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Earlier this week I wrote about gift ideas for friends who are moving and talked about how I took burritos so that they wouldn’t need anything more than napkins in terms of dishes. They wanted to be able to pack up their dishes and cutlery!) Keep reading to discover this affordable burrito dinner for a crowd. This is totally one of those easy meals to take to families, too!
Affordable Burrito Dinner for a Crowd
Feeding nine adults’ dinner with enough for lunch leftovers can put quite a dent in the budget. In order to create a good meal for moving days and one that wouldn’t break the bank, I settled on chicken burritos. Of note, this still required a LOT of time on my part, but it made things super easy on their end.
My burritos contained rice, corn, kidney beans, chicken, onion, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, olives, diced peppers, and guacamole. I made approximately 22 burritos and estimate that the ingredients cost me $50, so they each cost about $ 2.25.
It is definitely possible to make them for less, too, especially if you live in the United States where food is cheaper (or in a major Canadian city, not in the boonies like me.) I also included a few things that were pricier, like olives and guacamole. Keep reading to discover this affordable burrito dinner for a crowd.
Here is the recipe (it’s really a method, not a recipe):
Big Batch of Budget Burrito Dinner
1. Make a big batch of rice. Whenever possible, pick whole wheat varieties of your grains, I used brown basmati rice. You can do this the day before. Make sure it is nice and moist.
2. Dice and cook an onion in a large dutch oven or skillet, in some olive oil. You can also add fresh garlic at this point. Cook the onion until it is translucent, then dump in lots and lots of taco seasoning. While the onions are cooking, dice your chicken.
3. Add the chicken to the onions and cook until just barely cooked through.
4. Add the rice to the chicken mixture, along with some extra water. You want to make sure that the rice is soft and doesn’t get dry and crunchy! You also don’t want it sticking to the bottom of the pot. Thoroughly mix these together, so the rice gets some nice color, and add more taco seasoning as necessary. At this point, you may want to add some diced tinned tomatoes. They will make everything nice and red, add vegetables and also reduce your costs.
5. Add in your “stretchers,” these and the rice are what keeps this dish affordable. Beans also add in more protein! I used kidney beans, but you could use pinto or black, or whatever you have on hand. Add a few cans and mix thoroughly. Watch your ratios and adjust to taste. You don’t want to end up with only two tiny cubes of chicken in each burrito, just make them vegetarian instead! Here are some other stretchers that add flavor and healthiness:
- frozen or tinned corn
- cooked lentils
- tofu
- shredded carrot
6. While the main filling is heating through on the stove, bringing all the flavors together, dice the rest of your toppings and make your guacamole. The guacamole can be a pricey part, so feel free to skip it. Toppings you could dice and slice:
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- pepper
- hot peppers or tinned hot peppers
- avocados
- grate cheese, if you didn’t buy it pre-grated
7. Don’t forget to stir your filling once and awhile. Add more water if it seems to be getting too dry. Do a final check on the flavor and spices.
8. Set up an assembly station. Line up bowls of filling and a trivet around a large work area. You may want to add more ingredients at this point:
- sliced olives (semi-pricey)
- sour cream
- hot sauce (optional!!!)
- refried beans (very affordable)
9. Microwave the wraps for a few seconds, to make them more pliable. If these are for guests, let them assemble their own. If not then lay the wraps out across your counter or table and get crackin’.
10. Start assembling! Do a batch of toppings at a time, then roll them up and line them up on the counter (as in the photograph). If you are making different types, consider color coding them with different wraps. In this photograph, the ones in red tomato wraps are for my spouse, who can’t have cow dairy or beans. When finished, do another batch until you have as many as you need, or you are out of fillings.
11. Rip a bunch of tinfoil into lengths that are about 3″ longer than the rolled-up wraps. Place a wrap on it, roll it up and pinch the ends in, so that it looks kind of like a Christmas cracker. You can use stickers or masking tape to make different types identifiable if you’d like.
12. You’re all done! It probably took a while, but the results will be delicious. They can be reheated in a panini press, toaster oven or oven, and delivered in a disposable bag with napkins. There’s nothing to clean up and nothing to return. Tell your recipients to peel the tinfoil like a banana in order to eat them.
I recommend serving these with tortilla chips and salsa (if you’re not feeling terribly healthy) or with some sliced veggies (possibly with dip). Enjoy! Beginner cook? You might need these beginner cook tips.
What is your affordable dinner for a crowd that you suggest? Are you looking forward to this affordable burrito dinner for a crowd?
