Chicken Chimichangas are stuffed with flavorful shredded chicken and Monterey jack cheese! You can make these two ways; baked or fried. Either way, they are guaranteed to fill you and your family up.
You all know how much I love Mexican style dishes. Tacos are essentially my love language, but I intentionally try to prepare something a little different on nights when me and my family are craving Mexican for dinner. My Chicken Chimichangas are stuffed to the maximum with tender, juicy chicken, and authentic flavor.
My favorite part about this recipe is that these chimichangas are completely versatile in how you decide to serve them. You can either bake or fry each chimichanga. Frying them is the traditional way and it is incredible! 🙂
If you are looking for a meal with less prep and less calories I recommend baking them. They will still be amazing! But when I am feeling a little extra indulgent and need the fried food fix I will warm up a skillet of oil and fry each chimichanga for added flavor and texture.
When I first made these for my husband, Kale, I asked what he thought and his response was, “These are the best chimichangas I’ve ever had! Better than any restaurant.”
Wow! That’s the reaction I’m looking for with every meal. Give this recipe a shot and see if you can get the same comment from one of your family members.
WHAT OIL DO I USE FOR FRYING THE CHIMICHANGAS?
I recommend using vegetable oil in a cast iron or heavy bottomed-skillet. Only fill with about an inch or two of oil. That’s all you’ll need.
MEAT OPTIONS
Try my Cafe Rio Sweet Pork or my Shredded Beef as a substitute for the chicken.
TOPPINGS
When you’re ready to dig in top these with Pico de Gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cheese or whatever your heart desires!
ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE MEXICAN-STYLE CLASSICS!
Mexican Street Tacos – Authentic style tacos filled with steak, cilantro, and onion.
Mexican Rice – The perfect side dish to any Mexican style dish flavored with chicken broth, cumin, and salsa.
Baked Chicken Taquitos – Crispy flour tortillas wrapped around tender chicken and melty cheese.
Homemade Salsa – Incredible homemade salsa that will make you never want to buy store bought again!
Chicken Chimichangas
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 cups vegetable oil, divided
- 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, etc.
Instructions
- FOR 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 degrees F.)
- FOR BAKED VERSION: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a separate large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add in 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.
- FOR 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 keep them from opening.)Carefully fry until golden brown on both sides. This only should take a minute or two.
- Place fried chimichangas onto a paper towel lined plate to soak up grease. Serve warm with your favorite toppings!
- FOR 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.
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Oh how I LOVE Mexican food! Looks delish, Holly!
yummmm cant wait to try this
I’m glad ur husband loved these…I can’t wait to try them!
I am laughing at Kale! He is my husband Lance’s twin just as you are mine! Lance is quiet, laid back and has the same reaction to food. I can’t get over it. These look so good! I need to make these. Thanks, chica!
I LOVE Mexican food – these look and sound amazing. I’m so glad you shared….mucho gracias! =)
Oh me oh my Holly I think I am in love! These sound AAAAMAZING! So bookmarking these right now 🙂
Oh Yum! These look so good! So glad you got such a great compliment!
I am glad to hear that your husband has enjoyed those, which makes you so happy! They sound amazing!
Now you make me VERY curious! I have never tried Chimichangas but this will be my first time when I try!
Those look so good! A yummy speciality.
Cheers,
Rosa
That was funny about Kale. Definitely sounds like my husband. I can usually tell if he is super quiet if it is really good but I never get a standing ovation or anything..lol. Love this recipe. I’m such a lover of Chimichangas!!
Ahh my fiance is the sameee way! He would be happy eating sandwiches every night and whenever I make dinner and ask him what he thinks he says “it’s really good” or something similar. EVERY time. But occasionally he’ll surprise me and say “omg this is the best meal I’ve ever had!”
I’ve been wanting to make chimichangas for a while now and you’re tempting me even more!!
Sues
Our husbands sound very similar. I sit and wait for the verdict but unless I ask or it is inedible he often doesn’t say anything. I’ve learned to tell by how much of his meal he finishes and whether he wants to eat the leftovers. 🙂 I’m pretty sure he’d love these, though. He loves chimichangas.
How divine. I am having cheese and bread cravings, this would be perfect.
LOL! I’m glad he liked them. I love when someone raves about something I make.
I’ve never had chimichanga’s but I definitely want to try them now!
Sounds yummy!!! Bookmarking this one!! The Red Velvet Brownies look deeevine too;)
i love me some chimichangas!
yes yes yes, I would love to make thse over the weekend.
Your chicken chimichangas looks so good!
I think all husbands are about the same! Sounds pretty familiar to me! Hehehe! Have a lovely weekend!
Holly these look so good. I am a big fan of Chimichangas when we go out to eat. I can’t wait to make them at home 🙂
Oh yes! No doubt that these are delicious. Awesome.
Cheers.
Velva
I always wa t the rave reviews from my hubby as well. Kudos to you. Yeah. I need to try these. I love love love chimichangas.
I’ve never had a chimichanga but now I want to! Looks YUMMY!!!
This looks so good. I would love it if you came over to Cast Party Wednesday tomorrow and shared some of your recipes with us.
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!
i made these earlier this month and they were SO good! we loved them! even my super picky boys ate them up. i am making them again tonight because we have company coming and these were so easy and SO good! thanks so much for sharing! i couldn’t believe i actually made something so good!
This recipe sounds awesome! I usually bake my chimis by brushing lightly with butter and bake at 375 until lightly browned. But given the choice..I love them fried! Thanks Holly!
HAVE YOU TRIED THESE IN AND AIR fRYER?? iF SO WHAT TEMP AND HOW LONG WOULD YOU COOK THEM? i DEFINETLY NEED TO MAKE THESE! lOVE, LOVE, LOVE MEXICAN FOOD!
Hi Susanna! I definitely think you could air fry these! I haven’t tried it yet, but if I did I would cook them at 400 degrees for about 4 to 6 minutes!
These were delish! I used my low carb tortillas and yet still delish the filling is rich and texure is great
These were amazing!! Had some leftover cilantro rice and added this. Will make these over and over! Thank you for this recipe!
These are amazing! I dont know why it took me so long to make these at home.