Can you make a frozen burrito in air fryer? Yes! Cooking frozen burritos in an air fryer takes 12-15 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400F (200C). You can make El Monterey burritos in the air fryer, Amy’s, Red’s, Tina’s, or any of your favorite burrito brands. Get the details on how long to cook microwave frozen burritos in the air fryer, cooking temps, and more!
We’re covering how to cook frozen burritos in air fryer today. Air frying frozen burritos is so easy, and you can cook practically any type of burrito in the air fryer. Enjoy frozen breakfast burritos in air fryer, 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 melty perfection in the middle. A microwave really can’t work the magic that happens when you air fry frozen burritos.
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🌯 How Long to Cook Frozen Burrito in Air Fryer
Here are the step-by-step instructions for this air fryer frozen burrito “recipe”:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C) 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 400F (200C). (Use the top rack position if using an air fryer oven.)
- Flip the burrito and air fry an additional 5-8 minutes at 400F (200C).
- Check the burrito with a meat thermometer to ensure it reached a minimum safe internal temp of 165F (74C). 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 such as salsa, sour cream, or guacamole if desired.
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. You can do an Amy’s burrito air fryer recipe, Red’s burrito air fryer recipe, Jimmy Dean breakfast burrito air fryer recipe, Jose Ole burritos, etc.
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. You can make gluten free frozen burritos, dairy free frozen burritos, vegetarian and vegan frozen burritos or whatever you like. You could even do air fryer frozen chimichangas!
If you have a big air fryer oven, you may be able to cook more than 1-2 burritos at a time. A microwave burrito takes less time in a microwave, but you generally have to cook them in multiple batches if you want a bunch.
🌡️ Frozen Burrito in Air Fryer Time and Temp (Tips)
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 12-15 minutes. No cooking spray is needed!
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.
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.
These air fryer frozen burrito directions were developed in a Kalorik Air Fryer Oven. You can also make a Ninja Foodi air fryer frozen burrito recipe, Philips, Cosori, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Power Air Fryer, or use another air fryer. However, you may need slightly different cooking times to cook frozen burritos depending on the air fryer you use.
💡 How to Know When Burrito is Done
The best way to know the burrito is done is to 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.
The first time you make frozen burritos in air fryer, keep a close eye on them. I ended up flipping one burrito I tested 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 Burrito in Air Fryer
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).
How long to heat up Taco Bell burrito in air fryer?
You can also use these directions to heat other nonfrozen burritos that are cooked, such as leftover Taco Bell burritos. In other words, air fryer Taco Bell burritos take 2-3 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400F (200C). It’s best to remove any toppings you don’t want heated before air frying.
How long to reheat Chipotle burrito in air fryer?
Reheating an air fryer Chipotle burrito takes 2-3 minutes at 400F (200C). Add air fryer time as needed until the burrito is heated to your liking. You can mist the burrito with spray oil before air frying (if desired) to help it crisp up more.
FAQs
Yes! Air fryer El Monterey burritos take approximately 12-15 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400F (200C). Remember to flip the burritos halfway through for even cooking. Enjoy crispy and delicious burritos!
To prevent frozen burritos from drying out, you can wrap them tightly in aluminum foil before baking or air frying. This helps retain moisture during the cooking process and they won’t get as crispy.
It is generally not recommended to wrap a burrito in aluminum foil in an air fryer unless it’s getting too browned. The foil may interfere with the air circulation and affect the cooking process. It's best to place the burrito directly in the air fryer basket.
To cook an air fryer burrito that’s not frozen, preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C), and place the thawed burrito in the basket. Air fry at 400F (200C) for about 8-10 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness.
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.
Most instructions for deep frying frozen burritos recommend thawing the burritos before frying. Otherwise, they may burn on the outside before cooking inside. To cook burritos in a deep fryer, preheat the oil to 375F (190C), and fry the burritos for 5-8 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Let them cool and drain on paper towels before serving.
Can you cook frozen chimichangas in the air fryer?
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 the tortilla is browning too quickly on you.
👩🏻🍳 More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Now that we’ve answered can you air fry a frozen burrito, let’s make more easy recipes for the air fryer! Here are some other one-ingredient air fryer recipes using frozen foods:
- Frozen Taquitos in Air Fryer
- Frozen Burgers in Air Fryer
- Air Fry Totinos Pizza Rolls
- Ore Ida Tater Tots Air Fryer Recipe
- Microwave Meals in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Mini Egg Rolls
You might also like this post on the Best Frozen Foods for Air Fryer. It has ideas for air fryer appetizers and much more!
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📖 Recipe
Watch How to Make It!
Frozen Burrito in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen burrito 5-5½ ounces (142-156 grams)
- burrito toppings (optional; salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole, etc.)
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 5-8 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 such as salsa, sour cream, cheese, or guacamole if desired.
Notes
💭 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 added oil and sodium. If you’re on a low sodium diet, it may be best to make homemade burritos instead. Most “regular size” (5-5.5 ounce/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. Here is the nutrition information for a few of the most popular frozen burritos in the United States. This information is subject to change:| 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 |
|
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 |
Jessica S says
Thank you! I’m new to air frying & man I’m thinking this little machine is about to become a staple in my home! I’ve never had such a crispy burrito in my life! It was perfect 🤩!!
Summer Yule says
Hi Jessica, I am so glad you're loving the air fryer and thank you so much for the rating! If you like air fried burritos, I highly recommend trying mini tacos too: https://summeryule.com/frozen-mini-tacos-air-fryer/