Best Chow Down Chimichangas Recipes

STREAMLINED CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
• Brown meat with onion and garlic.
• Drain, but do not rinse.
• Stir in picante sauce, cumin, oregano and salt.
• Simmer 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Brush one side of the tortillas with butter.
• On unbuttered side spoon heaping 1/3 cup of meat mixture into center.
• Fold 2 sides over filling, fold ends down.
• Place seam side down in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.
• Bake for 13 minutes or until golden brown.
• To serve, top with sour cream, guacamole and additional picante sauce.

BEEF CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, onion, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic and cumin. , Spoon about 1/3 cup of beef mixture off-center on each tortilla. Fold edge nearest filling up and over to cover. Fold in both sides and roll up. Fasten with toothpicks. In a large saucepan, combine the chilies, peppers and remaining tomato sauce; heat through., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Fry the chimichangas for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with sauce.

ALMOST-FAMOUS CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Melt the butter with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet; transfer to a bowl. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet. Add the onion, garlic and jalapeno and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt; toast 30 seconds. Add the tomato and cilantro and cook until slightly dry, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken and sour cream and warm through. Remove from the heat.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with some of the butter-oil mixture. Spread 2 tablespoons refried beans down the center of each tortilla, leaving a 2-inch border on both ends. Top with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Fold in the ends and roll up.
• Put the chimichangas seam-side down on the baking sheet; brush with the butter-oil mixture. Bake 8 to 10 minutes per side, brushing again after you flip. Top with the sauce, more cheese, lettuce and tomato. Serve with rice and the remaining beans.
• Saute onions and garlic cloves in a skillet with vegetable oil. Add a pinch each of chili powder, cumin, sugar and salt; cook 30 seconds. Stir in green chiles; cook 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer until thickened, then puree. Stir in cilantro.

BAKED CHICKEN AND RICE CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the cooked shredded chicken with salsa, cumin, and oregano in a large bowl.
• Prepare Knorr® Fiesta Sides™ - Mexican Rice according to package directions. Remove from the heat.
• Stir rice and shredded cheese into the chicken mixture. Divide the mixture among flour tortillas; wrap and place seam-side down on a lined baking sheet. Brush with oil.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. Serve, if desired, with your favorite toppings.

TOP NOTCH TOP ROUND CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cayenne, granulated garlic, and flour. Set aside. In a heavy bottomed, large stock pot, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes and brown on all sides. Add onions and jalapenos and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Mix in flour mixture, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze with beef broth. Then add vinegar. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 hours, adding additional beef broth, if necessary, to keep meat simmering in liquid. When meat is fork tender, remove to a sheet pan and shred with 2 forks. Add shredded beef back into pot, along with pinto and black beans, lime juice and half the cilantro. Cook until mixture is heated through. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large, deep-sided skillet, heat corn oil to 325 degrees F. While oil is heating, prepare chimichangas. Fill bottom half of a tortilla with 3/4 cup of the beef and bean mixture and 2 tablespoons pepper jack cheese (when filling tortillas, use a slotted spoon to scoop out beef if mixture is a little liquidy). Lift the edge of the tortilla and roll it over the filling to secure it. Fold in both sides and continue rolling until you reach the opposite end. Secure with a 6-inch skewer weaved through the seam side of burrito. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Slowly lower chimichangas into hot oil and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. You can cook 4 burritos per batch. Remove from oil, drain on paper towels and keep warm in oven until all are cooked.
• To serve, place a bed of shredded lettuce on each plate, then a spoonful of salsa. Place chimichangas on top and add a dollop of sour cream, sprinkle with diced tomatoes, avocado and remaining cilantro to garnish. Serve immediately.

CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• In a skillet, melt bacon grease over medium heat. Saute meat, onion, garlic, tomatoes, chilies and potatoes until the onion softens. Add salt, oregano, chili powder and cilantro; simmer 2-3 minutes. Place a scant 1/2 cup meat filling on each tortilla. Fold, envelope-style, like a burrito. Fry, seam side down, in 1/2 in. of hot oil. (360°-375°) until crispy and brown. Turn and brown other side. Drain briefly on a paper towel. Top as desired; serve immediately.

CHOW DOWN CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Combine meat, water, garlic, chilies, chili powder, vinegar, oregano, salt, cumin and pepper in a medium saucepan.
• Bring to boil.
• Cover and reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours or until meat is very tender.
• Uncover and boil rapidly for about 15 minutes or until water is almost evaporated.
• Watch closely and stir near end of cooking time so meat doesn't stick.
• Remove from heat.
• Using 2 forks, shred meat very fine.
• Add a little of the green chili sauce to moisten if necessary.
• Warm tortillas wrapped in foil in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each tortilla, near one edge.
• Fold top and bottom edge over the meat filling.
• Fold the two sides in over filling.
• Secure with toothpicks.
• Fry filled tortillas in 1/2 inch hot oil or fat for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Keep warm in 300 degree oven while frying remaining chimichangas.
• To serve, ladle some green chili sauce over the chimichangas.
• Top with lettuce, sour cream and guacamole.
• Note: Unfried chimichangas can be made ahead and frozen for another meal if desired. Prepare as directed and freeze in freezer bags. Thaw and fry. The recommended chili sauce can also be frozen to go with your frozen chimichangas.