for an Amy’s Gluten Free Burrito with beans, rice, and cheddar cheese. The nutrients provided by your meal depend on the brand and flavor of frozen burrito you make.
Here is the nutrition information for a few of the most popular frozen burritos in the United States. This information is subject to change, as products are discontinued or recipes are altered:
| Brand and Flavor | Calories | Net Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Monterey Beef & Bean Burrito | 310 | 33 | 9 |
| El Monterey Bean & Cheese Burrito | 200 | 30 | 7 |
| El Monterey XX Large Bean & Cheese Burrito | 510 | 72 | 16 |
| Alpha Foods Pizza Burrito | 300 | 40 | 9 |
| Don Miguel Steak & Jalapeno Burrito | 400 | 58 | 17 |
| Don Miguel THE BOMB Chipotle Chicken Burrito | 820 | 114 | 36 |
| Evol Egg & Green Chile Burrito | 340 | 42 | 13 |
| Jose Ole Beef & Cheese Burrito | 350 | 39 | 12 |
| Las Campanas Red Hot Beef Burritos | 340 | 35 | 9 |
| Red’s Chicken & Cheddar Burrito | 320 | 34 | 16 |
| Sweet Earth Big Sur Breakfast Burrito | 330 | 50 | 17 |
| Tina’s Beef Taco Burrito | 330 | 37 | 9 |
| Tina’s Spicy Beef & Bean Burrito | 340 | 35 | 9 |
| Trader Joe’s Chicken Burrito (Hatch Chile Chicken Wrap) | 540 | 68 | 21 |
Note: The supersized Don Miguel THE BOMB burritos list the information for half a burrito on the nutrition panel. Since not many of us stop at half a burrito, info above is for the whole burrito.
⭐ Benefits
What are the benefits of frozen burritos? Here are some reasons to love this air fryer recipe:
- No meal prepping or planning: Frozen burritos are popular with college kids, beginning cooks, and busy parents because they’re easy. You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make frozen burritos. They are a heat and eat food.
- Quick: In addition to being low-effort, frozen burritos air fry quickly. You can air fry burritos in under 15 minutes- perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Fits most special diets: It’s pretty easy to find frozen burritos that fit several of the special diets, especially if you shop at health food stores. You can find gluten free frozen burritos, dairy free frozen burritos, vegetarian and vegan frozen burritos and more.
- Can cook more at once: If you have a big air fryer oven, you may be able to cook more at once than in a microwave. Frozen burritos cook in less time in a microwave, but you generally have to cook them in multiple batches if you want a bunch.
- Burritos with crisp tortilla: A big benefit of air frying frozen burritos is that you’ll have no soggy tortilla issues. The air fryer does a wonderful job crisping the burrito wrapper up.
- Delicious: I’m pretty sure the main reason people eat frozen burritos is that they’re tasty. Burritos are a family friendly dish that almost everyone enjoys.
🥘 Ingredients
You don’t need much to air fry frozen burritos, not even cooking spray! Here’s your shopping list:
- Frozen burritos
- Burrito toppings (optional)
This recipe is for small frozen burritos in air fryer (or regular burritos, depending on your point of view). The burritos I tested were all 5-5.5 ounces (142-156 grams) in size.
If you use smaller or larger frozen burritos, that will impact the cooking time. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using beef, chicken, bean, or veggie burritos.
Here are the frozen burritos I tested with this recipe:
- Amy’s Bean, Rice, Cheese Burrito (gluten-free)
- Red’s Chicken and Cheese Burrito
- Sweet Earth Big Sur Breakfast Burrito (vegan)
🍽 Equipment
To make frozen burritos in the air fryer, I recommend an air fryer and a meat thermometer. The meat thermometer is the best way to be sure your burrito is properly cooked.
These air fryer frozen burrito directions were developed with a 10-Quart Kalorik Air Fryer Oven. The Ninja Foodi, Philips, Cosori, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Power Air Fryer, etc. can cook frozen burritos as well. However, they may have slightly different cooking times.
🔪 How to Make Frozen Burrito in Air Fryer
To make air fried burritos, start by preheating your air fryer to 400F (200C) for 5 minutes. Put your frozen burritos in the hot air fryer basket or air fryer tray. Remember, no oil spray is needed!
Don’t overcrowd your burritos on the tray. Put them in a single layer (don’t stack them). This allows the air to circulate freely, so your burritos will air fry more evenly.
️⏲ Cooking Time and Temperature
How long to do you cook frozen burritos in an air fryer? What temp to make frozen burritos in an air fryer? Air fry frozen burritos in an air fryer preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C) for 14 minutes. Use the top rack position if you’re using an air fryer oven.
I like to start air frying frozen burritos seam side DOWN. Then, halfway through cooking time (i.e., after 7 minutes) I flip them over. This helps prevent burritos with improperly sealed seams from leaking all over the air fryer.
After the air frying time is up, check the internal temperature of your burrito(s) with a meat thermometer. Most frozen burritos should be cooked to a minimum safe internal temp of 165F (74C).
