Black Bean and Cheese Burrito

A kid-friendly, baked black bean and cheese burrito recipe featuring black beans, cheddar cheese, and hidden vegetables! Perfect for freezer-friendly dinners and make-ahead lunches!

So I have this daughter, right? She's seven. Super cute, love her so much. She is sugar and spice, and everything nice....except when it comes to food. And, oh-my-goodness gracious, is that child a picky eater.

What to send in that kid's lunch box is a constant battle, and Lord forbid I send her with a nice, normal turkey sandwich like pretty much every other child on the planet.

No. My girl has high standards when it comes to the lunchbox, and really, I don't know that I have much room to talk. I too am a choosy eater. So when a new school year rolls around, I do quite a bit of brainstorming when it comes to lunchbox ideas. Ideally, they meet this criteria: (1) easy to make, (2) at least somewhat healthy, (3) make-ahead, and (4) preferably freezer-friendly.

For a while, I just sent her with sliced chicken breasts, along with a tortilla, with fruit and crackers on the side. She loved her little, deconstructed tacos, and the meal 100% met the criteria: The chicken was super easy to make, it was healthy, and I could freeze the sliced chicken. However, after a year of alternating between this and the mini turkey burgers, she was ready for a new addition to the line-up.

A good friend of mine had recently shared that when their family goes out for Tex-Mex, the only thing her son would eat on the menu was a bean and cheese burrito. And, it just so happens, my girls can get down on some beans.

What if I could make a kid-friendly bean and cheese burrito...but like, healthy?

Naturally, black beans would do the best job at masking those sneaky vegetables I had planned on stuffing in there, so a black bean  burrito it would be. Oh, and with cheese. Can't forget the cheese. I did say "kid-friendly" after all.

BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITOS FOR KIDS

To make kid-friendly bean and cheese burritos, they should first be, well, kid-sized. So rather than using the giant tortillas most burrito recipes call for, just plain ol' standard-sized tortillas will do. And as it turns out, this size is plenty filling for both the kids and the mom.

Oh, yes. You'd better believe I broke into the lunchbox freezer stash and enjoyed myself a black bean and cheese  burrito every now and again...and again...and again. However, before we can sneak in a burrito, we first must make them. This is how you do it:

HOW TO MAKE A HEALTHY BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITO

START WITH BLACK BEANS

I started with protein-packed black beans, a wise starch option for the kiddos and added a little more nutritional value to the mix by throwing in a few extra vegetables.

ADD VEGETABLES

Carrots, sweet peppers, and onions not only scored us a few mom points in the healthy department but in the flavor department as well. Bonus. And, the beauty of it? If your kids think they don't like those vegetables, in particular, they'll never even know they were there. Double bonus.

LET IT SIMMER

The beans and the vegetables simmer together on the stovetop for three reasons: (1) for the vegetables to soften up, (2) to build flavor, and (3) to reduce so that our mixture is the perfect consistency for spreading on the tortillas.

BLEND OR PUREE THE MIX

Now, onto hiding those vegetables, and making a smooth and creamy, addictively delicious bean filling while we're at it. The bean mixture goes either into a blender or food processor fitted with a paddle attachment and takes a spin.

If you don't want to pull out the electronics, you could let the back of the spoon do the work for you, and mash away to your little heart's content.

ROLL IT IN A TORTILLA

Next, the mixture is mixed with grated Cheddar cheese (freshly grated is ah-mazing if you can spare the time), and packaged into a burrito. This portion of the recipe took a minute to develop the perfect "burrito folding technique," but lucky for us, mission accomplished.

HOW TO FOLD A BURRITO

Imagine a line going down the center of the burrito. Place bean and cheese mixture directly to the side of that line, leaving about a 2" gap from the edge. Now, please refer to my super professional looking burrito diagram:

Fold over side "1", followed by sides "2" and "3". Then, tightly roll the burrito so that it lays locked in position on side "4."

BAKE IT

Part of what makes these bean and cheese burritos so scrumptious is their crunchy exterior, giving the burrito a nice variation in texture and a melty, gooey cheesy interior. Yes, please.

To burritos are hit with a little canola spray, and turned halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking all around.

HOW TO FREEZE BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITOS

Freezer-friendly foods are such a convenience, especially when it comes to lunchtime. To freeze your burritos, allow them cool, wrap them in wax paper (using the burrito method used above), and transfer them to a freezer-safe zip top bag. They will keep well for at least three months in the freezer.

HOW TO THAW BURRITOS

To thaw, remove them from the wrapping and place them in the microwave for 1 ½ - 2 minutes. If you are sending in your child's lunchbox, note the filling is very dense and could take 1-2 days to thaw in the refrigerator, so plan accordingly.

As it turns out, these black bean and cheese burritos with hidden vegetables met all the lunchbox criteria: easy, healthy, make-ahead, and freezer-friendly. But most importantly, it's a meal the kids and the grown-ups can look forward to.

MORE KID-FRIENDLY LUNCH IDEAS TO TRY:

Who doesn't love a corn dog? These Mini Muffin Corn Dogs made in a muffin tin are great for make-ahead lunches, as they're freezer friendly and perfect for packing in school lunches.

Pizza Bagel Bites are a nostalgic favorite for us 90's kids, but kiddos today will go crazy for this easy homemade rendition. Featuring miniature bagels, pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni's, these are a definite win at every table.

Kid-Friendly Pasta Salad is easy to make and healthy to boot. Tortellini pasta, cubes of Cheddar cheese, broccoli, and green beans all tossed up in a storebought Italian dressing makes easy work for mom!