Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls (Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free)

If you like burritos, then you're going to LOVE these Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls! Inspired by the popular Tex-Mex wet burrito found at certain restaurants in the United States (mostly in my home state of Michigan), these Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls bring the same incredible flavor and deliciousness of wet burritos, even without the tortilla. In addition to being low FODMAP, these low FODMAP burrito bowls are gluten-free and can be made lactose-free by using lactose-free cheese and sour cream.

Please note: this recipe contains spicy ingredients, which may not sit well for some folks with IBS. See notes in the recipe card below for more information.

Jump to:

• What the heck is a "wet" burrito?!?
• Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: Make them Your Way
• Necessary Equipment
• Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: Ingredients & Success Tips
• Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: The Perfect Bite
• Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls (Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free)
• Related Recipes

What the heck is a "wet" burrito?!?

Wet burritos are large burritos that traditionally seasoned meat (most commonly ground beef), refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion wrapped in a large flour tortilla, and smothered in red enchilada sauce and lots of melted cheese. I grew up eating them at Mexican restaurants in Michigan and still love to eat them when I visit home. They're one of my all time favorite things to eat.

Later as an adult, when I tried to find them at Mexican restaurants in other parts of the world (like California, Washington State, British Columbia, Mexico, etc.), however - wet burritos are typically not on the menu. This puzzled me at first, but I later learned that wet burritos are not authentic Mexican food. Rather, wet burritos are Tex-Mex, which has Mexican influences but is centered in American Southwestern cuisine. Thus, while I could order a regular burrito at authentic Mexican restaurants, wet burritos were typically not on the menu.

Now that I live well outside of Michigan, I get my wet burrito fix by making these Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls. They're like a deconstructed wet burrito without the tortilla. There are a number of other recipes on this site that skip the tortilla or bread element in general: my Low FODMAP Air Fryer Shrimp Taco Bowls, Low FODMAP Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad, Low FODMAP Instant Pot Carnitas, Low FODMAP Taco Salad, and more. Now we can add these Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls to that collection of delicious, tortilla-less recipes.

Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: Make them Your Way

This low FODMAP burrito bowl recipe has multiple components: the meat and produce, the recipe for which is found in the recipe card below; the low FODMAP refried beans, the recipe and FODMAP information for which is at that post; and the low FODMAP red enchilada sauce, which I posted last week. You can make the bowls your own; however. If you don't like the idea of a "wet" burrito, you can simply not use the enchilada sauce and instead top your low FODMAP burrito bowl with sour cream (lactose-free if needed) and/or low FODMAP salsa (homemade or store-bought). Or, if you don't eat legumes, you can always leave out the refried beans and eat the low FODMAP burrito bowl as is or with some rice to make it more substantial.

The toppings are totally negotiable, too. I never eat my wet burrito bowls with tomatoes (read about my lifelong dislike for raw tomatoes here), but I eat all of the other toppings listed in this recipe. If you don't do dairy, you can skip the cheese and sour cream. For those who don't do lactose - lactose-free options of marble cheese and sour cream are readily available.

If you're going to add any toppings or ingredients not listed below or in the sauce or beans recipes, be sure to consult Monash University's Low FODMAP Diet App to make sure they are low FODMAP and not in conflict with any of the existing ingredients.

Necessary Equipment

The equipment I use to make these Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls includes:

• Stovetop
• Large skillet
• Flipping spatula
• Chopping board and knife
• Measuring spoons and cups

Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: Ingredients & Success Tips

Low FODMAP Refried Beans & Red Enchilada Sauce

Like most bowl recipes that create the majority of the components from scratch, this low FODMAP burrito bowl recipe takes some time to prepare. However, you can make the prep easier by making the low FODMAP refried beans and low FODMAP red enchilada sauce the night before and reheating them in the microwave the next day, ingredients and instructions for which can be found in those respective posts.

If you are only able to make the beans and sauce the day-of, once cooked, cover and put them in a place to keep warm. You may need to reheat them before serving depending on how long it takes to get everything else prepared. To easily do this, I just put them back on medium low for a few minutes until they start to steam, stirring frequently to prevent overcooking.

Produce & Cheese

Then, I chop the produce and shred the cheese for the bowls, keeping them all separate until ready to assemble the bowls. One of those dishes with multiple connected serving bowls comes in handy for this purpose. I found mine at a thrift store, and it's been soooo handy!

The produce ingredients include:

• Iceberg lettuce (or your favorite greens), thinly sliced or shredded
• Common tomatoes, chopped - previously listed as FODMAP-free by Monash University, common tomatoes have been recently retested by Monash University for FODMAPs. They're now listed as low FODMAP in servings of up to ½ of a tomato or 65 grams.
• Scallions (a.k.a. green onions), dark green parts only, chopped

I use lactose-free marble cheese, coarsely shredded for the bowls. If you don't need lactose-free, feel free to use regular marble or cheddar cheese. If you don't eat cheese, feel free to leave it out.

Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Meat

To make the meat component of these low FODMAP burrito bowls, I first brown ground beef in a large skillet on medium heat. Once browned, I drain the fat from the skillet. Then, I place the skillet back on the heat and add the following:

• Garlic-infused olive oil - adds garlicy flavor without the garlic
• Leek, dark green leaves only, finely chopped - adds oniony flavor without the onion, which is traditionally used in wet burritos
• 1 jalapeño, finely chopped

I use a spatula to combine the leek and jalapeño with the meat and sauté until the leek and pepper have softened a bit, about 3 minutes.

Seasonings

Then, I reduce the skillet heat to low and add the following seasonings and ¼ cup of water to the skillet:

• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Dried oregano leaves
• Sea salt
• Ground black pepper

I stir until the skillet contents are evenly covered in spices and continue to sauté on low for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. I remove the skillet from heat.

Bowl Assembly

Before assembling the bowls, I check the heat levels of the refried beans and enchilada sauce before adding them as they may cool to an unpalatable level. If they are still in their saucepans, I reheat them by placing their saucepans back on the burners on medium heat for a few minutes, stirring often to prevent burning. If I've made them in advance, I heat them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring after each minute.

To assemble my low FODMAP wet burrito bowls, I add the iceberg lettuce to the bottom of 4 bowls, about 1.5 cups each. Then, I top the lettuce with the burrito meat, low FODMAP refried beans, tomatoes, and scallions. I top the bowls with cheese, low FODMAP salsa (homemade or store-bought), sour cream, and the low FODMAP enchilada sauce.

Low FODMAP Wet Burrito Bowls: The Perfect Bite

After assembling the bowls, my family and I typically mix all of the ingredients together in our own bowls, which creates the perfectly delicious bite that most resembles the flavor of a wet burrito. It doesn't look pretty at that point, but man - it's so delicious.

Print

Related Recipes