If you love Taco Bell’s cheesy, melty, beefy burritos, then this Copycat Taco Bell Beef Melt Burrito is about to become one of your go-to homemade fast-food favorites. It’s comforting, filling, cheesy, beefy, and unbelievably easy to make in your own kitchen — without waiting in a drive-thru line.

This burrito is everything great about Taco Bell: seasoned beef, creamy cheese sauce, warm tortillas, melty cheese, and (depending on the version you love) soft rice or crunchy chip strips. What makes Taco Bell flavors unique is the perfect combination of textures — soft, melty, savory, and warm — all wrapped in one perfect tortilla.

The best part? You can recreate it at home with simple ingredients and just a few steps.

Today’s recipe nails the flavor, the texture, and the melty, cheesy vibe of the famous Taco Bell burrito. And because you’re making it homemade, you can customize the spice level, add more cheese, skip ingredients you don’t want, and make it healthier or extra indulgent depending on your mood.

Let’s break down everything you need to know to create the perfect copycat beef melt burrito.

What Makes Taco Bell’s Beef Melt Burrito So Good?

Fast-food magic comes from a combination of simple layers that work together:

• Soft seasoned rice
• Melty 3-cheese blend
• Creamy nacho cheese sauce
• Taco-seasoned ground beef
• Warm flour tortilla
• Optional crunchy red tortilla strips
• Optional sour cream

When prepared correctly, each bite hits you with melty cheese and warm beef, with the tortilla hugging everything like a soft blanket of comfort food goodness.

Our copycat version uses real ingredients while staying authentic to the flavor profile.

Why This Copycat Recipe Works Perfectly

Our recipe recreates Taco Bell’s iconic taste with:

1. Homemade Taco-Style Beef

Using ground beef, taco seasoning, and a small splash of water creates that signature saucy, clingy beef mixture that sticks perfectly to the tortilla.

2. Authentic Melty Cheese Components

We use:

• Nacho cheese sauce (from scratch or store-bought)
• Shredded cheddar + Monterey Jack

You can microwave the burrito briefly to get that signature melt.

3. Soft Rice Layer

Taco Bell uses seasoned rice. We use a simple, lightly seasoned, buttery rice that mimics it perfectly.

4. The Build Order (VERY Important)

Taco Bell layers ingredients in a specific order that keeps the burrito melty without falling apart.

We recreate it exactly.

Ingredients (Full Breakdowns)

For the Taco Bell–Style Beef

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• ⅓ cup water

For the Rice Layer

• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp taco seasoning

For the Cheese Components

• ½ cup nacho cheese sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or 3-cheese blend)

For Assembly

• 4 large flour tortillas
• Optional: red tortilla chip strips
• Optional: sour cream

Instructions

1. Cook the beef: Brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain excess fat.
2. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer until thick and saucy.
3. Prepare rice: Toss warm cooked rice with butter and taco seasoning.
4. Warm tortillas: Microwave tortillas for 10 seconds or warm in a dry skillet.
5. Assemble burritos:
   • Lay tortilla flat
   • Add a line of seasoned rice
   • Spoon beef on top
   • Add shredded cheese
   • Drizzle nacho cheese sauce
   • Add chip strips or sour cream if using
6. Roll burrito: Fold sides in, roll tightly from bottom to top.
7. Melt cheese: Microwave burrito 15–20 seconds or warm on a skillet seam-side down.
8. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade Taco Bell–style beef melt burrito.

Copycat Taco Bell Beef Melt Burrito

A cheesy, beefy homemade version of the Taco Bell Beef Melt Burrito featuring seasoned beef, melty cheese, and soft rice wrapped in a warm tortilla.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 burritos

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Calories: 480

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Beef Filling

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 0.33 cup water

Rice Layer

• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 tbsp butter
• 0.5 tsp taco seasoning

Cheese Components

• 0.5 cup nacho cheese sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheese blend

Tortillas & Optional Add-ins

• 4 large flour tortillas
• red tortilla strips optional
• sour cream optional

Equipment

• Skillet
• Spatula
• Mixing bowl
• Microwave or skillet for melting

Method

 

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain excess fat.
2. Add taco seasoning and water, simmer until thick.
3. Mix warm rice with butter and taco seasoning.
4. Warm the tortillas until soft and pliable.
5. Assemble burritos by adding rice, beef, shredded cheese, and nacho cheese.
6. Add optional tortilla strips or sour cream.
7. Roll burrito tightly.
8. Warm in microwave or skillet until cheese melts.
9. Serve immediately.

Notes

Add extra nacho cheese for a creamier melt.

How to Perfect the Taco Bell Texture

Warm tortilla = No cracking
Soft rice = Better layering
Use both shredded cheese + cheese sauce
Don’t overfill
Microwave at end for authentic melt

Fun Add-Ins

• Jalapeños
• Extra cheese sauce
• Beans
• Chipotle sauce
• Guacamole
• Fritos instead of red strips

Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: 3 days
• Freezer: 2–3 months
• Reheat: Microwave 45–60 seconds