Easy Make Ahead Chimichangas For Kids Recipes

KID-FRIENDLY CHICKEN CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix cream cheese, pepper Jack cheese, and taco seasoning in a medium-sized bowl. Fold in cooked shredded chicken. Divide mixture evenly onto 8 tortilla shells. Fold tortillas by tucking in sides first and then rolling. Place filled tortillas into a 9x13-inch baking dish with seam-sides down. Spray tops with cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn chimichangas over and bake 15 minutes more.
• Serve topped with Cheddar cheese, salsa, and sour cream.

MAKE AHEAD CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Using two forks, shred cooked meat or chicken (should have about 3 cups).
• In a large skillet combine meat or chicken, salsa, beans, undrained chili peppers, and seasoning mix.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.
• In another skillet heat tortillas, one at a time, over medium-low heat about 30 seconds per side.
• For each chimichanga, place 1/3 cup meat mixture atop a tortilla, near one edge.
• Top with a cheese stick.
• Fold in sides; roll up, starting with cheese side.
• Bake, covered, in 350 degree F.
• oven for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 10 minutes more or until heated through.
• Serve with salsa, dairy sour cream, and hot cooked rice, if desired.
• Make-Ahead Tip: To freeze, place chimichangas in freezer containers.
• Seal, label, and freeze for up to 6 months.
• To prepare, wrap frozen chimichangas individually in foil.
• Bake in a 350 degree F.
• oven about 50 minutes or until heated through.
• (Or, thaw chimichangas in refrigerator overnight. Bake about 30 minutes.) Unwrap.
• Bake 10 minutes more or until tortilla is crisp and brown.
• Or, heat about 1/4-inch depth of oil in a skillet.
• Cook desired number of frozen chimichangas, uncovered, in hot oil about 25 minutes (about 18 minutes if thawed) over medium-low heat or until golden, turning often.

EASY MAKE-AHEAD CHIMICHANGAS FOR KIDS

Steps:

• Assembly and Baking Directions: Shred chicken (or crumble ground beef). You should have about 3 cups. In bowl combine chicken, salsa, beans, and cheese.
• Place bag of tortillas in Microwave until warmed through.
• Spread out tortillas individually on a clean dry surface.
• Fill individual tortillas with 1/2 cup filling mixture.
• Fold up bottom.
• Fold in one side and squish it around the filling, and roll it up.
• Freezing and Cooking Directions: Spread out chimi's on cookie sheet and flash freeze for about two hours.
• Gather up frozen chimi's and place in gallon size freezer bag together.
• Great for individual lunches.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minute OR heat them in 1/4 inches deep oil in skillet for approximately 18 minute over med-LOW heat.
• Turn them once and watch them carefully.
• Serve with sour cream.

QUICK AND EASY CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
• Brown meat with onion and garlic; drain.
• Stir in picante sauce, cumin, oregano and salt; simmer 5 minutes or until most of liquid has absorbed.
• Brush 1 side of tortillas with butter; spoon heaping 1/3 cup meat mixture onto center of unbuttered sides.
• Fold 2 sides over filling; fold ends down.
• Place seam side down in 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven about 13 minutes or until golden brown.
• To serve, top with sour cream, guacamole and additional picante sauce.

MAKE-AHEAD BURRITOS OR CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In large skillet, combined meat, salsa, beans, undrained chilies, and seasoning mix. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.
• In second skillet, heat tortillas, one at a time, about 30 seconds per side. For each burrito/chimichanga, place 1/3 cup meat mixture atop a tortilla, near one edge. Top with a cheese stick. Fold sides in, roll up starting with cheese side. Wrap individually in foil.
• To store for later: At this point, place wrapped burritos/chimichangas in plastic zip bags, label and freeze for up to 6 months.
• To prepare from frozen: Bake desired number in preheated 350 oven for 50 minutes or until heated through. For burritos: Bake additional 10 minutes in foil. Serve with toppings. For chimichangas: Unwrap and place on baking sheet, bake additional 10 minutes until tortillas are crisp - OR - fry in 1/4" oil in large fry pan, turning and cooking until golden and crisp.
• To prepare from thawed, reduce initial baking time to 30 minutes.
• Serve with toppings of your choice: sour cream, guacamole, diced green onions, salsa or shredded cheese.
• Makes 16.