One of my favorite Mexican dishes is Chimichangas. Until recently, whenever I was in the mood for one, it meant finding a good Mexican restaurant and going out for dinner because I don’t like the hassle, mess and lingering odor of using a deep frier. That was before I found a recipe that was too good to be true — chimichangas baked in the oven that have a flaky crust.
If you are at all a fan of Mexican food, you need to give this recipe a try. I hope it becomes one of your favorites too!
Baked Chimichangas
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. melted butter
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp. Mexican seasoning
1 poblano chili, seeded and sliced
1/2 cup sliced onion
Kosher salt
1 cup shredded jack or pepper jack cheese
1 cup canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
10 flour tortillas
Salsa and guacamole
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix oil with melted butter. Set aside.
Coat large saute pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken over medium heat, allow 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. Sprinkle chicken with Mexican spices before turning. Remove chicken to a platter and allow to cool.
Saute onion and poblano chili, and 1 tsp salt stirring often, until vegetables soften and start to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Pull chicken breasts apart by hand into shredded strips. Combine shredded chicken with the vegetables.
Put about 1/2 cup meat and vegetable mixture onto the center of a tortilla. Top with 2 Tbsp. each cheese and beans. Fold in sides and roll up like a burrito. Brush all sides of the chimichanga with the oil and butter mixture and place seam side down on a baking sheet. Fill remaining tortillas and space about 2 inches apart on the pan.
Back, turning halfway through, until browned and crisp, about 20 minutes.
Serve with salsa and guacamole.
Meat Variations:
For a simple alternative, you can replace the cooked chicken with store-bought roasted chicken.
Don’t like chicken? You can easily alter this recipe by replacing the chicken with pulled pork, beef, or even hamburger seasoned with Mexican seasonings.
