Chicken Chimichangas

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I rarely make fried food but when I do, I go all the way and these chimichangas are so worth the indulgence! Shredded chicken cooked in a rich tomato sauce, creamy refried beans and tangy cheeddar cheese are the perfect filling for this wonderful crispy flour tortilla bundle.

But what is a chimichanga? Chimichanga is basically a fried burrito. Burritos are Mexican and Chimichangas are Tex-Mex. That is all I care to know. Doesn’t matter who came up with them, they are just delicious, filling, comforting, and feel like I am at a party every time I eat them.

What you need to make Chicken Chimichangas

Burrito Size flour tortillas. I am lucky enough to get fresh flour tortillas from my grocery store bakery. These are much softer and pliable than the ones you buy in the bread aisle. If you can’t find fresh, just wrap the store bough tortillas on paper towels and microwave them for 30 seconds to make them softer.

Cooked shredded chicken. I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe.

Canned Pinto Beans. Refried beans will work great too.

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Tomatoes

Onions

Garlic

Tomato Paste

Salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder

For serving: Shredded lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo and salsa.

Helpful Tips and Tricks

These chimichangas are great to make ahead! You can make the burritos the day before and keep them tightly cover in the refrigerator until ready to fry. Just let them sit on the counter for a few minutes to bring them to almost room temperature before placing them in the hot oil.

They are also freezer friendly! This recipe makes about 10 chimichangas. If you have leftovers Just individually wrap each chimichanga in saran wrap and place them in a zip top back. When you are ready to eat, you can quickly warm them up in the microwave (they will be soft) or air fryer to make them crispy.

Other Cooking methods

Oven Bake: Lightly brush the chimichangas with olive oil and place them on baking sheet. Bake in a 400-degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Air Fryer: Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray and arrange the chimichangas in the basket on a single layer. Spray the chimichangas with cooking spray and cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip the chimichangas and spray again. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until golden brown.

How to serve Chimichangas

I like to really taste the chicken and beans in my chimichanga so I always go light with the toppings. Fresh iceberg lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo and salsa are my favorite toppings but the choices are endless. Guacamole, queso, salsa verde. All delicious.

Since there are beans already inside the chimichanga, I serve them with a side of Mexican rice. You can’t go wrong with that!

Recipe for my Mexican Rice Here

About

Hello, my name is Marisol Chancellor. I was born and raised in Monterrey Mexico. I’ve been living in Texas for 12 years and even when I love barbeque, fruit cobblers and sweet tea, there’s something that has the power of transporting me right back to my mom’s kitchen and gives me a little piece of home, cooking. I grew up in the kitchen and for me, memories are always linked to food, and behind the food, well, there’s always a story that comes along. So, please let me share with you my love for cooking and while we are at it, let’s share some memories, because let’s be honest, we are also hungry for nostalgia.

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