Check the packaging of your burrito, it may list the temperature they recommend cooking it to. I tend to be especially diligent about cooking meat burritos to the recommended temp to prevent food poisoning. There’s no risk of eating undercooked meat in a vegan burrito, so I'm a little more relaxed about heating.
The first time you try air frying a new frozen burrito, keep a close eye on it. I ended up flipping the Sweet Earth burrito at 7 minutes and 10 minutes because one side was becoming too browned. Wrap the burrito in foil if it becomes browned on all sides too quickly.
🌡️ How to Reheat
Leftover air fried burritos can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days. However, it’s best to only make what you need so they don’t get soggy.
You can reheat burritos in the air fryer and it will help improve their texture (compared to microwaving). Put your cooked and refrigerated burrito in an air fryer that was preheated to 400F (200C) for 5 minutes. Reheat the burrito for 2-3 minutes or until done to your liking (use the top rack for air fryer ovens).
You can also use these directions to heat other nonfrozen burritos that are cooked, such as leftover Taco Bell burritos.
🌯 Toppings
Adding burrito toppings and dips is a great way to make frozen burritos taste better! Here are some frozen burrito topping ideas for you:
- Salsa or Pico De Gallo
- Guacamole
- Keto Cheese Sauce
- Plain Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Hot Sauce
- Sliced Olives
- Chopped Avocado
- Diced Tomatoes
- Shredded Cheese
- Pickled Jalapenos
- A Squeeze of Fresh Lime Juice
- Chopped Cilantro
🥗 How to Serve
What to serve with frozen burritos? I think the best side dish for frozen burritos is a big side salad. I most typically enjoy frozen burritos as a light lunch with a garden salad and burrito toppings.
Here are some other side dishes for frozen burritos:
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). While most frozen burritos count as ultra-processed food, there are some better options out there. That said, nearly all frozen burritos use a white flour wrapper and contain a lot of highly processed added oil.
Another potential downside to frozen burritos is that they can be very high in sodium. If you’re on a low sodium diet, it may be best to make homemade burritos instead.
In terms of maintaining a healthy body weight, one major thing to look at is the portion size.
The El Monterey XX Large Burritos and Don Miguel THE BOMB Burritos are hugely oversized. These burritos contain a lot of calories and are very high in net carbs (highly refined net carbs). It’s likely healthier foods are getting crowded off your plate if you choose one of these.
The El Monterey Bean & Cheese Burrito is one of the lighter options, at only 200 calories. If you choose the XX Large Bean and Cheese Burrito instead, you’re adding over 300 calories to your meal. It’s a huge difference!
Most “regular size” (5-5.5 ounces/142-156 grams) frozen burritos are in the 300-350 calorie range with 9-17 grams of protein. I wouldn’t consider them a complete meal by themselves. Consider adding some non-starchy vegetables and more protein to your meal to help keep you full.
If I’m having a light lunch, I might serve one of the higher protein frozen burritos with just a side salad. The Big Sur Breakfast Burrito, with 17 grams of protein, is a decent option for a light lunch with some added veggies. It uses the plant-based proteins tofu and seitan, and it also happens to be vegan.
FAQs
I would not assume your frozen burrito has been fully cooked unless it explicitly says so on the packaging. Many frozen foods have only been partially cooked before freezing. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on this topic online.
You can cook burritos in a deep fryer. Most instructions for deep frying frozen burritos recommend thawing the burritos before frying. Otherwise, they may burn on the outside before reaching a safe internal temp. (P.S. Air frying is generally a healthier way to have your frozen burrito, but you probably could have guessed that.)
A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito that is popular in southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisine. You can cook beef and bean chimichangas in air fryer (or your favorite flavor) using these air fryer frozen burrito directions. Wrap the chimichangas in foil if they are browning too quickly on you.
If your air fryer burrito is becoming too browned on the outside, wrap it in foil and continue to air fry it. Burritos take longer to cook wrapped in foil, but this tip helps protect the tortilla from burning. You will likely need to do this if your burrito is larger than 5-5.5 ounces (142-156 grams).
I’m not aware of any brands of frozen keto burritos that you can buy from a store. If you want a very low carb burrito, you will have to make one yourself (perhaps using these). IMVHO, I’d consider keeping things simple with low carb whole foods rather than trying to recreate every carb-filled treat out there.
👩🏻🍳 More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Want more easy recipes for the air fryer? Here are some more one-ingredient air fryer recipes using frozen foods:
- Frozen Taquitos in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots
- Microwave Meals in Air Fryer
You might also like this post on the Best Frozen Foods for Air Fryer.
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Frozen Burrito in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen burrito 5-5½ ounces (142-156 grams)
- burrito toppings (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Put frozen burrito on the hot air fryer tray (or in the air fryer basket) with the seam side down. Air fry for 7 minutes at 400°F (200°C). (Use the top rack position if using an air fryer oven.)
- Flip the burrito and air fry an additional 7 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- Check the burrito with a meat thermometer to ensure it reached a minimum safe internal temp of 165°F (74°C). Add cooking time if needed. (Wrap the burrito in foil and continue cooking if it's becoming too browned.)
- Let the burrito rest for 2-3 minutes before eating. Add burrito toppings, if desired.
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