How Long Do You Put Burritos In The Air Fryer? | Times

You want a hot, crispy burrito without the soggy mess a microwave creates or the long wait an oven requires. The air fryer solves this problem fast. It circulates hot air around the tortilla, blistering the exterior while melting the cheese inside. Getting the timing right is the difference between a cold center and a perfect lunch.

We tested various sizes, fillings, and states—frozen, fresh, and leftover—to give you exact numbers. Follow these time charts and steps to fix your meal quickly.

Quick Reference Time Chart For Burritos

Different burritos need different heat settings. A frozen brick takes much longer than a refrigerated leftover from last night’s dinner. Use this table as your primary starting point for setting your timer.

Burrito Type & State	Temperature (°F)	Time (Minutes)
Frozen (Small/Store-bought)	400°F	12–14 mins
Frozen (Large/XL Deep Dish)	400°F	15–18 mins
Fresh (Homemade/Room Temp)	375°F	8–10 mins
Reheating (Leftover, Fridge)	350°F	3–6 mins
Chimichanga Style (Oiled)	400°F	10–12 mins
Breakfast Burrito (Frozen)	380°F	14–16 mins
Bean & Cheese Only (Thinner)	375°F	10–12 mins

Why The Air Fryer Beats The Microwave

Microwaves excite water molecules inside the food. This steams the tortilla from the inside out. You end up with a gummy, chewy wrapper that falls apart in your hands. The filling often explodes out the sides before the center is even warm.

An air fryer works like a powerful convection oven. It dries the exterior surface of the tortilla immediately. This seals the structure. The wrapper becomes firm and crunchy, similar to a chimichanga but without deep frying in oil. The heat penetrates evenly, reducing the chance of lava-hot edges and frozen centers.

Cooking Frozen Burritos To Perfection

Most people grab a bag of El Monterey or Tina’s beef and bean burritos for a quick snack. Putting these straight into the basket is the most common use case. You do not need to thaw them first. In fact, cooking from frozen helps maintain the shape.

Step By Step For Frozen Burritos

Place the frozen burritos in the basket. Do not stack them. Stacking prevents the hot air from reaching the sides, leaving you with soft, undercooked patches where the tortillas touch. Leave at least half an inch of space between each one.

Set the temperature to 400°F. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes. The high heat is necessary to crisp the frozen dough before it gets soggy from the thawing ice crystals. Flip the burritos halfway through the cooking cycle. This ensures the bottom side gets just as crispy as the top.

Checking For Doneness

Thick frozen burritos can deceive you. The outside feels rock hard and hot, but the center might remain icy. Insert a kitchen thermometer into the center. According to the USDA safe minimum internal temperature guidelines, leftovers and casseroles (which burritos resemble) should reach 165°F to be safe to eat. If you don’t have a thermometer, stick a knife in the center for five seconds, pull it out, and touch the flat side carefully. If it’s hot, you are good to go.

Determining How Long To Put Burritos In The Air Fryer

The exact time depends heavily on density. A loosely rolled bean burrito heats faster than a dense meat-and-rice monster. Keep a close watch the first time you cook a new brand.

Air fryers also vary in wattage. A high-wattage basket style model might burn the tortilla tips in 12 minutes, while a lower-wattage oven style unit might need 15. If you notice the tortilla darkening too fast, lower the heat to 375°F and extend the time by two minutes.

Reheating Leftover Burritos From Restaurants

Reheating a massive burrito from Chipotle, Moes, or a local taqueria requires a different approach. These items are already cooked but cold from the fridge. They are thick, dense, and often wrapped in foil.

Foil Versus No Foil

You can use foil in an air fryer, but it blocks air circulation. If you keep the burrito wrapped in foil, it will take longer to heat—about 15 to 20 minutes at 350°F. The benefit is a soft tortilla. If you want that crunch, unwrap the burrito completely.

The Reheat Method

Remove any cold ingredients like guacamole, sour cream, or lettuce if you can. Open one end and scoop them out; they taste terrible when heated. Reseal the tortilla. Spray the entire exterior lightly with oil. Place it in the basket seam-side down to prevent it from unrolling.

Cook at 350°F for 3 to 6 minutes. We use a lower temperature here because the ingredients are already cooked. You just want to warm them through without burning the edges of the tortilla. Check the center temperature frequently.

