The best keto burrito recipes allow anyone who loves Mexican cuisine to enjoy their favorite foods on the keto diet. But how can you be sure you’re eating low enough carbs while you try to lose weight? Can a burrito really be keto-friendly?
Fortunately, our keto burrito recipes will tempt your tastebuds while allowing you to lose weight on keto. Let’s show you what goes into a low-carb burrito recipe before we share our most delicious ideas to keep you on track.
Are Burritos Healthy?
Keto burrito recipes are low-carb meals you can enjoy while on keto, including:
- Easy burrito recipe (8)
- Chicken burrito recipe (10)
- Steak burrito recipe (7)
- Beef and rice burrito recipe (6)
- Vegetarian burrito recipe (1)
However, traditional burritos generally aren’t low-carb enough. Let’s see how burritos can be low-carb and suitable for the keto diet.
What Is Traditionally in a Burrito?
Traditional burritos combine suitable and unsuitable ingredients, which doesn’t make for a low-carb meal. For example, Daisy Brand’s burrito recipe contains ground beef, spices, sour cream, and cheese you can eat on keto (12). However, it uses flour tortillas and store-bought taco sauce that you probably shouldn’t eat on keto.
The sauce and flour tortillas increase the carbohydrate count. The recipe has 58 g of carbs per serving. You typically aren’t allowed more than 50 g of carbs on a 2,000-calorie keto meal plan in a day (2). Eating a traditional burrito will break this allowance and leave no carbs for other meals. Instead, let’s look at how to reduce the carbs for keto-friendly burritos.
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Should You Put Rice in a Keto Burrito?
Some of our keto burrito recipes may include low-carb rice alternatives. Regular white rice is too high in carbs for keto. One cup of regular white rice has 210 calories and 46 g of carbs, whereas a cup of cauliflower rice has 20 calories and 4 g of carbs (4). Adding cauliflower rice is a way of making low-carb burritos.
What Is the Best Meat for Burrito-Keto?
The Health Reporter recommends meats to get some protein and fat without eating carbs (5). Shredded pork belly, ground beef, lamb, steak, veal, prime rib, turkey, ham, pork rinds, pork, chicken, and beef liver are tasty zero-carb meats that can be added to burritos.
How Do You Fold a Burrito Like a Pro?
Folding a burrito is simple if you use the following steps from Mexican Please (3):
- Warm the tortilla in a dry skillet for 30-60 seconds to prevent cracking
- Place your filling in a line just below the center, finishing 2 inches from each end
- Fold the 2” sides over the filling, holding them down using your index and middle fingers
- Lift the bottom of the tortilla with your thumbs, starting at the side that is closest to the filling
- Fold the tortilla over the filling while keeping the 2” sides pressed down
- Tuck the tortilla tightly under the filling without letting go of the sides
- Finally, roll the tortilla into a neat burrito with the open side down
Best Keto Burrito Recipe Ideas
So, let’s take a look at which keto burrito recipes include keto-friendly ingredients and provide low-carb options:
Easy Burrito Recipe – No Rice or Tortillas!
An easy idea is a burrito recipe with no rice. It’s a keto-friendly option where you won’t need to make cauliflower rice. However, The Little Pine’s keto burrito recipe without rice is a tasty treat that is bursting with Mexican flavors (8).
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 head of cabbage, cored
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 cup tomato sauce with no added sugar
Filling:
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup zero added sugar salsa
- 1 cup sharp shredded cheddar
- 1 sliced avocado
Instructions:
- Blend the spices, keeping 4 tablespoons for the recipe and storing the rest
- Blanch your cabbage in a pot covered in boiling water for 3 minutes
- Remove the leaves with tongs, or blanch for 1 minute longer if they can’t be easily removed
- Stop when you have 8 good-sized leaves
- Heat the oil in a non-stick pan before frying the onion until translucent
- Add the spice mix, frying for 2 minutes until fragrant
- Add your turkey, breaking the meat up as it browns
- Cook for approximately 4 minutes until it is slightly pink in the middle
- Add the tomato sauce, allowing it to thicken for 4-6 minutes
- Lay the cabbage leaves flat, filling them like burritos
- Mix the filling ingredients and add them to your burritos
- Fold the cabbage leaves in the same way as you would fold a burrito
Nutrition: 4 servings, 478 calories, 15 g carbs, 32 g fat, 37 g protein, and 6 g fiber (8)
Read more: The Ultimate Keto Tortilla Recipes to Eat Low-Carb Mexican Favorites
Chicken Burrito Recipe
Thin-Licious has a delicious chicken burrito bowl recipe to fill low-carb tortillas for traditional-styled burritos (10). However, this recipe only shows the nutritional value of the chicken and rice bowls, so you will need to add the values for your desired tortillas.
