Easy 30-Minute Chicken Chimichanga Recipe – baked chicken chimichangas are the ultimate in Tex Mex comfort food. They’re made with a flavorful cheesy, saucy, chicken filling stuffed in a tortilla wrapped that gets baked until the shell is golden and crispy!
This baked chicken chimichanga recipe isn’t deep fried like traditional chimichangas so they’re much lighter and less greasy without the mess to clean up after!
They come together so easily and I love making them for something a little different than our usual tacos and burritos on Mexican-themed dinner nights. It’s a great way to use up the leftover chicken when I have it, and when I want different flavors I just use a different filling! It’s super simple.
I love that when they’re baked the shells hold together so my kids can enjoy it as a handheld dinner or take it on the go when we’re headed out the door. These crave-worthy chimichangas are becoming a family favorite around here and I just know you are going to love this crispy cheesy flavorful recipe too!
If you make Easy Chicken Chimichanga Recipe for lunch or dinner, please tag my name @munchkintimeblog and hashtag #munchkintimeblog on Instagram, I would LOVE to see your creation!
What is a Chimichanga?
It’s basically a fried burrito! It’s stuffed like a burrito with things like meat, cheese, beans, and perhaps a sauce or some seasoning and then it’s usually deep-fried. In our case, we are skipping the deep frying but baking it instead getting the same delicious results.
To make Chicken Chimichangas you will need:
- Chicken breast – Use boneless and skinless chicken breast. You can cook it and shred it as part of this recipe or use leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Cheese – Monterrey Jack is my favorite to use in many Tex Mex recipes, but you can use whatever cheese you like. Sharp cheddar is also great!
- Mild green chiles – I use mild so my kids can eat them and enjoy them, but if you and your family like a little heat you can use hotter chiles if you prefer.
- Cumin – A warm, earthy spice that gives the filling another layer of flavor.
- Mexican white sauce – A thick, creamy, homemade sauce made from a delicious blend of sour cream, cream cheese, chiles, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. It is perfection!
- Flour tortillas – I use 6, but if you can easily double or half the recipe if needed, depending on how many people you’re feeding.
- Butter – Brushing the tortillas with melted butter before baking helps turn them golden brown on top.
- Salsa – For serving! Along with any other favorites like extra Mexican white sauce, extra cheese, guacamole, sour cream, you name it!
How to make Chimichangas:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grab a large saucepan and fill it halfway with water and place over medium heat to bring to a boil.
Step 2: Add the chicken breast and cook through until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Drain the water and let it cool.
Step 3: Transfer the chicken breasts to a bowl and shred the chicken using two forks. Pull chicken pieces apart until it is all shredded and in small pieces.
Step 4: Soften the tortillas a bit by placing them on the stovetop for a few seconds. This will help them become a little more flexible so they don’t break when rolled up.
Step 5: In the bowl with the shredded chicken, add the cumin, cheese, chiles, Mexican white sauce, salt, and pepper, and give everything a good mix.
Step 6: Lay the tortillas flat and add a ½ cup of the chicken mixture onto the center of each one. Fold the ends up and then fold over the two sides to create an envelope to cover the filling. Roll them over to place the seam side down onto a prepared baking sheet or baking dish.
Step 7: Brush each chimichanga with butter and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
How to Serve Chimichangas
Baked chimichangas are definitely filling and satisfying all on their own. Sometimes all you need is a cabbage salad or a bed of rice and you’ve got a meal fit for even the hungriest crowd!
Some of our favorite toppings to add are:
- Extra Mexican white sauce
- Extra shredded cheese
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced avocados
- Guacamole
- Cilantro-lime crema
- Queso fresco
- Sour cream
COOKING Tips
- Take your tortillas out of the fridge (if that’s where you keep them) early enough so that they are at least room temperature, to begin with.
- To keep them warm and pliable, you can stack them, microwave them, then place a lightly damp paper towel on top of them to keep them soft.
- Grate your cheese fresh from a block. It tastes better and melts better because it doesn’t come with the anti-clumping agents that come in a pre-shredded package.
- Switch the chicken to the leftover turkey. These make a great day-after-thanksgiving dinner idea!
How to Store Baked Chimichangas?
Store baked chimichangas in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I Make Chimichangas Ahead?
You can! These are great for meal prepping, freezing, and baking them when you’re ready. Wrap unbaked chimichangas in plastic wrap then add them to a freezer-friendly Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.
When you’re ready to bake them, thaw in the fridge overnight, remove the plastic, and follow the recipe directions as listed.
More Easy Chicken Recipes:
Juicy Chicken Thighs Spanish Rice Recipe
30-minute Bang Bang Chicken Recipe in Air Fryer
Easy Fried Rice Recipe with Eggs and Green Onion
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple and Peppers
Super Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Wings
Oven Baked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Easy 30-Minute Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breast cooked & shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
- 4 oz. mild chiles diced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup Mexican White Sauce more for serving
- 6 flour tortillas
- butter for brushing
- salsa for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Bring large saucepan filled half way with water to a boil, add chicken breast and cook on medium heat until it is cooked thru and chicken is no longer pink inside. Drain the water and let it cool. Using hands or two forks tear the chicken into small pieces.
