Beef and cheese chimichangas are crispy deep-fried (or baked) tortilla wraps filled with seasoned beef and melted cheese. They’re basically a crunchy version of burritos and very popular in Tex-Mex cuisine, similar to a variation of Chimichanga.
🌯 Beef & Cheese Chimichangas (Homemade)
🧀 Ingredients
Filling:
- 300–400g ground beef
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
For wrapping:
- 4–6 large flour tortillas
- Toothpicks (to secure)
For frying:
- Oil (for deep or shallow frying)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the beef filling
- Heat a pan and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in spices, salt, pepper, and tomato sauce.
- Cook until mixture is thick and not watery.
2. Add cheese
- Turn off heat and mix in shredded cheese (it should melt slightly into the hot beef).
3. Fill tortillas
- Place 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each tortilla.
- Fold sides in, then roll tightly into a burrito shape.
- Secure with toothpicks if needed.
4. Fry until crispy
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Fry chimichangas until golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Remove and drain on paper towels.
🍽️ Serving ideas
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa or hot sauce
- Mexican rice or salad
🔥 Tips
- Don’t overfill or they may burst while frying
- Seal tightly for best results
- For a healthier version, bake at 200°C for 20–25 minutes or air fry
