Copycat Taco Bell Beef Melt Burrito – Gooey, Cheesy, Fast-Food Comfort at Home
If you’ve ever rolled through the Taco Bell drive-thru for a quick, comforting bite, chances are you’ve encountered their cheesy beef melt burritos. They’re warm, melty, and packed with seasoned beef, stretchy cheese, and that signature creamy sauce that makes each bite feel indulgent and nostalgic. This copycat Taco Bell beef melt burrito brings all of that fast-food magic straight to your kitchen—but fresher, hotter, and even more flavorful.
The best part? This homemade version is unbelievably easy. Just like Taco Bell’s assembly-line style, everything comes together in simple layers: seasoned ground beef, hot cooked rice, a creamy nacho-style cheese sauce, and melty shredded cheese all wrapped inside a soft flour tortilla. It strikes that perfect balance between savory, cheesy, and comfortingly familiar.
Another benefit of making this at home is that you can adjust everything to your liking. Want extra beef? Add it. Prefer more cheese? Melt in another handful. Want it saucier, spicier, creamier, or with added veggies? It’s all in your hands. Fast food flavor—homemade flexibility.
Let’s walk through the full recipe plus all the tips, variations, suggestions, storage help, and fun facts to elevate your burrito game.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- ½ cup nacho cheese sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for tortillas)
- 4 large flour tortillas
Instructions:
- Cook the beef.
In a skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat. - Season.
Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer 3–4 minutes until thickened. - Heat the rice.
Warm cooked rice and fluff with a fork. - Warm the tortillas.
Brush lightly with melted butter and heat in a skillet or microwave to soften. - Assemble the burritos.
Lay each tortilla flat. Add a strip of seasoned beef, a spoonful of rice, a drizzle of nacho cheese sauce, a scoop of sour cream, and a handful of shredded cheese. - Wrap.
Fold sides inward, then roll tightly from the bottom into a burrito shape. - Grill for melt.
Optional but recommended: grill seam-side down in a dry skillet 1–2 minutes for a warm, melty finish. - Serve hot.
Slice in half or enjoy whole.
copycat taco bell beef melt burrito
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook and drain ground beef in a skillet.
- Season beef with taco seasoning and water; simmer 3–4 minutes.
- Warm cooked rice and fluff with a fork.
- Brush tortillas with melted butter and warm until soft.
- Layer beef, rice, nacho cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese on each tortilla.
- Roll burritos tightly, folding in the sides.
- Grill burritos seam-side down 1–2 minutes for a melty finish.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Warm tortillas prevent tearing.
- Don’t overfill or burritos won’t wrap tightly.
- Use Taco Bell–style nacho cheese for authentic flavor.
- Add rice first for a more stable burrito roll.
- Toast after wrapping to melt cheese beautifully.
Variations
- Spicy version: Add jalapeños or use spicy nacho cheese.
- Beef & potato: Add crispy diced potatoes like Taco Bell’s potato menu items.
- Extra creamy: Mix sour cream directly into the beef.
- Fiesta version: Add pico de gallo or corn salsa.
- Chicken melt burrito: Swap beef for shredded chicken.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with chips and queso.
- Add a side of refried beans.
- Pair with salsa verde or hot sauce.
- Serve with Mexican rice for a full meal.
Storage Information
- Fridge: Store wrapped burritos up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individually wrapped burritos up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Microwave 1–2 minutes or crisp in skillet for a better texture.
FAQ
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes—just season well.
What nacho cheese works best?
Canned nacho cheese, queso blanco, or homemade Velveeta-style melts.
Can I make this ahead?
Yes—assemble burritos without sour cream, then add after reheating.
Why is my burrito falling apart?
It was overfilled or your tortilla wasn’t warm enough.
History / Fun Facts
The beef melt burrito is one of Taco Bell’s many “value menu” items created to deliver maximum comfort at minimal cost. Its cheesy, beefy simplicity made it a fan favorite, especially among late-night drive-thru regulars. Over the years, Taco Bell has rotated variations of the melt burrito, but its core formula—seasoned meat + melty cheese—remains timeless fast-food magic.
