Description
Chicken Chimichangas are stuffed with flavorful shredded chicken and Monterey Jack cheese. You can make these two ways: baked or fried!
Ingredients
Scale
1 to 2 cups vegetable oil, divided
Chicken Filling:
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken (a rotisserie chicken works perfect for this)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies
- 8 (burrito-size) flour tortillas, warmed
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Toppings:
- Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, pico, lettuce, etc.
Instructions
Fried Version:
- In a large cast iron or heavy-bottom skillet, pour in enough vegetable oil to fill it 2 inches full of oil. Heat oil over low heat. (This will be the oil you fry the chimichangas in. The oil needs to slowly reach about 375°F.)
Baked Version:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Chicken Filling:
- In a separate large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until slightly softened.
- Add in garlic, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the shredded, cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in the green chilies and continue to stir and cook mixture for another 5 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Set aside.
- Warm tortillas in the microwave.
- On each tortilla, add about 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture into the center.
- Top with 3 tablespoons of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Fold sides over the mixture, then fold bottom over the sides and roll up.
- Place folded chimichangas, seam side down on a large plate/platter, and repeat with remaining tortillas.
Fried Version:
- Using tongs, lower one chimichanga at a time into the hot oil, seam side down. (It is helpful to hold them with the tongs while they are in the oil to prevent them from opening.)
- Carefully fry chimichanga until golden brown on both sides; about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Transfer the fried chimichangas onto a paper towel-lined plate to soak up grease.
Baked Version:
Place the wrapped chimichangas onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
Spray the tops with non-stick spray.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serve chimichangas warm with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken: It saves time and adds extra flavor.
- Cheese options: You can swap Monterey Jack with cheddar or a Mexican blend.
- Freezing instructions: Freeze before baking or frying for a quick meal later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chimichanga
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg