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Sizzle into simplicity with scrumptious chimichangas conveniently cooked in your air fryer! Whip up these crispy Mexican favorites in just minutes.
Here’s how to perfectly prepare frozen chimichangas for your next fast and flavorful fiesta:
First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While it heats, take 2-3 frozen Jose Ole chimichangas straight from the freezer.
Set the timer for 6 minutes. After 3 minutes, flip the chimichangas over. Cook another 3-5 minutes until the tortilla is crispy and golden brown.
Check for doneness by cutting into one to ensure the filling is thoroughly heated.
Enjoy your chimichangas topped with guac, salsa and sour cream for a quick and crave-worthy Mexican meal.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Brush chimichangas with oil and cook at 400°F for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check doneness by cutting into one chimichanga.
- Try different fillings like chicken, beef, beans, and cheese when assembling the chimichangas. Secure with toothpicks before frying if needed.
- Cook at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping the chimichangas halfway through. Alternatively, try cooking at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, again flipping halfway.
- Top the cooked chimichangas with desired sauces and dips such as guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cheese.
What You’ll Need to Make Air Fryer Chimichangas
Grab some frozen Jose Ole chimichangas from the freezer and get your air fryer preheated – you’ll be enjoying crispy chimichangas in no time! Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F.
While it heats up, take a few frozen chimichangas out of the package so they’re ready to cook.
Once preheated, place the chimichangas in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the timer for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. The air fryer’s convection heat will crisp up the tortilla shell beautifully.
For extra flavor, brush the tops with oil or spice it up with your favorite hot sauce before cooking.
Try different fillings like chicken or beef for variety. With an air fryer, you’ll have quick, easy, restaurant-quality chimichangas.
How to Cook Frozen Chimichangas in an Air Fryer
When cooking frozen chimichangas in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 375°F and cook the chimichangas for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Check for doneness after 12 minutes, and continue cooking for up to 3 more minutes if needed until the chimichangas are golden brown and crispy.
Cooking Time and Temperature
Cooking frozen chimichangas in the air fryer allows you to achieve a deliciously crispy crust in a fraction of the time it would take to deep fry or bake them. With just a few simple adjustments to the cooking time and temperature, you can have piping hot, golden brown chimichangas in 15 minutes or less.
When cooking chimichangas in the air fryer, it’s important to properly preheat the appliance first. Preheating for 3-5 minutes at 400°F ensures the air fryer reaches the proper internal cooking temperature.
- Pre-heat air fryer to 400°F for 3-5 minutes before cooking. This preheat time brings the air fryer up to temperature so it can quickly and evenly crisp the tortilla shell.
- Cook chimichangas 8-10 minutes per side at 400°F. The initial 8-10 minutes of air frying seals in the filling and begins crisping up the tortilla.
- For extra crispiness, cook an additional 1-2 minutes per side. If you like your chimichanga shells ultra crispy, adding 1-2 minutes to each side at the end will further brown and crunch the tortilla without overcooking the interior.
The great thing about air frying frozen chimichangas is you don’t have to thaw them first, unlike oven baking. And with the precise temperature control of the air fryer, they come out much crisper than microwaving.
Just be sure to arrange chimichangas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one for air circulation.
In just a few quick steps, you can enjoy restaurant-quality chimichangas from the comfort of home. Preheating, monitoring cook times, and adding extra time as needed guarantees you achieve the perfect balance of hot, melty filling encased in a delightful shatteringly crispy shell.
Flipping and Checking Doneness
You’ll want to flip the chimichangas halfway through cooking with tongs for even crispiness and check for doneness by looking for a browned, crispy exterior. After 7-10 minutes, use tongs to carefully flip each chimichanga in the air fryer basket.
Cook for another 5-8 minutes at 375°F, until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy on both sides. To check doneness, cut into a chimichanga with a knife to ensure the filling is heated through.
Delicious Side Dishes for Chimichangas
Whet your palate with zesty guacamole, cool pico de gallo, or creamy refried beans alongside your piping hot chimichangas for a fiesta of flavors. Accompany your air-fried chimichangas with a medley of authentic Mexican cuisine to transport your taste buds south of the border.