Ingredients:
- 450 g cubed chicken breast
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- ½ tsp. paprika
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 80 ml water
- 2 cups cauliflower rice
Filling:
- 1 cup spinach
- 4 baby tomatoes
- 2 rings yellow bell pepper
- 1 tbsp. chopped red onion
- ½ avocado
- 1 jalapeno pepper
Instructions:
- Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan on medium heat
- Add the chicken and spices to the hot oil and brown until the chicken seals
- Remove the pot from the heat and add water to deglaze the bottom
- Cook the chicken for 8-10 minutes until it is cooked through
- Cook the cauliflower rice in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes
- Add your chicken mix to 4 low-carb tortillas before sprinkling the rice over them
- Add the remaining ingredients before rolling your burrito wraps, or layer it in a bowl
Nutrition: 4 servings, 168 calories, 11.8 g carbs, 15.8 g fat, 29.8 g protein, and 2 g fiber (10)
Steak Burrito Recipe
The Sugar-Free Londoner inspires a mouth-watering steak burrito recipe that you can use with low-carb tortillas or as a bowl (7). However, it’s important to remember that the macros are for the recipe with coconut flour or other keto-friendly tortillas.
Ingredients:
- 250 g flank steak strips
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. ground coriander
- ¼ tsp. chili powder
- 1 tbsp. tomato puree
- 7 oz. chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp. low-sodium beef stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
Filling:
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar
- ½ cup baby gem lettuce
- 1 diced avocado
- 2.1 oz. cherry tomatoes
- 4 tbsp. sour cream
- 2 tbsp. fresh coriander
Instructions:
- Heat the oil on a medium heat before frying the onion and garlic for 3 minutes
- Add the beef strips, browning them properly before cooking them for 4-5 minutes
- Add the spices, tomatoes, tomato puree, apple cider vinegar, and beef stock
- Cook for 5-10 minutes until thick, adding salt and pepper as required
- Add the cooked ingredients on top of the gem lettuce before adding the filling for a burrito bowl
- Alternatively, add 3 tablespoons of the cooked meat and some sprinkled filling on a tortilla.
Nutrition: 6 servings, 216 calories, 5.6 g carbs, 17.8 g fat, 9.7 g protein, and 3 g fiber (7)
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Beef and Rice Burrito Recipe – Keto
This Mexican burrito recipe from Gnom Gnom uses cauliflower rice and other fillings to taste authentic (6). You’ll create a filling from the list, but this will be enough for 6-8 burritos. Therefore, half of your filling will meet the nutritional values below.
Ingredients:
- 500 g ground beef
- 1 tbsp. avocado oil
- 2 finely minced garlic cloves
- ½ chopped onion
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Filling:
- 1 cup cauliflower rice
- ½ cup guacamole
- Finely chopped red onion
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ½ cup feta cubes
- A handful of jalapeno slices
Instructions:
- Heat the oil over a medium heat before adding onion, garlic, and bacon
- Stir often for 7-10 minutes until the onion starts to caramelize
- Add the ground beef and spices, cooking until the beef is entirely cooked
- Add water to retain moisture as the beef cooks
- Warm up keto-friendly tortillas for 30-60 seconds in a skillet
- Spread the sour cream and guacamole over the tortillas
- Sprinkle the remaining filler ingredients before adding the meat filling and folding the burritos
Nutrition: 3 servings, 236 calories, 11 g carbs, 18 g fat, 9 g protein, and 6 g fiber (6)
Read more: How to Make the Perfect Keto Taco With Multiple Stuffings, Shells, and Meats Variations
Burrito Recipe – Vegetarian
This burrito recipe from The Culinary Lion is another simple idea for a quick dinner (1). You won’t need to worry about separating ingredients and fillings with this low-carb vegetarian burrito recipe. However, the macros don’t include your chosen tortillas.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cauliflower rice
- 2 oz. cream cheese
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- 1 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients except the cilantro in a microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes and then stir the ingredients together
- Use keto-friendly, vegan-friendly tortillas for your vegetarian treats.
