Lentil Burritos

Last Updated on September 6, 2026

These Lentil Burritos are full of protein, fiber, and flavor!

They are so easy to make, use simple and easy to find ingredients which makes them simple to customize.

And they are a very inexpensive plant based meal that everyone will love.

Why lentils?

Lentils are full of protein which makes them a perfect protein source for those vegan and vegetarians.

But not only are they full of protein, they are also full of fiber, which will help keep you full for hours.

They are very inexpensive, when bought dried.

If you can find the canned lentils, they are a little more pricey.

But for this recipe, I personally like to use the dried lentils.

Although canned lentils will work just as well, I prefer to use the dried lentils since they plump up and are much softer than the canned.

Cooking lentils doesn’t take up to much time, depending on the variety, they cook pretty fast, anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

Another bonus with lentils is there is no need to soak before cooking as you do with other dried beans.

Which varieties of lentils are the best in this recipe?

I like to use brown or green lentils in this recipe, they are much larger in size, keep their shape once cooked, and have a peppery flavor.

Another variety of lentil to try in this recipe is the black lentil.

The black lentils are small in size and keep their shape once cooked (just like the green and brown).

But the black lentil flavor is different from the other lentils, they have a mild nutty and earthy flavor.

A couple of lentil varieties I do not recommend for this recipe is the red or yellow lentil.

The red or yellow lentils are small in size, but have a soft and mushy texture, which is better to use as a rich base in a soup or curry.

Ingredients for the burritos

• Lentils – I like to use green or brown lentils for this recipe. An alternative lentil to use is the black lentil.
• Onion – Optional. Any variety of onion can be used in this recipe.
• Peppers – Any variety of pepper can be added to the burritos. I like to use sweet bell peppers or the mini peppers in my burritos.
• Oil – I like to use avocado or olive oil to saute the vegetables, use your favorite oil.
• Burrito Shells – Any variety of flour tortilla shell works great.
• Avocado – Add fresh cut avocados or try my recipe for Easy Homemade Guacamole.
• Rice – I added basmati rice to my burritos, use your favorite variety of rice to your burritos.
• Corn – Optional.
• Cheese – Optional. Add your favorite shredded vegan cheese.
• Salsa – Use your favorite salsa in these burritos.
• Sriracha Sauce/Hot Sauce – Optional. Add your favorite sriracha or hot sauce to your burrito.

How to make Lentil Burritos

If cooking lentils, cook to the package direction, but if using canned lentils, drain and rinse.

Cook the rice of your choice to the package direction.

Clean and dice the onion and the peppers.

In a medium sized skillet, heat the oil, peppers, and onion at a medium heat, saute until golden brown.

Note: I sauteed my onion and peppers separate, this is optional.

Once everything is sauteed, remove from the heat and set aside (keep the skillet for toasting the burritos before serving).

Grab a burrito shell and spread the smashed avocado onto the shell.

Top the avocado with the sauteed onion and peppers.

Place a scoop or two of the cooked lentils on top of the sauteed vegetables.

Drop a few kernels of corn on top of the lentils.

Scoop the rice on to the lentils.

Add a spoonful or two of your favorite salsa on top of the rice.

Drizzle a little hot sauce or sriracha on the burrito.

Finish it off with a sprinkle of your favorite vegan shredded cheese.

Next, fold the burrito, making sure to close the burrito so that nothing escapes when flipping the burrito while warming on the stove.

Add the folded burrito to the skillet that was used earlier to saute the vegetables.

Heat the burrito on a medium heat, covered, (make sure to keep a close eye on the burrito, the burritos will burn fast).

Toast the burrito for about 1 to 2 minutes, then flip the burrito, and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove from heat, cut in half, and serve.

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