Description
Beef and Cheese Chimichangas are crispy little pockets of pure comfort that dance right from your skillet onto your plate, ready to satisfy those deep Mexican-inspired cravings you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups (480 ml) shredded cheese
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- Vegetable oil
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Warm your skillet to medium heat and brown 1 pound of ground beef thoroughly, cooking for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains. Drain away excess fat completely.
- Add 1 diced medium onion to the skillet and sauté until translucent and soft. Sprinkle in 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon chili powder, stirring for another 60 seconds.
- Pull the skillet off the heat and fold in 2 cups of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend until it melts smoothly into the meat mixture.
- Spread ¼ cup of the warm meat and cheese filling onto the center of each flour tortilla. Fold the sides inward, then roll tightly to enclose the filling completely.
- Pour vegetable oil into a clean skillet, heating to 375°F (medium-high). Carefully place chimichangas seam-side down, frying for 3-4 minutes until your first side turns golden and crisp.
- Flip the chimichangas and fry the opposite side for another 3-4 minutes, ensuring an even, crunchy exterior. Transfer to paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Arrange hot chimichangas on serving plates. Offer a dollop of sour cream alongside for optional garnishing.
Notes
- Pat the beef dry before cooking to ensure better browning and prevent steaming.
- Use a sturdy cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack that melts smoothly and holds the filling together.
- For a lighter version, bake the chimichangas at 425°F for 20-25 minutes instead of frying, brushing with olive oil for crispness.
- Vegetarians can swap ground beef for black beans, lentils, or plant-based crumbles to maintain the rich, hearty flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 8-10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg