Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

Chorizo, potatoes, and eggs fill these hearty breakfast burritos. Make the whole family excited for breakfast with these yummy burritos!

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One of the most-loved Mexican breakfasts, the burrito originated in or near Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Well, that’s what folklore says!

But a dictionary from much earlier in 1895 says the burrito is a dish from the Mexican state of Guanajuato. The Diccionario de Mejicanismos by Feliz Ramos i Duarte defines the burrito as a tortilla filled with meat and other ingredients and rolled up.

So it probably existed for quite some time.

But there are two popular folk tales that people love sharing about the burritos.

The first one tells of a street food vendor in the 1940s in Ciudad Juárez who wrapped food in tortillas and sold it to school children. The vendor would call the children burritos, and that name was soon transferred to the food as it gained popularity.

Another legend from the time of the Mexican revolution (1910 to 1921) starts at a street food stall in Ciudad Juarez.

The vendor Juan Mendez used a donkey to carry the tacos he sold near Bella Vista in Ciudad Juarez. Mendez would wrap the meat inside the tortilla so that it stayed warm. His tacos soon gained popularity.

Because they were transported on a donkey, buyers would refer to them as ‘food of the donkey’, or ‘food of the burro’. Over time this was shortened to simply ‘burritos’.

Made with flour tortillas, burritos can be filled with refried, beans, fish, chicken, or meat, along with rice, chile, salsa, Mexican crema, or cheese.

The perfect Mexican breakfast dish or street food, burritos are now popular everywhere!

What do I need to make chorizo breakfast burritos?

• Chorizo – You can buy it in packages in Walmart or any Mexican store, or you can try my recipe for homemade chorizo.
• Potatoes
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Tortillas
• Salsa
• Cream

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Recipe Pointers for Mexican Breakfast Burritos

• You can use only egg whites if you want, or skip the eggs altogether.
• You can replace the Queso Fresco or Chihuahua with any other cheese you want.
• Buy the largest flour tortillas so that you can make nice big burritos.
• Any green salsa or red salsa will work fine.
• You can add shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and guacamole to the burritos.
• Add cooked rice to the burritos if you prefer!
• If you don’t find Mexican crema, you can use sour cream. Or you can make the crema at home!
• If you want it crunchy, you can toast the burrito before serving!

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FAQs about Mexican Burritos with Chorizo Filling

What does burrito mean?

Burrito means ‘little donkey’.

In Central Mexico, burritos are called tacos de harina, and beyond Northern Mexico they are called burritas.

When did burritos become popular in the US?

Burritos had made their way to different parts of the US. But they first became popular are being sold at the El Cholo Spanish Café in Los Angeles in the 1930s.

When was the first frozen burrito made?

The first frozen burrito was made by Duane R Roberts in Southern California in 1956. He is the same person who first sold frozen burger patties.

Do I have to use chorizo?

No, chorizo is just one popular burrito filling. You can also use ground chicken, fish, beef or turkey meat.

Is it possible to make vegetarian burritos?

To make the burritos vegetarian, replace the chorizo and eggs with vegan chorizo, mushrooms, carrots, corn, or refried beans.

How do I store leftover burritos?

Burritos are great to make ahead and freeze. Fill and cool completely, then wrap tightly in tinfoil, and place in a ziplock bag or airtight container.

Warm in a 350° F oven for 20 minutes before serving. If still frozen they may take longer.

Alternatively, you can remove the tinfoil and heat in the microwave 1-2 minutes.