How Many Calories Are in a Beef Burrito? A Thorough Calorie Analysis

Beef burritos are a tasty Tex-Mex favorite, packed with protein, carbs, and fat. But with all those delicious fillings wrapped up in a warm tortilla, it’s easy to overdo it on the calories. So how many calories are actually in a beef burrito? Let’s break it down.

The Basics: What’s in a Beef Burrito?

A typical beef burrito contains the following ingredients

• Flour tortilla – About 210 calories for a 10-inch tortilla
• Ground beef – Around 155 calories per 4 oz cooked ground beef
• Mexican rice – Approximately 122 calories per 1/2 cup cooked rice
• Refried beans – Roughly 104 calories per 1/2 cup
• Cheese – 100 calories for 1/4 cup shredded cheese
• Salsa – Around 15 calories per 1/4 cup
• Sour cream – About 23 calories per tablespoon
• Lettuce, tomatoes, onions – Less than 10 calories

When you add it all up, a reasonably sized 8-10 inch beef burrito with typical fillings will have around 500-800 calories. Of course, extra large burritos or ones loaded with more fatty fillings like guacamole, queso, or extra sour cream can easily top 1,000 calories or more.

Calories in Common Beef Burritos

To get a better idea, let’s look at the calorie counts for beef burritos from some popular restaurants:

• Chipotle burrito with steak, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, and salsa – 755 calories
• Taco Bell Beef Burrito Supreme – 450 calories
• El Pollo Loco Avocado Chicken Burrito – 760 calories
• Qdoba burrito with steak, rice, pinto beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, salsa – 1,120 calories

As you can see, burritos can range quite a bit in calories depending on size and what you add to them Fast food burritos tend to be smaller with fewer toppings, while build-your-own burritos allow you to pile on the fillings and boost the calorie counts

How to Make a Lower Calorie Beef Burrito

If you want to enjoy a beef burrito without going overboard on calories, follow these tips:

• Choose a small or medium flour tortilla instead of extra large Soft taco size (6 inches) tortillas are around 90 calories versus 210 for a 10-inch burrito tortilla.

• Go easy on the fatty toppings. Limit cheese to 1-2 oz, use just a dollop of sour cream, and avoid queso or guacamole.

• Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers to add more volume and nutrients without many calories.

• Choose leaner proteins like grilled chicken or shredded pork over higher fat beef.

• Use brown rice or skip the rice altogether to slash those carbs and calories.

• Swap refried or black beans for a lower calorie veggie like sauteed zucchini or spinach.

• Ask for any sauce or dressing on the side and use sparingly.

• Go for salsas over creamy sauces for added flavor without the calories.

With some simple substitutions and smart choices, you can enjoy a satisfying 300-400 calorie beef burrito guilt free! Just be mindful of your portions and what you add to it.

Healthiest Ingredients for Beef Burritos

If you’re looking to make a healthier beef burrito at home, consider using these nutritious ingredients:

• Whole wheat or corn tortillas – More fiber and nutrients than white flour tortillas

• Lean ground turkey or grass-fed beef – Less saturated fat than conventional beef

• Brown rice – Higher fiber and more nutrients than white rice

• Black beans – Packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants

• Reduced-fat cheese – Satisfies your cheesy craving for less fat and calories

• Greek yogurt instead of sour cream – Less fat, more protein

• Avocado – Healthy fats and fiber instead of heavy cream-based sauces

• Fresh salsa – Nutritious tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro

• Leafy greens like spinach, kale or romaine – Extra nutrition without the calories

• Roasted veggies like zucchini, peppers, mushrooms – Bulk up your burrito with fiber and nutrients

How to Burn off Those Burrito Calories

Beef burritos pack a caloric punch, but thankfully all those calories can easily be burned off with some extra activity. Here’s how long you’d need to exercise to work off some common beef burritos:

• 30 minute walk – Burn around 150 calories, enough to cover a small 300 cal burrito

• 45 minutes lifting weights – Torch off around 275 calories, the equivalent of a 500 cal burrito

• 60 minutes jogging – Run off roughly 600 calories for that 900 cal chorizo burrito

• 90 minutes hiking – Burn around 400 calories to account for a 700 cal steak burrito

• 2 hours yoga – Flow away 350 calories equal to a 650 cal burrito

The bottom line: beef burritos deliver some serious satisfaction, but balance out the indulgence with some extra activity for your health. By making smart choices with your ingredients and portions, you can enjoy these tasty tortilla treats guilt-free! Just wrap things up in moderation.

Burrito with meat, and rice, beans