Cheesy Chicken Chimichangas (Baked)
Flour tortillas rolled around spiced shredded chicken and melted cheese sauce, baked until crisp and golden.
Made with Flour tortillas and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado) and Cheese sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.16 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) and line a baking tray with baking paper. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion and pepper for 6 minutes until soft.
6 min - 2
Add the cumin and paprika for 1 minute, then stir in your ready made shredded chicken (see the base recipe) and the beans. Cook for 3 minutes until hot, then season.
- 3
Warm your ready made cheese sauce (see the base recipe) in a small pan until loose and stir half into the chicken mixture. Keep the rest warm.
- 4
Warm the ready made flour tortillas (see the base recipe) briefly so they bend without cracking. Spoon filling into the centre of each, fold in the sides and roll up tightly like a parcel.
- 5
Place seam side down on the tray and brush with the remaining oil.
- 6
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning once, until crisp and golden. Serve with the remaining warm cheese sauce and soured cream.
19 min
Tips
- Do not overfill the tortillas, or they will split. About 3 to 4 tablespoons of filling is enough.
- The filling should not be wet, or the chimichangas turn soggy. Cook it until fairly thick.
- Brush all sides with oil for an even crunch, similar to deep frying.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours. Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a {t200} oven for 15 minutes until crisp and steaming hot all the way through. Freezes for 2 months.
Questions
What is a chimichanga?
A chimichanga is a deep fried burrito, associated with northern Mexico and the Tex-Mex of Arizona. Baking it is a lighter, easier home version.
Can I deep fry them?
Yes. Fry in 5 cm of oil heated to 180C for 2 minutes per side, until golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
Can I make them vegetarian?
Yes. Replace the chicken with extra black beans and sweetcorn, and use vegetarian cheese in the sauce.
More made with flour tortillas
Quesadillas de Tinga con Queso Oaxaca (Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas)
EFNFQuesadillas de Pavo y Elote con Crema de Lima (Turkey and Sweetcorn Quesadillas)
EFNFBurritos de Pollo en Salsa Verde (Green Salsa Chicken Burritos)
EFNFQuesadillas de Harina Sonorenses (Sonoran Cheese Quesadillas)
EFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.