- Add the cilantro right before you fold your burritos
Nutrition: 4 servings, 62 calories, 3 g carbs, 4 g fat, 1 g protein, and 1 g fiber (1)
For more keto-inspired ideas:
FAQs
What’s the difference between a wrap and a burrito?
Wraps and burritos may look similar but they have key differences. Wraps typically contain salads and some meat, such as chicken strips, while burritos are Mexican cuisine and typically contain meat, salsa, cheese, rice, and beans (13). In addition, wraps are cold and use thicker flatbreads, whereas burritos are served hot and use a thinner tortilla.
Is wrapping a burrito difficult?
Wrapping a burrito isn’t difficult if you heat the tortilla for 30-60 seconds in a dry skillet before you roll it (3). In addition, folding the sides over the filling and holding them with your index and middle fingers helps you roll the burrito more easily.
How do you wrap a 5-layer burrito?
A 5-layer burrito is wrapped differently to get a layered taste. Taco Bell’s famous 5-layer burrito instructions inspire the use of keto-friendly fillings to wrap your multi-layer delight (11):
- Wrap the tortillas in damp paper towels and then microwave them for 20 seconds
- Place the first tortilla on a counter and spread cream cheese over the base
- Stop spreading two inches from the edge
- Each filling layer must be spread thinly on the tortillas
- Place the second tortilla over the first, spreading ground beef filling over it
- Place another tortilla on top before sprinkling cheddar cheese over it
- Place the fourth tortilla on top before adding cauliflower rice or beans to it
- Rest the final tortilla on top, pressing it down gently without squeezing the fillings out
- Fold the two sides inward approximately two inches, holding them with your index and middle fingers
- Use your thumbs to fold the bottom tortillas over the sides and tuck it tight
- Roll the multi-layered tortillas until they are tight enough to keep the fillings inside
How do you wrap a burrito so it doesn’t get soggy?
Lexi’s Clean Kitchen uses a neat trick to prevent soggy burritos, which you can even freeze for later use (9). She wets her fingertips to help seal the burrito on the sides, pressing down gently while holding it before rolling the tortilla.
The Bottom Line
A keto burrito recipe shouldn’t use ingredients that are not allowed on keto. Instead, it should use low-carb alternatives to ensure you eat fewer carbs and more fat and protein. Try any of our top keto burrito recipes to soothe your Mexican cuisine cravings today.
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SOURCES:
- Chicken Fajita Keto Burrito (n.d., culinarylion.com)
- Diet Review: Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss (n.d., hsph.harvard.edu)
- How to Fold a Burrito (n.d., mexicanplease.com)
- Is Cauliflower Rice Healthier Than White Rice? (2020, underscore.factor75.com)
- Keto Meat List: The Ultimate Guide to Keto-Friendly Meat (2023, healthreporter.com)
- Legit Gluten-Free & Keto Beef Burritos (2020, gnom-gnom.com)
- Low-Carb Keto Beef Burritos (2022, sugarfreelondoner.com)
- Low-Carb Keto Burritos (Legit + Easy!) (2020, thelittlepine.com)
- Meal Prep Frozen Burritos (Two Ways) (2022, lexiscleankitchen.com)
- Quick Keto Chicken Burrito Bowls (Instant Pot) (n.d., thinlicious.com)
- Taco Bell 5-Layer Burrito Recipe (Copycat) (n.d., recipes.net)
- Traditional Beef Burritos Recipe (n.d., daisybrand.com)
- Wrap vs. Burrito: 6 Crucial Differences You Need to Know Now (n.d., leonbistro.com)