Description of this recipe: These breakfast burritos are packed with fluffy scrambled eggs, savory sausage, flavorful veggies, and melted cheese, all wrapped in a warm, comforting tortilla. They’re perfect for a quick and easy breakfast, brunch, or even a make-ahead meal for busy mornings.
Why you will love this recipe: These burritos are incredibly versatile and customizable to your liking. You can easily swap out the ingredients to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs. Plus, they’re freezer-friendly, making them a convenient option for meal prepping and enjoying a delicious breakfast on the go. They offer a balanced combination of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, providing sustained energy to kickstart your day. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a warm, cheesy burrito?
Introduction
Breakfast is often hailed as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason! It fuels your body and mind after a night of rest, setting the stage for a productive and energetic day ahead. But let’s face it, mornings can be hectic, and finding the time to prepare a nutritious and satisfying breakfast can be a challenge. That’s where these homemade breakfast burritos come in!
Forget the soggy, bland, and often overpriced drive-through burritos. With this recipe, you can create your own personalized breakfast masterpieces in the comfort of your kitchen. The best part? They’re surprisingly easy to make, even for novice cooks. The key is to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.
This recipe is designed to be flexible, allowing you to adapt the ingredients based on what you have on hand or what your family enjoys. Whether you’re a meat-lover, a vegetarian, or a cheese enthusiast, you can easily customize these burritos to suit your taste.
So, gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and let’s embark on a culinary adventure to create the ultimate homemade breakfast burritos!
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chopped vegetables, such as red onion, bell pepper, mushrooms or broccoli
- 1 pound breakfast sausage or Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 8 eggs
- 2 pinches salt, to taste
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
- 8 burrito size tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or Monterey jack, pepper jack or a combination
Preparation:
Step 1: Prepare the Oven (Optional)
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) if you plan to bake the burritos right away for a crispy tortilla and melted cheese. If you’re making them for freezing, this step isn’t necessary until you’re ready to reheat and enjoy. The baking process helps create a more cohesive and flavorful burrito by melding the ingredients together. The gentle heat also crisps up the tortilla, adding a delightful textural contrast to the soft filling.
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
Heat the olive oil in a medium/large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Olive oil adds a subtle richness to the vegetables while preventing them from sticking to the pan. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring often, until they soften. This usually takes about 4 minutes. Cooking the vegetables before adding them to the burritos not only enhances their flavor but also ensures that they have a pleasant texture. Red onion adds a pungent sweetness, bell peppers offer a crisp and slightly sweet taste, mushrooms contribute an earthy flavor, and broccoli provides a slight bitterness that balances the other flavors. You can experiment with different combinations of vegetables to find your favorite blend. Once the vegetables are softened, transfer them to a clean medium-sized bowl.
Step 3: Cook the Sausage
Add the breakfast sausage or Italian sausage (removed from its casings) to the same skillet. Cook, crumbling it with a spoon or spatula, until it’s browned and fully cooked. Ensure that there are no pink bits remaining, as this indicates that the sausage is not fully cooked. Crumbling the sausage allows it to cook evenly and distributes its flavor throughout the burrito. Breakfast sausage typically has a mild, savory flavor, while Italian sausage can be either sweet or spicy, depending on the variety. Transfer the cooked sausage to the bowl with the vegetables, leaving any rendered grease behind in the skillet. Excess grease can make the burritos soggy.
Step 4: Prepare the Eggs
Crack the eggs into a medium mixing bowl and add the salt. Whisk the eggs vigorously until they are completely combined and uniform. This ensures that the yolks and whites are fully integrated, resulting in a smooth and creamy texture. Adding salt at this stage helps to season the eggs and enhances their natural flavor. Don’t over-whisk, as this can incorporate too much air and result in rubbery eggs.
Step 5: Cook the Eggs
Wipe out the skillet to remove any remaining sausage bits or grease. Add the unsalted butter to the skillet and heat over medium heat until melted. The butter adds richness and flavor to the eggs while preventing them from sticking to the pan. Use a rubber spatula to spread the melted butter evenly around the pan. Pour the whisked eggs into the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. This is crucial to prevent the eggs from cooking too quickly and becoming dry or rubbery. Let the eggs cook without stirring for 30 seconds, allowing them to begin to set on the bottom. Then, use a rubber spatula to gently and slowly scrape across the bottom and around the edges of the pan as the eggs cook. Scraping across different areas of the pan and in different directions ensures that no bits of egg dry out and that the eggs cook evenly. As the eggs cook, also fold them gently to help them cook evenly. Continue cooking and scraping until the eggs are cooked to your desired consistency. Some people prefer their eggs to be slightly runny, while others prefer them to be fully cooked.
