A regular sized veggie burrito can range from 300 to 800 calories depending on the size and ingredients. The main factors that affect the calorie count are:
Tortilla
The tortilla is the main source of calories in a veggie burrito. A standard 10-inch flour tortilla contains around 300 calories. Smaller 8-inch tortillas have around 200 calories. Whole wheat or corn tortillas tend to be slightly lower in calories than white flour tortillas.
Rice and Beans
Most veggie burritos contain rice and beans. A 1/2 cup serving of rice adds around 100 calories, while 1/2 cup of refried beans contributes around 120 calories. Burritos made with brown rice tend to be a bit lower in calories than white rice.
Fillings
Ingredients like grilled veggies, cheese, guacamole, and salsa all boost the calorie count. One ounce of cheese can add around 100 calories. A 1/4 cup of guacamole has around 90 calories. Salsas are lower in calories, with a 1/4 cup adding around 20 calories. Grilled veggies like onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc. add minimal calories.
Sour Cream and Condiments
Sour cream is a popular burrito topping, with 2 tablespoons containing around 60 calories. Other condiments like ranch, mayo, and salad dressings can also pile on the calories quickly.
Size
Larger burritos obviously contain more calories. A standard burrito is around 10 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Giant burritos may be 12-14 inches long and over 5 inches wide. The more you stuff into a burrito, the higher the calorie count will be.
Restaurant vs Homemade
Restaurant veggie burritos tend to be higher in calories than homemade ones. That’s because restaurants load on high-calorie toppings like cheese, sour cream, and heavy sauces.
Calories in Restaurant Veggie Burritos
| Restaurant | Burrito | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Chipotle | Veggie Burrito | 710 |
| Qdoba | Vegetarian Burrito | 510 |
| Moe’s Southwest Grill | Homewrecker Veggie Burrito | 600 |
| Freebirds | Super Veggie Monster | 810 |
Calories in Homemade Veggie Burritos
Homemade veggie burritos are very customizable, but here are some typical examples with calorie counts:
- 10-inch flour tortilla (300 calories) + 1/2 cup beans (120) + 1/2 cup rice (100) + 1/4 cup salsa (20) = 540 calories
- 8-inch whole wheat tortilla (150 calories) + 1/2 cup grilled veggies (50) + 1 oz cheese (100) + 1/4 guacamole (90) = 390 calories
- 10-inch spinach tortilla (180 calories) + 1/2 cup lettuce (5) + 1/2 cup black beans (120) + 1/4 cup pico de gallo (10) = 315 calories
Conclusion
A regular sized veggie burrito can range anywhere from 300 calories for a simple bean and rice burrito, up to 800+ calories for a loaded veggie burrito from a restaurant. In general, a good estimate for a standard veggie burrito is around 500-600 calories. But the specific ingredients and size can make the calorie count vary significantly. Sticking to lighter ingredients like grilled veggies and avoiding high-calorie toppings like cheese and sour cream will keep the calorie count on the lower end of the range.