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Crispy Chicken Chimichangas with Green Chile Sauce

These baked homemade Crispy Chicken Chimichangas and Green Chile Sauce are out of this world! The chicken filling is cooked and seasoned to perfection, then stuffed inside tortilla shells, and oven baked until crispy. They are then topped with a cheesy, sour cream and green chili sauce.

This small batch recipe serves 2 and makes a great romantic lunch, dinner, or date night meal.

This dish goes great served with a side of refried beans, Mexican rice, or tortilla chips.

close up graphic of a baked crispy chicken chimichanga with green chile verde sauce over top.
Oven Fried Chicken Chimichangas and Green Chile Sauce

The ingredient list may look long but you probably have most of the herbs and spices already in your pantry.

Use the rest of the burrito tortillas to make Smothered Wet Burritos or Taco Salads in Edible Bowls.

What is a Chicken Chimichanga?

A large flour tortilla filled with shredded chicken, refried beans, cheese, salsa, and spices, rolled up like a burrito and then pan-fried or baked. Served topped with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, this Mexican-inspired recipe is delicious!

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How to make Oven Fried Chicken Chimichangas

For the Crispy Chimichangas

Place the chicken in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Cover the chicken with water and bring to a boil.

When a boil is reached, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Drain the water from the pan and move the chicken to a cutting board.

Shred the chicken with two forks then place back inside the saucepan.

shredding chicken with two forks for chimichangas.

Add the salsa, brown sugar, ½ can green chilies (reserve the rest for the sauce), chili powder, salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, and liquid smoke. Stir to combine.

shredded chicken, salsa, brown sugar, spices, and liquid smoke in a sauce pan.

Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

shredded chicken, salsa, brown sugar, spices, and liquid smoke mixed together and cooking in a sauce pan.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Add a cooling rack to a baking sheet and spray the rack with non-stick spray. Click for a cooling rack and for a baking sheet.

Place half of the chicken mixture into each burrito tortilla.

chicken chimi mixture on a burrito size tortilla.

Top the chicken mixture with shredded cheese, divided evenly between the burritos.

chicken chimi mixture topped with cheese on a burrito size tortilla.

Roll up the tortillas like an envelope.

With the seam side up (the bottoms) spray generously with non-stick spray and then place them seam side down on the cooling rack.

chimichanga folded seam side up sprayed with non-stick spray.
Homemade Chimichangas

Spray the tops of the chimichangas generously with non-stick spray.

Bake for 10 minutes and then flip them over.

Continue baking for another 10 minutes.

For the Green Chili Sauce

While the chimichangas are cooking, melt the butter and olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly, and cook for about 2 minutes.

butter, olive oil, and flour whisked together in a sauce pan.

Turn the heat to low and whisk in the broth a little at a time.

Add the cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the other ½ of the canned green chilies, ¼ cup shredded cheese, and the sour cream.

cheesy Chimichanga White Sauce cooking in a sauce pan.
Green Chile Green Sauce

When the crispy chicken chimichangas are done baking, transfer them to dinner plates and top with the green chili sauce and extra sour cream or other toppings if desired.

a baked crispy chicken chimichanga covered in green chile verde sauce on a plate.
Crispy Oven Baked Chimichangas

You may also enjoy

Crispy Chicken Chimichangas with Green Chile Sauce Recipe

These baked homemade Crispy Chicken Chimichangas and Green Chile Sauce are out of this world! The chicken filling is cooked and seasoned to perfection, then stuffed inside tortilla shells, and oven baked until crispy. They are then topped with a cheesy, sour cream and green chili sauce.
4.38 from 86 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Chicken-Poultry
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 764 kcal

Ingredients

For the Crispy Chimichangas:

  • ½ lb boneless chicken
  • ½ cup mild salsa
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (optional - adds sweetness)
  • ½ can mild diced green chiles (the other half of a 4 ounce can is used in the sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon dry oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • ½ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • 2 burrito size tortillas
  • Non-stick cooking spray

For the Green Chile Sauce:

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons flour
  • cup low sodium chicken broth
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ can mild diced green chiles
  • ¼ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese

Instructions
 

For the Crispy Chimichangas:

  • Place the chicken in a large sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Cover the chicken with water and bring to a boil.
  • When a boil is reached, lower the heat to medium low, cover the pan, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Drain the water from the pan and move the chicken to a cutting board.
  • Shred the chicken with two forks then place back inside the sauce pan.
  • Add the salsa, brown sugar, ½ can green chiles (reserve the rest for the sauce), chili powder, salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion, powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, and liquid smoke. Stir to combine.
  • Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).
  • Add a cooling rack to a baking sheet and spray the rack with non-stick spray.
  • Place half of the chicken mixture into each burrito tortilla.
  • Top the chicken mixture with ½ cup shredded cheese, divided evenly between the burritos.
  • Roll up the tortillas like an envelope.
  • With the seam side up (the bottoms) spray generously with non-stick spray and then place them seam side down on the cooling rack.
  • Spray the tops of the chimichangas generously with non-stick spray.
  • Bake for 10 minutes and then flip them over.
  • Continue baking for another 10 minutes.

For the Green Chile Sauce:

  • While the chimichangas are cooking, melt the butter and olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly, and cook about 2 minutes.
  • Turn the heat to low and whisk in the broth a little at a time.
  • Add the cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in the other ½ of the canned green chiles, ¼ cup shredded cheese, and the sour cream.
  • When the chimichangas are done baking, transfer them to dinner plates and top with the green chili sauce and extra sour cream or other toppings if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 764kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 45gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 1840mgPotassium: 907mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1629IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 510mgIron: 5mg
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Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!

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a graphic of Crispy Chicken Chimichangas with Green Chili Sauce Recipe for Two.
Chicken Chimichanga Recipe with Cheese Sauce
4.38 from 86 votes (84 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Wanda

Monday 5th of June 2023

Could I use fresh Anaheim peppers instead of can chilies

Zona

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

Hi Wanda, yes that should work great :)

Doris

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Amazing! Crunchy, slightly spicy, and cheesy. Amazing!!! Thoroughly enjoyed this. Well done Zona.!!!

Zona

Thursday 2nd of February 2023

Thanks Doris, I'm so glad you loved it :)

Christy Hasch

Tuesday 22nd of November 2022

I just made this tonight, and loved it! I will make this again.

Carol

Friday 11th of February 2022

Great recipe! We loved it and it was easy to make. Thanks!

Dawn

Friday 26th of November 2021

Is the liquid smoke necessary, or can you use a substitute?

Zona

Friday 26th of November 2021

Hi Dawn, if you don't enjoy the smoky flavor you can just leave it out. If you want to substitute it you can try smoked paprika or chipotle powder. Thanks for your question and enjoy!