Slow Cooker Spicy Vegetarian Pinto Bean and Chard Burritos
(This is an older recipe that has been archived on the site, but I am leaving the printer-friendly recipe here so anyone who likes the recipe can still find it.)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. dry pinto beans (see notes)
- 6 cups water
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 T ground cumin
- 1 T garlic powder
- 1 1/2 cup Pace Picante Sauce
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 T Cholula hot sauce (optional, more or less to taste)
- 8 cups chopped swiss chard leaves
- 12 Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Tortillas (see notes)
- 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella blend cheese (see notes)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
INSTRUCTIONS
DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING
- I recommend pre-soaking the beans for best results, but if you forget to soak them, add 1-2 hours more time for cooking the beans. Soak beans overnight in cold water to cover by several inches. (I just soaked them in the crockery part of the slow cooker.)
- The next day, drain beans.
- Then add them back to the slow cooker with 6 cups water, onion, ground cumin, and garlic powder.
- Cook on high until beans are quite soft. (I cooked my soaked beans for a little over 4 hours to get them as soft as I preferred. Unsoaked beans or beans that arenโt fresh may take a couple hours longer for this step.)
- When the beans are soft, drain them and return to the slow cooker, saving 1/4 cup of the bean cooking water.
- Add the salsa, salt, and hot sauce (if using).
- Let beans continue to cook on high while you chop and wash the swiss chard.
- Cut off chard stems, stack up some chard leaves, and then slice and chop the leaves until you have 6-8 cups of chopped leaves.
- If youโre using garden chard, wash with a salad spinner.
- Put the chopped chard leaves in the slow cooker, pressing down to get them all in if needed.
- Cover the slow cooker and continue to cook on high to wilt the leaves.
- When theyโre all wilted (about 30-45 minutes) stir to combine and then continue to cook the beans and chard leaves about an hour longer, or until the chard leaves are very soft and beans are nearly falling apart.
- Check to see if the mixture seems dry and add the saved cooking water if needed.
DIRECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLING
- Thinly slice enough green onions for the number of burritos youโre making.
- Have grated low-fat mozzarella blend cheese ready.
- Heat a tortilla in the microwave for a few minutes (or for making a lot of burritos at once, I like to wrap them in a double layer of aluminum foil and heat in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.)
- Lay the softened burrito on a plate or cutting board, add about 1/3 cup of the bean/chard filling mixture, spreading it in a line from the outside edge of the tortilla to about 2/3 of the way down (leaving about 1/3 of the end to fold up to hold the mixture inside.)
- Top with about 2 T grated cheese and thinly sliced green onions (plus extra hot sauce if desired.)
- Fold up the end of the burrito, then fold in the sides over the end so you have one open end and one end thatโs closed to keep the filling in.
- Serve hot.
- The burrito mixture and extra tortillas will freeze well if you donโt eat this all right away.
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22 Comments on “Slow Cooker Spicy Vegetarian Pinto Bean and Chard Burritos”
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Glad the recipe is helpful for you!
My son has recently been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We use these same wraps for sandwiches. I'm always on the look out for low carb meals and meals that are low fat since fat can keep his blood sugar up way past meal time. Thank you.
These look delicious. I was recently given a free bad of fresh, organic groceries and there was some chard in the bag. I've never cooked with chard, so I'm looking for recipes and this should be perfect. There was also onions and green onions. How lucky is that?!
I loved this post and have included it in my July 2012 roundup of meatless meals. Thanks for the fresh approach and the inspiration!
Thanks Mimi. I loved it; lately I am dreaming up ways to use Cholula as I'm infatuated with it.
This really appeals to me!
Thanks Donna! You are always so kind.
Wow! I never would have thought of pairing chard with pintos – another KK masterpiece!
Rem, Oh my, I feel like an idiot. Of course it is supposed to say Cholula. Editing again!
What a great idea! Somehow I've never thought to do anything much with chard other than steam or saute and eat on its own as a side. You've opened my eyes. I'm about to embark on some chard experiments of my own!
No, Cholula (www.cholula.com) is one of my favorite brands, but I have never tried Cholulu.
I thought you said it was one of your favorite hot sauces?
Anyway, I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but if you're wondering if I mentioned that brand because it's a sponsored mention, I don't take money to mention products. I just mention the brands I personally use, and I do love Cholulu for Mexican dishes.
so next question: being a bit of a hot sauce aficionado, is cholulu an awesome brand i should check out or is it cholulu for marketing/legal purposes?
rem, thanks so much; I did indeed mean to write Cholulu. You could substitute other sturdy green like kale or red kale for the chard if they're cheaper. Spinach is much softer, so if you use that I'd cook it only about 30 minutes in the slow cooker. Best thing is to find a farmer's market and get some cheap swiss chard or kale.
this recipe seems great and i bookmarked this page so i can make it hopefully soon
uh, but, one thing, did you mean cholula hot sauce? i've never heard of chululu. i only ask because cholula is one of my favorite hot sauces
also, i am a college student, is chard expensive/if it is is there a cheaper alternative?
i bet the whole point is the flavor, so you probably couldn't substitute with spinach or something without compromising the dish
Thanks everyone. I am so happy to find some fellow chard fans who appreciate this.
I love that you added greens inside. You are the queen of all things beautiful AND healthy!
I am a Swiss chard lover, although I've heard so many people that are puzzled by what to do with it. Great idea, putting them into these vegetarian burritos!
Hey Kalyn, what a hearty satisfying meal! I'm thinking dinner tonight. ๐
Just what I want to eat right now Kalyn. You never fail to make my mouth water. Pity I don't have the ingredients to make them today. To-do-list it is then.
I love adding greens to my burrito fillings and the fact that this is all cooked in the slow cooker is awesome! Makes life so much easier.