These kimchi burritos are filled with sautéed and fresh veggies, chicken tenders, cheese, beans, rice and of course–kimchi! With both high-protein and high-carb ingredients like the black beans, chicken and rice, this dish will fill you up and keep you satisfied for a long time.
A quick sauté of the ingredients, piling them up in tortillas and wrapping them in foil to heat through makes for an easy and delicious meal for the whole family.
Where Did Burritos Originate? Who Invented Them?
One theory is that burritos were invented by Juan Méndez, a street vendor in Chihuahua, Mexico during the 1910s. He wrapped his food in a flour tortilla to keep it warm and for easier transport on his donkey.
The word ‘burrito’ translates to ‘little donkey’ in Spanish. This may seem like a confusing name for the dish, but if the Méndez theory is correct, the burrito did find its beginnings on the back of a donkey. The rolled tortilla holds a large amount of filling, much like a donkey could inside the packs on its back.
Kimchi Burrito Ingredients
- Chicken tenders
- Mexican seasoning
- Bell peppers
- Red onion
- Soft flour tortillas (10”)
- Cooked rice
- Black beans
- Shredded lettuce
- Kimchi
- Monterey Jack cheese
How to Fold the Burrito
Add all of the fillings to the center of the tortilla.
Fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling.
Fold the bottom of the tortilla over the filling.
Roll the burrito up tightly.
How to Freeze Burritos
To freeze a kimchi burrito:
- First, cool the fillings before tightly wrapping them in the tortillas to avoid a soggy mess.
- Do not include certain fresh ingredients like lettuce because they do not freeze well.
- Tightly wrap the burritos in parchment paper to avoid freezer burn and conveniently reheat them later.
- Put them in a freezer bag, and write the date on it.
- You can freeze burritos for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Frozen Burritos
To reheat the burritos: keeping them wrapped in the parchment, heat them in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes, or until warmed through. If you like a crispy outside, remove the parchment before baking.
To pan fry, simply thaw the burritos in the fridge overnight and fry them for a few minutes per side over medium heat. This will also result in a crispier burrito.
Although you can, I don’t recommend reheating them in the microwave, because your kimchi burrito might become soggy.
What to Serve with Burritos
- The simplest side for the kimchi burrito is tortilla chips with dip; it is a classic side dish, it has good crunch, and you can enjoy any kind of dip with it.
- If you wish to enjoy a lighter and healthier side, there are various salads that would pair well with this recipe like coleslaw and chopped salad.
- Mexican side dishes like street corn, black bean soup or a Mexican soup are also great.
- Asian side dishes, since this is a fusion dish, would also work: Korean style coleslaw, edamame beans, stir-fried bok choy, cucumber salad, etc.
- Toppings and condiments like sour cream, guacamole and salsa can add a lot of flavor to your burritos.
Was this your first kimchi burrito? Let us know how it turned out in the comments and please share the recipe!
Kimchi Burritos
Ingredients
For the Stir Fry:
- 1 lb. chicken tenders - sliced
- 1 tablespoon Mexican seasoning
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- ½ red bell pepper - thinly sliced
- ½ green bell pepper - thinly sliced
- ½ cup red onion - thinly sliced
- Salt
For the Burritos:
- 6 large soft flour tortillas - 10”
- 2 cups rice - cooked
- 1 cup black beans - drained and rinsed
- 1 cup lettuce - shredded
- 1 cup kimchi - drained and chopped
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese - shredded
To Serve (Optional):
- Hot sauce and/or salsa
- Sour cream
- Fresh cilantro - chopped
Instructions
For the Stir Fry:
- In a bowl, toss the raw chicken tenders with the Mexican seasoning and some salt. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken tenders to the pan and fry until golden and cooked through to 165°F. Remove from pan and reserve.
- Add the peppers and onions to the same pan and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Reserve.
For the Burritos:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In the center of a flour tortilla, add about ¼ to ⅓ cup rice. Top the rice with some of the chicken, peppers and onions.
- Next, add some black beans, lettuce and kimchi. Top with ⅓ cup shredded cheese.
- Fold the sides over and then tightly roll up the burrito.
- Wrap the burrito in a 12” square piece of foil. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Arrange the foil-wrapped burritos on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 15 minutes.
- Serve with the hot sauce, sour cream and cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Hungry for more? Try our Kimchi Potato Salad