Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

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I've made hundreds of these make-ahead breakfast burritos. They take a few steps, but the convenience of a 2 minute meal-on-the-go for busy mornings or for exhausted new parents is worth it. Choose your fillings. I like egg, cheese, sausage and caramelized onions.

Grab one from the freezer and microwave it for a super quick breakfast. Just add coffee 🙂 (and maybe some fresh fruit).

cut open burrito on top of another burrito

My son-in-law, Brandyn, inhales these burritos. I started making them when he and Jenna had their first baby. I wanted to help out by packing their freezer with some homemade goodies. These breakfast burritos were a huge hit.

I make a vegetarian version for kook Jenna with mushrooms or sweet potatoes, spinach and black beans. She loves hers with Gruyere cheese.

When I have the time, I amp up the flavor with sweet caramelized onions. Really good, but they do take a bit more time. You just can't rush caramelizing onions. You can, of course, just do a quick sauté instead.

Bottom line: If you're looking for meal prep recipes, make-ahead breakfast burritos is a good one. Nutritious, versatile, delicious and super convenient. Breakfast is ready in 2 minutes.

Basic Steps

Fry (quick) or caramelize onions (not quick)
Grill or pan fry sausage if using (see shortcut)
Cook or prep other veggies (optional)
Scramble eggs
Combine filling and season it
Assemble filling plus cheese in flour tortillas.

Tailor To Your Taste

There are a ton of variations you can try. The basics are eggs, onions, sausage (if not vegetarian) and cheese in a flour tortilla. Use whatever else you love. Here are a few ideas.

Cheese

I use shredded cheddar cheese. Other good options are Monterey Jack, Mozzarella and Gruyère.

Meat add-ins

My go-to is breakfast sausage links (I get maple sausage for my son in law - his fave. I grill them for a few minutes, then cut them up. Or you can remove the meat from the casing and fry them.
Other meat options are: bacon, any other type of mild or spicy sausage, turkey sausage, peameal (Canadian) bacon, ham, pastrami, corned beef.

Veggie add-ins

fried or caramelized onions (the best!)
sautéed mushrooms
sautéed peppers
cooked spinach (squeeze out the water)
black beans (rinsed and drained) or canned refried beans
cooked potatoes, hashbrowns or tater tots
if you are not freezing the burritos, you can add avocado chunks, guacamole, arugula, salsa

Flavoring, seasonings, toppings

smoked paprika
fresh or dried herbs like cilantro, tarragon or chives
garlic
toppings: serve with salsa, sour cream, taco sauce or hot sauce.

How to make breakfast burritos

eggs, sausages, cheese, onions, tortillas — **Basic ingredients**: eggs, sausages, onion, cheese, tortillas (also see add-in ideas)

cooks scrambled eggs in skillet — Make scrambled eggs in a large skillet

cooked sausage links in a bowl — Cook breakfast sausage links on grill or in a skillet on the stove top.

caramelized onions in bowl — Caramelize onions in skillet - optional and really good.

egg sausage onion mixture in skillet — Combine eggs, sausage and onions, adding chopped green onions if you like.

burrito filling on top of tortilla before wrapping — Scoop some filling mixture on a flour tortilla. Add a drizzle of ketchup or hot sauce if desired.

2 wrapped burritos — Wrap burrito like an envelope. Fold two sides in toward center, then roll up.

cut open burrito with melted cheese dripping out — If serving immediately, you can pan fry the burritos in a skillet. This is optional. I don't bother if I am going to freeze them for later.

Tips

The amounts of ingredients used in the recipe are just guidelines. If you like more eggs, for example, use more.
If your tortillas are stiff, warm them in the microwave for a few seconds before filling them. They will be easier to fold.
Taste your filling combination and adjust the seasonings before wrapping it in a tortilla. I often add a small drizzle of BBQ sauce, hot sauce or ketchup to the filling.
If you like cheese oozing throughout the burrito, mix it directly into the cooled filling.
If freezing the burritos, cool the filling before wrapping to avoid a soggy burrito.
Label the burritos with a date and type of filling if you have more than one.

Recipe FAQ

Are breakfast burritos a healthy choice?

This depends on what you add to them. With a filling of eggs, cheese and onions, they are low in calories and have a good deal of protein and calcium.

How do I prevent my burritos from becoming soggy?

Don't overcook or overheat the scrambled eggs (they can become watery). When adding cooked veggies such as mushrooms, spinach and onions, make sure you evaporate all the excess liquid. Cool the burritos before freezing them. And don't add watery ingredients like salsa. Use salsa as as a topping or for dipping.

Do I have to pan fry my burritos once stuffed and wrapped?

No. Pan frying makes a lovely crispy finish, but if you plan to make freezer breakfast burritos, there is no need other than appearance. I usually don't bother.

Shortcuts

For the quickest version, just use eggs, shredded cheese and green onions with no other add-ins.
Instead of caramelized onions (great but long cook time), use quick fried onions.
Add pre-cooked chopped sausage instead of cooking fresh sausages on your own