Who doesn't love going out to a Mexican restaurant???? I'm one of those people that sometimes get stuck in an ordering "rut" (hey, I like what I like! 🙂 ). Since we moved, we've taken on the unofficial goal of finding the best local Mexican restaurant in the Cleveland area..... It's a tough job but somebody needs to do it! So, at every restaurant, I always order a nice Cold beer with those warm chips and that spicy salsa!! YUM! Then it's time to order and, guess what, I always ordered Enchiladas. I'm not sure why. . .I just do! Amy had a great time telling me that there is more on the menu than the #3 Enchiladas, 1 taco, and black beans.
Oh, I have to say, Amy always gets a burrito. Sure, there are a lot of different kinds of burritos . . . but she always gets the Burrito!!!. So one day after my second beer I ventured out and ordered the Chimichanga and a whole new world opened up! (to celebrate, I got a third beer! HaHa!) Now all I get is a Chimichanga or #12 on the menu. Hey, I moved up from a #3 to a #12. That's progress! Amy is still ordering the Burritos.
Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas has officially changed my life. We live in a place that is really cold and sometimes we just don't want to go out for lunch. So, making our Chimichangas at home in the Air Fryer is a great way to have our spicy food fix and stay at home and maybe have a fourth beer!
We had some leftovers from our baked pulled chicken recipe so we took a cup of chicken and made these lower in calorie high in flavor chicken Chimichanga. Next time we go out I need to find something else on the menu to try....along with my beer and chips. HaHa.
TIPS:
- Use Cream Cheese to stretch the Cheddar cheese. This gives all of the cheese flavors and really does cut the calories.
- Choose toppings that add flavor not fat. Things like Cilantro, green onions, and/or Jalapeños
- Queso is great, just measure how much is added. Notice we drizzled on the queso so you get the flavor of the cheese without all the temptation to add just a little bit more. We all know where that goes.
- Use Rotisserie chicken, baked chicken breast or grilled chicken breast
- Chicken Breast is lower in calories than Chicken Thighs
- Cooking spray browns the tortilla and helps them "crisp up" so the Chimichanga has the same crunch and texture as one fried in oil
- Measure everything!!
Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
A Few Things We Use
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Chicken Breast
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ Cup Cream Cheese
- 4 Ounces Green Chilies
- ½ Cup Spring Onions
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- 3 Flour Tortillas
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Shred cooked Chicken Breast (use leftover Roasted Chicken or Rotisserie Chicken)
- Mix together Chicken, Cumin, Oregano
- Add the Green Chilies to the Chicken
- Add the Spring Onions to the Chicken
- Add Cheddar Cheese to Chicken
- Add Cream Cheese to Chicken
- Stir together to fully combine the chicken mixture
- Place Flour Tortilla on Flat Surface
- Place ¾ Cup of the Chicken mixture on the Flour Tortilla
- Fold the edge of the Flour Tortilla over the Chicken Mixture
- Fold the Sides of the Tortilla
- Roll tortilla
- Fold the Side of the Tortilla and Roll
- Ready for Air Fry
- Spray the bottom of the Air Fryer with cooking Spray (I like to use Butter Spray)
- Place Chimichangas in the Air Fryer and spray the top of the tortillas
- Cook at 400° for 8 minutes Flip Chimichangas over
- Air Fry for 2 more minutes at 400°
- Enjoy! Goes Great with Red or Green Enchilada sauce, Salsa, cilantro, onions, jalapenos, and/or Queso
Please let us know what you think