Making Homemade Fresh Burritos

Fresh burritos made with room-temperature tortillas and warm fillings cook very fast. You mainly use the air fryer here to seal the burrito and melt the cheese.

Brush the sealed edge with a little water or egg wash to help it stick. Place the burrito seam-side down. Cook at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes. This creates a “chimichanga” texture without deep frying. Spraying the outside with avocado oil or olive oil spray promotes uniform browning.

Breakfast Burritos Specifics

Breakfast burritos usually contain eggs, sausage, and potatoes. These ingredients are dense. Frozen breakfast burritos often require 14 to 16 minutes at 380°F. The eggs inside retain cold longer than simple bean paste.

If you meal prep your own breakfast burritos and freeze them, wrap them in parchment paper before freezing. Remove the paper before air frying. If the egg mixture leaks out, it can burn on the bottom of the basket. Ensure you roll them tightly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with a simple appliance, things go wrong. Here is how to fix the most frequent problems people face when air frying burritos.

Problem	Likely Cause	Solution
Cold/Icy Center	Heat too high, cooked too fast	Lower temp to 350°F, add 3-4 mins.
Burnt Ends/Corners	Burrito too close to element	Move to lower rack or reduce temp.
Soggy Bottom	Did not flip halfway	Flip halfway; don’t overcrowd basket.
Exploding Filling	Seam side up or too much air	Cook seam side down; poke holes.
Dry/Hard Tortilla	No oil used	Spray lightly with cooking oil.

Understanding Tortilla Differences

Flour tortillas contain fat and gluten, which allows them to bubble and crisp beautifully. Corn tortillas dry out faster and can crack. If you air fry corn tortilla burritos, coat them generously with oil spray to keep them pliable and crunchy rather than rock-hard.

Whole wheat tortillas burn faster than white flour ones. Check them two minutes early. Low-carb or keto tortillas often lack the structural integrity of regular flour. Handle them gently and expect them to crisp up very quickly, often in under 8 minutes.

Tips For The Best Results

Success lies in the details. A few small adjustments make a massive difference in the final texture.

Don’t Overcrowd

Air fryers work by rapid air circulation. If the hot air cannot hit every surface of the burrito, you get soft spots. Cook in batches if necessary. Two large burritos or four small ones fit in a standard 5-quart basket.

Use A Light Oil Coat

While not strictly mandatory, a quick spritz of oil makes the skin golden brown. Without oil, the white flour tortilla spots can look pale and dry. Canola, vegetable, or avocado oil sprays work best. Avoid non-stick sprays like Pam directly on the basket if it has a non-stick coating, but spraying the food itself is fine.

The Seam Down Rule

Gravity helps seal the burrito. As the cheese melts and the tortilla crisps, the weight of the burrito holds the seam shut. If you place it seam side up, the rapid airflow might blow the flap open, drying out the filling.

How Long Do You Put Burritos In The Air Fryer?

This is the question that brought you here. If you skimmed the rest, remember this core rule: Start at 400°F for frozen and 350°F for refrigerated. Check early. You can always add time, but you cannot un-burn a tortilla.

Write down the time that works for your specific machine. If your unit runs hot, subtract a minute from our guidelines. If you have an oven-style air fryer with racks, place the burritos on the middle rack to avoid burning the top near the heating element.

Handling Exploded Burritos

Sometimes the filling expands and breaks the shell. This usually happens if the heat is too high or the burrito was rolled too tightly with no room for steam to escape. If you see a leak, stop the machine. Let it cool for a minute so the cheese sets slightly. Scoop it out carefully with a spatula. It will still taste good. Next time, poke a few holes in the top with a fork before cooking to let steam vent safely.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your crispy air fryer burritos with cold sides to contrast the hot crunch. Sour cream, salsa, or fresh guacamole work perfectly. If you cooked a plain bean burrito, you can smother it in enchilada sauce and melted cheese after air frying for a “wet burrito” style meal. Just be aware that adding sauce softens the crispy shell you worked hard to achieve.

Pairing these with a fresh salad or Spanish rice turns a quick snack into a full dinner. Since the air fryer does the work, you have 15 minutes to prep these sides while the main course cooks.

Following these times and temperature settings guarantees a better meal than the microwave ever could. Enjoy your hot, crispy lunch.