When I think of chimichangas I don’t think low-calorie, but I recently found a recipe that lent itself very well to “healthifying.” For starters, the chimichangas are baked not fried, and that really helps bring the calories down and the health up. But you’d never know it because they’re so tasty!
If you prefer to watch your recipes, I made a fun video – otherwise, just scroll for the text recipe…
What is a chimichanga?
Simple: it’s a deep-fried burrito! They’re sooo good, but not great to eat too frequently unless you’re following my recipe.
Low-Calorie Chicken Chimichangas
▸ INSPIRATIONIngredients
- 1 TB olive oil
- 1 yellow onion (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp chipotle powder (or chili powder)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¾ cup salsa (use your favorite)
- 12 oz shredded chicken thighs (cooked)
- 1 16-oz can refried beans (see Notes)
- 8 Mission Carb Balance Tortillas ('soft taco' size)
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese (shredded)
- cooking spray (preferably olive oil)
- hot sauce (optional)
Equipment
- air fryer or regular oven
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet.
- Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, chipotle powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt and pepper and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
- Add salsa and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Add the shredded chicken and stir well. Take the skillet off the heat.
- Get your air fryer (or oven) heated up to 425℉. (Some air fryers don't require pre-heating, if so, skip this step.)
- Put the tortillas on your countertop laid out assembly-line style.
- Add about 1/4 cup of the refried beans and spread it around.
- Sprinkle about 2 TB of the pepper jack over the top of the beans.
- Top with about 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture.
- Roll each tortilla into a burrito. You fold in the top and the bottom, and then roll one of the sides all the way around. Do it as carefully yet tightly as you can. These will be very full burritos! Put on a plate with the seam sides down.
- If you want to freeze them for later, now is the time. I recommend using a vacuum sealer so they don't fall apart in your freezer.
- If your air fryer takes trays, or you're using your oven, spray a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and place the burritos on it seam-side down. No matter which cooking method you're using, then spray the burritos with more olive oil.
- Air Fry (or bake) for 5 minutes then gently flip them over. Cook another 5 minutes. (If cooking from frozen, increase the time per side to 7 minutes.)
- Serve with hot sauce, if desired.I recommend letting them cool a few minutes before eating as the insides get pretty thermo-nuclear!
Notes
Estimated Nutrition Per Serving
Did you make this recipe?
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Let me know if you make these. My freezer is stocked – isn’t that a great feeling? I love having a freezer full of delicious dinners ready to go. I hope you like them!
