I was scrolling through Pinterest looking for dinner inspiration when I came across this tasty baked burrito or “healthy” chimichanga recipe. Chimichangas are deep-fried while these burritos are oven-baked, but you can achieve a similar crunchiness!
I didn’t have all the ingredients the original recipe called for on hand (like green chilies or salsa) but my altered version still turned out great and was a hit at the dinner table! Plus, it was simple and quick to make –- a win for this working momma!
Healthy Chicken Chimichangas
altered from carlsbadcravings.com
Yield: 6 Servings
Ingredients:
Burritos:
2 lbs chicken breasts or tenders
1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes, drained
1 tbs chili powder
1-1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp pepper
6 burrito size flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Olive oil for brushing
Cheese sauce:
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbsp butter
3 tbs flour
2 cups chicken broth, warmed
½ tsp cumin
Salt & pepper to taste
½ cup sour cream
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
The original recipe cooked the chicken in a crockpot but I didn’t come across the recipe early enough in the day to do that, so I opted to use my pressure cooker. I placed the chicken breasts, seasonings, and drained canned tomatoes in the cooker and used my usual chicken setting to cook. Mine takes 30 mins but the time might vary depending on your model.
About 10-15 minutes before the chicken is done cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and set a cooking rack on top of it (I used a metal cookie cooling rack).
Once the chicken is cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken. Place about ½ cup of meat into the center of each large tortilla, sprinkle with cheddar cheese (I probably used close to ¼ cup for each burrito) and roll burrito style.
Place seam side down on the cooking rack and brush with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden.
While the burritos are baking, prepare the cheese sauce. Combine the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Once combined, add the flour and whisk constantly until it begins to golden, about 3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the broth and spices. Stir and allow to simmer and thicken, about 3 minutes. Lastly, stir in the shredded cheese. Keep warm until burritos are ready to serve.
Once the burritos are baked, use the broiler to add a little extra crispiness but be careful not to burn them! Top with cheese sauce and garnish as desired!
What are your favorite go-to weeknight dinner recipes? We’d love for you to share them with us on social media!
