Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas

Air fryer chicken chimichangas have all the crunch without the fat. The filling is loaded with chicken, cheese, and lots of spices.

I will admit, I was an air fryer skeptic at first. I received one for testing three years ago, used it once, and gave it away to a co-worker. I didn't think I'd use it much, and didn't have the room for an extra appliance in my tiny kitchen.

However, I'm now on the air fryer bandwagon. I upgraded from the original Instant Pot (affiliate link) to the Instant Pot Duo Crisp (affiliate link). This post isn't even sponsored by Instant Pot, I'm just really a fan of the appliance. I think I've used the air fryer function more often than the pressure cooker function.

What is air frying?

It mimics the texture and feel of deep-fried foods without all the oil. Food is placed in a fryer-style basket, and a fan rapidly blows hot air all around the food to crisp it up. I will never make frozen fries in the oven again.

While some air fryers work with no oil, I prefer adding a little bit of oil for flavor. The downside to the fryer is the limited size, so these air fryer chicken chicken chimichangas need to be cooked in batches. Although, each only takes about 6 minutes to "fry," so it doesn't take a long time.

FAQs or Tips

Q1: Can I freeze these?
A1: Yes! After the chimichangas are assembled, do not brush with oil. Instead, wrap them tightly in foil, then place two or three of the foil packages in a freezer-grade zip-top bag and freeze. When ready to cook, place two chimichangas (still in the foil) in the air fryer, and fry for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. The foil will make sure the tortilla doesn't burn before the filling is heated through.

Q2: Can I use chicken breasts? Or a different kind of protein altogether?
A2: I prefer thighs over breasts because they have more fat and don't dry out in the air fryer. But yes, you can use chicken breasts instead, or even other kinds of protein (beef, pork, chorizo, beans, etc.).

Q3: What should I serve with the air fryer chicken chimichangas chimichangas?
A3: Some typical Tex-Mex side dishes include rice, refried beans, jicama, elote (Mexican street corn), corn fritters, guacamole, or cucumber tomato avocado salad.

I love how easy this recipe is, with minimal prepping required. It's perfect if you're cooking another chicken recipe: simply cook extra, and chill the rest until you're ready to make these chimichangas. Or, you can pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

If you're working from home, you can easily toss some leftover filling into a tortilla and air fry it for a quick hot lunch. If you're not working at home, you can air fry at home, and warm them up in the microwave, though they won't be as crispy.