Mark Pardue



History

A few years ago, Taco BellTM used to sell a Smothered Burrito, which became my go-to food when I ate there.  Before they started selling the Smothered Burrito, they had been selling something very similar called an Enchirito.

Shortly after I discovered the Smothered Burrito on their menu, Taco BellTM discontinued it.

2019 - A Workaround

My wife Ann said she’d make me Smothered Burritos at home if I could find the ingredients.  During an internet search, I discovered a website that gave you info on how to order ‘off-menu’ items by just telling the person taking your order how you wanted the current menu item customized.  One of these was the discontinued Smothered Burrito, so I went to my local Taco BellTM and tried it with great success.  I just told them to add red sauce and 3-cheese blend on top and put it in one of their plastic pans (like the old smothered burrito). 

The Pandemic Changes Everything

I did this until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and Taco BellTM no longer customized orders to that degree.  Everything was ordered either by kiosk or mobile, and drastic customization like I needed to have them do to a normal burrito in a paper wrapper to make it a Smothered Burrito in a plastic pan wasn’t possible.

At this point, everything was take-out and I started looking at their mobile app to see if I could figure out a way to get the extra ingredients I needed to be able to take home and make my own version of their old Smothered Burrito.

Taco Bell is a registered trademark of  Taco Bell IP Holder, LLC

The 2021 Solution 

Here is my approach using the Taco BellTM mobile app:

1.   1.  I order a regular burrito.  NOTE:  You can’t just try to add 3-cheese blend or red sauce to a regular burrito because they put it inside the burrito instead of giving you the containers separately. 

2.  2.  My wife likes their tacos and I like to get a taco as an ‘appetizer’ so we order 3 tacos and customize each one by selecting Add Ons from the Customize list. Select 3-cheese blend and check “on the side” so you end up with 3 small containers (1 with each taco) of 3-cheese blend shavings to spread over the top of the burrito (you can also just use your own mix if you have some in your refrigerator).*

3.  There is a a category on the mobile app menu for Sides and Sweets.  From that list, I select Red Sauce and get 4 of those containers.



4.  I bring that stuff home and put the burrito in an oval dish.  Then, I pour the red sauce over the top smothering the entire burrito and I sprinkle all of the 3-cheese blend over the top of that.

5.  I heat in a toaster oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, and voila – Smothered Burrito.

*  You can also add refried beans and/or rice to your order and check “on the side” if you want side dishes.