For a rich, velvety dip, blend ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and salt for homemade guacamole. Toss juicy tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro for fresh pico de gallo. Warm up canned refried beans, adding taco seasoning and cheese for an extra creamy side.
These flavorful pairings complement the crispy, melty chimichanga perfectly. With just 10-15 minutes in your air fryer at 375°F, you can round out your meal with these easy, delicious accompaniments.
Make Your Own Chimichanga Filling
When cooking Jose Ole chimichangas in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350°F for 3-5 minutes and cook the chimichangas for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
You may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time based on the size of your chimichangas and the power of your particular air fryer model. For best results, keep an eye on the chimichangas as they cook, flipping or rotating them in the air fryer basket occasionally for even browning.
The chimichangas are done when their outer tortilla shells are crispy and golden brown.
Filling Ideas
Mix and match ground beef, shredded chicken, or pork with beans, rice, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream. Roll in flour tortillas, spray with oil, and air fry at 375°F for 15 minutes until golden and crispy.
Flip halfway through. The air fryer makes chimichangas with a tender interior and crispy exterior. Experiment with Tex-Mex flavors like fajita veggies, jalapeños, cilantro. Try breakfast versions with scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon.
The options are endless for chimichanga fillings! Enjoy your homemade chimichangas fresh from the air fryer.
Assembling the Chimichangas
After spooning your filling onto the tortilla, fold it like a burrito and secure with toothpicks before frying for easy handling. Place the filled chimichangas seam-side down in the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 370°F and cook for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Flip them halfway through cooking. Try different fillings like shredded chicken, ground beef, beans, cheese, or vegetables. Kick up the flavor with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro. Fry hard taco shells filled with ground meat, beans, lettuce, and cheese for a chimichanga variation.
Reheating Leftover Chimichangas
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
- Place leftover chimichangas in a single layer in the basket.
- Air fry for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway, until hot and crispy.
- For softer texture, wrap in foil and heat at 300°F for 4-6 minutes.
Jose Ole chimichangas reheat beautifully in the air fryer. Adjust time as needed based on amount and your preferred texture. The air fryer yields fast, crispy results without the fat of frying. With customizable cook times and temperatures, you can achieve the ideal chimichanga to satisfy your craving.
Nutrition Facts for Air Fried Chimichangas
Honey, the nutritional profile of air-fried Jose Ole chimichangas may blow your mind. Compared to deep frying, air frying reduces the calories by about 30%, total fat by 50%, and saturated fat by 60%. When cooking chimichangas in an air fryer, preheat it to 400°F for 3-5 minutes.
Place 1-2 frozen chimichangas in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
The chimichangas are done when the tortilla is crispy and golden brown. The crispy, crunchy texture is still there without all the excess oil.
Changing up the fillings like shredded chicken, ground beef, or black beans creates tasty chimichanga alternatives. With quick cooking and big taste, air fried chimichangas make for a fast, flavorful, and lower fat meal.
More Air Fryer Frozen Snack Ideas
You’ll love air frying other frozen snacks like egg rolls, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, and chicken tenders for quick and crispy appetizers. Simply arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spritz lightly with oil, and cook at 400°F for 6-8 minutes until browned and crispy, flipping halfway.
For chicken tenderloins, cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until browned and cooked through. With homemade quick chimichanga bites, fill small (3 inch) flour tortillas with cheese, beans or chicken, lightly spray with oil and cook at 400°F for 4-5 minutes until browned and crisp.
In just minutes you can have piping hot and satisfying frozen snacks from your air fryer.
Conclusion
Sizzle those chimis like a luchador in the ring! Air frying frozen Jose Ole chimichangas is as easy as uno, dos, tres.
Simply preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Next, place chimichangas in the basket in a single layer. Set the timer for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check for a golden crispy exterior when time’s up.
For the perfect crunch, add an extra minute or two if needed. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have piping hot, crunchy chimichangas ready in minutes.
Skip the deep fryer and let your air fryer work its magic on frozen Jose Ole chimichangas for a fast and flavorful fiesta!
- ovenvia.com
