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Baked Chicken Chimichangas are like a crispy burrito, stuffed with chicken + cheese. Everyone will love this simple restaurant-style recipe!
Crispy, Baked Chicken Chimichangas are simple to make and are so delicious! Packed full of your favorite fillings, these Chimis are great for dinner and are perfect served with some homemade Salsa and Guacamole!
A family favorite!
Our family loves good Mexican food! Being Hispanic, Mexican food was something I grew up on. One of our favorite dishes happens to be Chimichangas!
Our favorite Chimis have chicken, but we also love making shredded beef and bean versions as well.
What are chimichangas? A Chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito that is popular in Tex-Mex, Southwestern U.S. cuisine, especially here in Arizona.
Customize the flavor to suit your tastes by using your favorite salsa (we use a traditional medium salsa, however, salsa verde would be delicious too)!
They’re easy to whip up thanks to Knorr® Rice Sides ™. You need just 8 ingredients and 30 minutes for these delicious Baked Chimichangas. Simple, right?!
How to Make Chimichangas
This is a very simple Baked Chimichanga version. Yes, these can be fried, but we prefer this lighter, healthier version.
PREP. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
CHICKEN MIXTURE. In a large bowl, combine the cooked, shredded chicken with salsa, cumin, and oregano. Set aside.
RICE. Prepare your Knorr® Fiesta Sides™rice according to package directions (cover and simmer for 7 minutes) or rice recipe. Remove from heat.
WRAP & BAKE. Stir in the chicken mixture and cheese. Divide the mixture between Flour Tortillas, wrap and place seam-side down on a lined baking sheet. Brush with the remaining oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
TOPPINGS. Serve with your favorite toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped tomato, chopped cilantro, chopped green onion, chopped lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and lime wedges.
Variations
Here are our favorite ways to change up the recipe:
- Cheese. Substitute or pair with cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or a fiesta cheese blend.
- Sauce. Add a few tablespoons of enchilada sauce to the mixture or drizzle the sauce over the Baked Chimichanga.
- Meat. The chicken can be substituted with an equal amount of shredded pork or beef.
- Tortilla. These bake best in a flour tortilla, but if frying you can use either flour or corn tortillas.
Recipe Tips
Folding a Baked Chimichanga. It’s just like folding a burrito. Place the meat and rice in the middle of the open tortilla. Fold up the bottom of the tortilla over that mixture, then fold both sides in towards the middle and roll up.
Fry Chimichangas. Baking is perfect for getting the same great taste, without added calories. However, if you’re feeling a little indulgent you can easily fry the Chimichangas instead.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 2 inches of vegetable oil.
- Place the filled and folded Chimichanga seam side down in the oil.
- Turn every 30 seconds until golden brown on all sides. Enjoy!
Air fryer. Aside from baking, the air fryer is another great way to get a crisp Chimichanga without frying it in oil.
- Fold the Chimichangas as directed and spray/brush each side with olive oil.
- Working in batches, fry the chimichangas at 400°F for 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway.
Storing Info + Side Ideas
FREEZE. Baked Chicken Chimichangas make a perfect freezer meal. They do not need to be pre-baked.
Wrap each individual Chimichanga in foil, put them in a freezer bag, and label them. Freeze for up to 6 months.
To reheat Oven Baked Chimichangas.
- Microwave. Warm them up in 30-second increments to a minute.
- Oven. Pull the desired amount out of the freezer. Preheat the oven and bake at 425°F. If frozen, bake for 35-40 minutes. If thawed, bake for 20-25 minutes.
Re-brush them with oil to make them crispier.
What to serve with chimichangas? Here are some of our favorites:
- Sour Cream Rice
- Homemade Salsa
- Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Easy Refried Beans
- Homemade Pico de Gallo
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa
- Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing
Recipe FAQ
They’re similar in that they’re made from a folded flour tortilla usually filled with meat, cheese, and other ingredients. The main difference is that chimichangas are deep fried, although in this case it’s baked. 😉
Instead of using packaged rice, you can use homemade. We love to use leftover Spanish Rice in ours! It ends up being about 2 1/2 cups prepared (or half that unprepared).
Place the meat and rice in the middle of the open flour tortilla. Fold up the bottom of the tortilla over that mixture, then fold both sides in towards the middle and roll up.
For more chimi & BURRO recipes, try:
- Bean Chimichangas
- Green Chili Smothered Burritos
- BBQ Chicken Burritos
- Breakfast Burrito
- Green Chili Burrito
- Cheesecake Chimichanga
- Chimichanga
Baked Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup chicken cooked and shredded
- 2/3 cup salsa
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil divided
- 1 package Knorr® Fiesta Sides™ – Spanish Rice
- 1 1/4 cup colby jack cheese shredded
- 4 flour tortillas burrito sized
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked, shredded chicken with salsa, cumin, and oregano. Set aside.
- Prepare your Knorr® Fiesta Sides™rice according to package directions (cover and simmer for 7 minutes) or rice recipe. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the chicken mixture and cheese. Divide the mixture between flour tortillas, wrap and place seam-side down on a lined baking sheet. Brush with the remaining oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What will you make with Knorr Rice Sides? Tag your creations with #Knorr – we’d love to see them! For more simple & tasty Knorr® inspired recipes hop on over to Allrecipes.com. Also, be sure to follow Knorr® on Pinterest!!
Do you mix the rice with the chicken and cheese?
I replaced the knorr brand with a non gmo version of Spanish rice from Lundberg and these were incredible. Yummy! Thank you for the deliscious and simple recipe.
Perfect!! Thank you for sharing! I am so glad you liked them!
So beautiful and tasty
Thank you so much!!!
Tried these tonight A+++next time with shrimp thanks for the post
Thank you so much for trying them & letting me know!! So glad you liked them!
You are so welcome & thank very good.
Hi, I see someone has asked before but I don’t see a reply. How much finished rice do you get? I can’t get that kind of rice in Scotland so need to make my own. Thanks!
I think it’s about 2 1/2 cups of rice in that package. I hope that helps. You could add as little or as much as you like 🙂
Looks yummy and tasty.
Thanks so much!! They really are!
I can’t wait to try these!
I have made Indian fry bread, but mine come out like rubber. How do you prevent that.
I’m not sure? I haven’t had that issue, so I’m not sure what causes that. Here is the recipe we use…https://lilluna.com/homemade-indian-fry-bread/. Not sure what recipe you used, but I won’t use any other one than this. Good luck!
Looks yummy and tasty. I need that one.
You need to try it! Thank you & I’d love to know what you think!