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Your family will love this crispy and delicious Beef Chimichangas. Not only is this dinner idea simple but it is frugal and a great way to stretch your meat budget.
Enjoy this beef chimichanga recipe that is baked to perfection. It is so crispy and amazing without hardly any work. The ingredients are very simple and it all combines for a delicious meal.
Gather your family around the dinner table for this easy chimichanga recipe. If you liked Chicken Chimichangas in the crock pot, you will love this flavorful recipe for beef chimichangas. Mexican dishes make dinnertime a breeze. You may also love this Ground Beef Tacos Recipe.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Enjoy baked chimichangas that are crispy and taste deep fried without all the work. Skip the Mexican restaurant and make these today.
You will save money and get a great meal. Sometimes we add extra tomato sauce and cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and green chilies to the mixture.
This entire meal is versatile and you can also use ground turkey. We have even used a mixture of both and no one noticed. You may want to make shredded beef chimichangas.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Easy Ground Beef Chimichangas
Step 1 – In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Step 2 – Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and crumbly, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
Step 3 – Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to toast the spices.
Step 4 – Reduce the heat to low and add the refried beans and tomato sauce. Mix well and cook until heated through, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
Step 5 – Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make them pliable. Divide the beef and bean mixture evenly among the tortillas, placing it in the center of each. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the mixture.
Step 6 – Fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling, then tightly roll up the tortilla to form a burrito-like shape. Place in a pan with hot oil and deep-fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Step 7 – Remove the chimichangas from the oil using tongs or a slotted spoon and place paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Step 8 – Remove the toothpicks before serving with Mexican Rice.
How to Bake these Chimichangas
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Place the assembled chimichangas seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Brush the tops of the chimichangas with olive oil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Expert Tips
- Tortilla – To easily fold the tortillas around the beef mixture, heat the tortilla in the microwave. This will make the tortilla pliable.
- Beef Mixture – Make sure to divide the beef mixture evenly but not to much on each tortilla. You want just right amount so the tortilla does not tear when folding tortilla.
- Make Ahead Rice – You can save even more time and learn how to freeze rice and you can make this meal even easier. I love to grab the rice from the freezer in the morning and when we come home it is all ready to enjoy.
Chimichangas Toppings
Chimichangas are delicious with your favorite toppings. Here are some great options.
- Avocado
- Shredded Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Queso
- Sour Cream
- Onion
- Shredded Cheese
- Quick Salsa Verde De Tomatillo Recipe
- Very Simple Guacamole Recipe
- The Best Pico de Gallo Recipe
- Fresh Lime Juice
- Fresh Cilantro
Serving Suggestions
Rice is always good with this meal. We love this Delicious Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe. It is so easy and packed with flavor. Another great idea is Crock Pot Refried Beans. They are so easy in the slow cooker and really tasty.
We also love to make Slow Cooker Black Beans are also tasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main different between a chimichanga and a burrito is a chimichanga is deep fried and a burrito is served with a soft shell.
The best way to keep the tortillas from coming apart is to roll it tightly and secure it with a toothpick.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or oven. If you prefer a crispy texture, reheat in the air fryer at 360 degrees for about 5 minutes. This is my preferred method.
More Easy Mexican Food Recipes
Easy Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Mexican Lasagna Recipe
Quick and Easy Chicken
Baked Mexican Chicken
Quick and Easy Soup
Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe
If you make this Beef Chimichanga Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love to hear from you.
Beef Chimichanga Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 can refried beans (16 ounces)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 bell pepper (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 8 large flour tortillas (10 inches)
- oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and crumbly, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to toast the spices.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the refried beans and tomato sauce. Mix well and cook until heated through, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
- Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make them pliable.
- Divide the beef and bean mixture evenly among the tortillas, placing it in the center of each.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the mixture.
- Fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling, then tightly roll up the tortilla to form a burrito-like shape.
- Secure each chimichanga with a toothpick to keep it from unrolling while frying.
- Heat oil (about 1-inch deep) in a large skillet or deep fryer to 350°F.
- Carefully place the assembled chimichangas in the hot oil, seam-side down. Fry in batches, if necessary, to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Fry the chimichangas for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the chimichangas from the oil using tongs or a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Remove the toothpicks before serving.
Very tasty, lots of flavor and very easy to make! I used large tortillas and filled a bit more than what was probably recommended and it made 7. I loved the option to bake instead of fry and I topped with cheddar cheese after baking and broiled for a few minutes. Will definitely keep this pinned as a staple recipe.
Really delicious and easy
Another delicious recipe thatโs easy to throw together. My kids love these! I currently have a bunch in the freezer for when baby #4 arrives in a few weeks.
These are so simple to make and provide a good, fun meal that pleases a crowd. Now a family favorite requested often.