Step 6: Combine the Ingredients
Once the eggs are cooked, turn off the heat and add them to the bowl with the sausage and vegetables. Stir gently to mix everything together, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Avoid over-stirring, as this can break up the eggs and make the mixture less appealing.
Step 7: Assemble the Burritos
Warm the tortillas slightly to make them more pliable and easier to wrap. You can warm them in a dry skillet, microwave them for a few seconds, or steam them. To assemble the burritos, place 1/8 of the egg/sausage/veggie mixture on top of each tortilla, placing it down the tortilla in a line slightly off-center. Leaving some space around the edges will make it easier to fold the burrito. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded cheese on top of the egg mixture. Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack are all excellent choices, but you can use any cheese that you enjoy.
Step 8: Wrap the Burritos
Tightly wrap up each tortilla, burrito-style. To do this, fold in the sides of the tortilla over the filling, then fold up the bottom edge tightly over the filling. Finally, roll the burrito tightly from the bottom up. This wrapping technique will ensure that the burritos stay intact and the filling doesn’t spill out.
Step 9: Bake, Eat, or Freeze
At this point, you have several options:
- Eat as is: If you’re in a hurry or prefer a soft tortilla, you can eat the burritos immediately.
- Bake to crisp tortillas: Place the burritos seam-side down on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly browned. Baking the burritos adds a delightful crispy texture and melts the cheese even further.
- Freeze for later: If you’re meal prepping or want to have breakfast on hand for busy mornings, freeze the burritos for later.
Step 10: Freezing Instructions (Optional)
First, flash freeze the burritos by placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 2 hours. Flash freezing prevents the burritos from sticking together and helps them retain their shape. Once frozen, transfer the burritos to a zip-top plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Step 11: Thawing and Heating (Optional)
To thaw and heat a frozen burrito, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. This is the safest and most convenient way to thaw the burrito. To reheat, microwave on high power for 30-45 seconds to start heating up the center of the burrito. Then, heat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes, or until fully hot in the center. This combination of microwaving and baking ensures that the burrito is heated through evenly and that the tortilla is crispy. Thawed burritos can also be fully heated in the microwave, but using the oven gives you a crispier tortilla, while the microwave results in a chewier tortilla.
COOKING Rating:
Easy
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve with your favorite salsa, hot sauce, or sour cream.
- Pair with a side of fresh fruit or yogurt for a complete breakfast.
- Pack them for a picnic lunch or a quick and easy dinner.
Tips:
- Don’t overfill the burritos, as this can make them difficult to wrap.
- Use a nonstick skillet to prevent the eggs from sticking.
- If you don’t have breakfast sausage, you can use any type of cooked meat, such as bacon, ham, or chorizo.
- Add a layer of refried beans or rice to the burrito for extra flavor and texture.
- Get creative with your fillings! Try adding black beans, corn, avocado, or roasted sweet potatoes.
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
35 minutes
Nutritional Information:
Estimated per burrito. Values may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
Calories: Approximately 450-550 Protein: 25-30 grams Sodium: 600-800mg
Conclusion
There you have it – a delicious and satisfying recipe for homemade breakfast burritos! Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast on a busy weekday or a make-ahead meal for a relaxing weekend brunch, these burritos are sure to please. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fillings and flavor combinations to create your own signature breakfast burrito. Happy cooking!
Questions and Answers:
Q1: Can I make these burritos vegetarian?
A: Absolutely! Simply omit the sausage and add more vegetables or other vegetarian protein sources like black beans, tofu scramble, or plant-based sausage crumbles. You can also add some crumbled queso fresco for extra flavor.
Q2: How do I prevent the tortillas from tearing when I wrap the burritos?
A: The key is to warm the tortillas before wrapping them. This makes them more pliable and less likely to tear. You can warm them in a dry skillet, microwave them for a few seconds, or steam them. Also, avoid overfilling the burritos, as this can put too much stress on the tortillas.
Q3: Can I use pre-shredded cheese, or is it better to shred my own?
A: While pre-shredded cheese is convenient, it often contains cellulose or other additives that can prevent it from melting as smoothly. For the best results, shred your own cheese from a block.
Q4: How long can I store these burritos in the refrigerator?
A: Cooked breakfast burritos can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container.
Q5: What’s the best way to reheat a frozen burrito?
A: The best way to reheat a frozen burrito is to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. This allows it to thaw evenly and prevents it from becoming soggy. Once thawed, you can reheat it in the microwave, oven, or skillet. For a crispy tortilla, bake it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
