Tiffany Haney
Chimichangas are a popular Mexican dish that can be made in an air fryer. They are essentially large burritos filled with a variety of ingredients such as meat, beans, cheese, and vegetables. The air fryer allows for a healthier alternative to deep frying, resulting in a crispy and golden dish without the use of excessive oil. This method also reduces mess and cleanup time. Preparing chimichangas in an air fryer is a convenient and tasty option for a weeknight meal.
Characteristics and Values Table for Air Fryer Chimichangas
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Filling | Chicken, chiles, cheese, ground beef, beans, rice, salsa, cumin, garlic powder, salt, oregano, chili powder, tomato sauce, green chilies, taco seasoning, ground cumin, ground beef, homemade taco seasoning |
| Tortilla | Flour tortilla, flatbread |
| Temperature | 360-400°F |
| Time | 4-10 minutes |
| Toppings | Mexican crema, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, black olives, lettuce, queso |
| Calories | 443-465kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 22-27g |
| Protein | 36-42g |
| Fat | 21-23g |
| Saturated Fat | 5-9g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1-3g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5-8g |
| Cholesterol | 98-100mg |
| Sodium | 415-1069mg |
| Fiber | 2-5g |
| Sugar | 1-5g |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Filling options: chicken, beef, pork, or vegetarian
Chicken is a popular choice for chimichanga fillings, and you can use either shredded chicken or chicken thighs. You can also use a rotisserie chicken to save time. Season the chicken with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook it in a skillet with onion, garlic, and chiles. You can also add salsa to the chicken mixture for extra flavor and moisture. If you want to add a creamy element to your filling, include some sour cream or cream cheese.
For a beef chimichanga, you can use ground beef or shredded beef. Season the beef with taco seasoning, cumin, and chili powder, and cook it in a skillet until it is browned. You can also add onion, garlic, and chiles to the beef mixture for extra flavor.
If you're looking for a pork option, shredded pork is a great choice. You can season it with taco seasoning, cumin, and chili powder, and cook it in a skillet until it is browned.
For a vegetarian chimichanga, you have plenty of options. You can use refried beans, black beans, or Pinto beans as your base and add onion, garlic, chiles, and cheese. You can also include roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and peppers.
Air Fryer Tamales: Can You Cook Them Raw?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How to roll a chimichanga
To roll a chimichanga, start by warming a large burrito-sized tortilla in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds to make it soft and pliable. You can also use a dry skillet to warm the tortilla. Place your filling of choice across the tortilla, leaving an inch and a half or two at each end. Make sure you don't overfill it. After adding your filling, fold the sides of the tortilla inwards, then roll it up tightly, tucking in the ends to create a burrito shape. As you roll, use your fingers to tuck the tortilla under the filling.
The key to a good chimichanga is ensuring that it is tightly wrapped so that the filling doesn't leak out during cooking. To achieve this, use your fingers to press and set the shape as you roll. You can also use toothpicks to secure the ends and prevent the chimichanga from unfolding while cooking.
Once you've rolled your chimichanga, it's ready to be placed in the air fryer. You can cook two chimichangas at a time, placing them folded-side down in the air fryer. Brush or spray the chimichangas with oil before air frying, to achieve a crispy texture.
Air-Fryer Fish and Chips: Quick, Crispy, and Delicious!
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Air fryer settings and timings
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3–5 minutes. Spray the metal basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chimichangas in the basket, seam-side down, and spray the tops lightly with oil or cooking spray. Air fry for 4–6 minutes, then flip the chimichangas over and spray again with cooking spray. Air fry for an additional 2–4 minutes, or until the chimichangas are lightly browned and crispy to your liking.
Some recipes suggest cooking chimichangas at a lower temperature of 360°F for a total cooking time of 8–10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
If you are cooking frozen chimichangas, wrap them in foil and air fry for 18–20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The foil will prevent the outside from burning before the inside is heated through.
It is important to monitor the air fryer throughout the cooking process to ensure that the chimichangas are cooked to your desired level of brownness and crispness.
Air Fryer Tortillas: Quick, Easy, and Healthy?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$22.99 $35
Make-ahead and freezing instructions
There are two main ways to make chimichangas ahead of time. The first method involves completely cooking the entire batch of air fryer chimichangas and then reheating them individually as needed. With this approach, you can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to four days and reheat them in the microwave for about two minutes. Alternatively, you can use the air fryer for reheating, but it may be easier to store the uncooked chimichangas until you're ready to air fry them, avoiding the need to air fry twice.
The second method involves preparing the chimichangas without air frying them. You can store these unfried chimichangas in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to two months. When you're ready to eat them, simply air fry them. If they're coming straight from the fridge, add two minutes to the air fry time. If they're frozen, wrap them in foil and air fry for 18-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Frying Chicken Wings: How Long for Perfectly Crispy Results?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Toppings and sides
There are several toppings and sides you can serve with your air-fried chimichangas to elevate your meal.
For toppings, you can add salsa, sour cream, avocado, and cheese. You can also sprinkle on some spicy Mexican shredded cheese before wrapping your chimichangas. If you're making chicken chimichangas, you can top them with homemade queso blanco, black olives, and pico de gallo. You can also add shredded lettuce to the plate before serving the chimichangas.
As for sides, you can serve chimichangas with cilantro lime rice, cilantro lime cauliflower rice, or instant pot refried beans. A light salad, such as a Mexican-inspired grilled corn salad with Cotija or a corn, tomato, and avocado salad, would also pair well.
If you're cooking for a crowd, you can make a large batch of chimichangas and store them in the refrigerator for up to four days. Then, simply reheat them in the air fryer or microwave when you're ready to serve.
Air-Fryer Uncrustables: The Perfect Timing for a Quick Snack
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It takes between 8 to 12 minutes to cook chimichangas in an air fryer. Halfway through, flip the chimichangas to ensure they are evenly cooked on all sides.
The air fryer should be preheated to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Warm the tortillas before filling them to make them more pliable and easier to fold. Use your favourite fillings, but make sure the chimichangas are tightly wrapped so that the filling does not leak out while cooking.