- Warm tortillas on top of the stove for few seconds, it will make them soft and flexible.
- In a mixing bowl combine chicken, ground cumin, cheese, chillies, Mexican White Sauce, salt and pepper. Give it a good mix.
- Place 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture on center of each tortilla. Fold the sides, then the bottom side up, to cover the filling, roll over to create chimichangas.
- Brush each chimichangas with butter and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden color. Serve with leftover Mexican White Sauce, Guacamole or cabbage salad.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like this 30-Minute Chicken Chimichanga Recipe?
Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!
Thank you for stopping by!
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These are wonderful! I have made them several times and I’m making them Christmas Eve. As someone already asked can I make these ahead of time without them getting soggy? I have not tried that yet.
What is Mexican white sauce
HI I am making tomorrow. Can I make in the afternoon and then refrigerate for a few hours and cook later? Or do you think they will get soggy?
I haven’t made these yet. I am going to try soon. The place that makes my favorite chimichangas will serve it with a sauce on top that I assume is added after it’s cooked. The sauce is a salsa verde mixed with chicken gravy. That’s what I’m guessing because their recipe is secret. I’ve had to copy a wet burrito recipe from there as well.
OMG… Seriously the best baked chimichanga recipe EVER. I made all the fixings for steak fajitas in case my son and husband didn’t like the chicken chimichangas. Total waste of time, as they both said the chimichangas totally blew away the steak fajitas.
The Mexican white sauce makes this recipe totally top notch. I’ll definitely be making these chicken chimichangas on total repeat in the future.
Thanks for sharing!
Omg! I am so glad you liked this chicken chimichangas recipe, Sher!!! Thank you so much for the best recipe review and for giving this recipe a try! You are the best!
Oh this is goooood. I just made some for dinner! Before rolling the tortilla I added a little extra Mexican sauce and shredded cheese on it. Came out great! Adding this to my dinner favorites!
This is the best recipe ever!!!. Having tonight for my daughters birthday with Mexican rice and refried beans, don’t need a restaurant for these.
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We love this recipe! I have shared with friends and family and they love it too!
Hi! These look amazing! Excited to try. But was wondering if you could use an alternative for the white sauce? Like a store bought one that’s easier 😹.
Thank you!!
These were delicious! Very crispy and flavorful!
Thank you so much Crissy! I am so glad you like them!
These are so delicious and the white sauce is so yummy! This is the second time we’re making them, by the kids request!
I made these for my family and they were fabulous! My daughter doesn’t eat meat so I put pinto beans, spicy rice and the sauce in hers. She loved it. Quick and inexpensive. I will make again soon.
These were great! And easy. The sauce is delicious. I served the chimichangas with a rice/blackbean/corn mixture and sliced avocado on the side. This will fit into my recipe rotation. We loved them. Thank you!
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Made these for dinner and they were a big success. My husband likes them better than what he gets at Mexican Resturant. Sauce is delicious!! Making them again next week at family’s request. Thank you for sharing
Woohoo! I am so glad he liked it! Thank you so much Carol, for sharing your awesome recipe review and for rating this recipe! You are the best!
I am looking for this great idea! I don’t see where the cheese went. Did you put it in after the mixture gets rolled or into the mix with sauce?
Thanks!!
Hi Lisa, I put cheese into the tortilla with the rest of the ingredients, then fold it into chimichangas. I hope this makes sense. Thank you for noticing it!
These look delish! Do you think this would work with corn tortillas? (For a gluten free option.) TIA!
Thank you Aubrey! I have never tried them with corn tortillas and not sure how they would work, but if you try it with corn tortillas would you let me know if you like them with corn tortillas?
What size tortilla is best?
Hi Kellie! I used medium size tortillas. Hope this helps!
Made them tonight. We all loved them. The sauce is delicious. Will be making these again and again. Thank you for sharing.
Hubby really liked these. i would put a little less white sauce n the chicken next time but other than that, they were good
Thank you for your recipe review, Tammy!
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These were super easy and delicious! The family loved them! I have a lot of the white sauce leftover, do you think this would freeze well, so I can use for this recipe again at a later date? TIY!!
Hi Angie, so glad you enjoyed these chicken chimichangas! Thats a really good question, I usually double the recipe when making this meal, I have never froze the sauce on its own. If you try it would you let me know how it tastes after you let it thaw. Thank you!
I’ve made these recently and they are really easy to make and everyone loved them. I will definitely put this is my rotation of meals. It was a hit with the entire family.
I am so happy to hear this Jeanne! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe review!