Crispy, Cheesy, and Crazy Easy — These Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas Are a Weeknight Win!

If you’re craving something crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, these Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas are calling your name. This quick dinner hack uses rotisserie chicken, pantry staples, and your air fryer to create golden chimichangas in minutes—no deep frying required. It’s the perfect mix of convenience and comfort, and once you try these Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas, they’ll definitely earn a spot in your weeknight rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy, golden perfection without deep frying.
• Uses rotisserie chicken for a quick, no-fuss filling.
• Packed with flavor thanks to black beans, green chiles, and melty Mexican cheese.
• Made in the air fryer—less mess and faster cleanup.
• Easy to customize with your favorite toppings or sauces.
• A fun twist on classic burritos or tacos.
• These Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas are perfect for busy weeknights or picky eaters.

Ingredient Notes

• Canola oil – Helps sauté the onions and crisp up the tortillas in the air fryer. You can swap it for avocado oil or olive oil spray.
• Small onion – Adds flavor depth; yellow or white onion both work well.
• Rotisserie chicken – Major shortcut alert! This keeps things fast and flavorful without extra cooking.
• Ready-to-serve white rice – Shelf-stable rice packs or leftover rice from takeout make this even easier.
• Black beans – Rinsing and draining helps reduce sodium and keeps the filling from getting too wet.
• Green chiles – These mild canned chiles bring a little zest without overpowering spice.
• Ground cumin – Adds a warm, smoky flavor that ties everything together.
• Mexican cheese – A blend of cheeses that melts beautifully. You can also use shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a mix.
• Burrito-size flour tortillas – Large enough to hold the filling and roll tightly. Warm them slightly for easier folding.

Before You Bake

Warm the tortillas first
Microwave the tortillas for 15–20 seconds or warm them on a skillet to make them more pliable and easier to roll without tearing.

Don’t overfill
Stick to about 1 cup of filling per tortilla—too much can cause them to burst open in the air fryer.

Spray generously
Use cooking spray on both the air fryer basket and the chimichangas for that crispy, golden exterior.

Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and shredded
• 1 package ready-to-serve white rice
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can chopped green chiles (4oz)
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 c Mexican cheese
• 6 large burrito size flour tortillas

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees
2. In a skillet, heat the oil on medium high heat and sauté the onions until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the chicken, rice, beans, chiles, cumin, salt, and pepper and cook until heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese.
4. Spoon 1 cup of the chicken mixture onto the bottom third of each tortilla. Fold the bottom and the sides up and roll until closed. 
5. Spray the inside of the air fryer generously with cooking spray. Place two chimichangas inside the air fryer basked and lightly spray with cooking spray as well.
6. Air fry for about 4-6 minutes, flipping them half way through and lightly misting with cooking spray again on the other side.
7. Serve warm

Notes

Adapted from Taste of Home

FAQ

Can I use shredded cheese instead of Mexican blend?
Yes! Any cheese that melts well—like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby—will work perfectly in these chimichangas.

What sauces go well with air fryer chicken chimichangas?
Try sour cream, salsa, guacamole, chipotle mayo, or queso for dipping or drizzling.

Can I make these with corn tortillas instead?
Corn tortillas are harder to roll and may crack. If using them, heat until very soft and make smaller chimis—or try making taquitos instead.

How do I reheat leftovers?
Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes to revive that crispiness.

What can I serve with them?
Pair with a side salad, chips and salsa, or corn on the cob for a fun, fast meal.

Can I skip the rice or beans?
Definitely. Feel free to adjust the filling to your taste or dietary needs—just keep the moisture level in balance so they stay crisp.

Sprinkle of Fun

Picture this: it’s Friday night, you’ve made a batch of crispy Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas, the air fryer’s done all the work, and now it’s your turn to chill. Pour yourself a skinny margarita or whip up a fizzy mocktail with lime and a splash of pineapple juice, then hit the couch and stream that brand-new movie everyone’s talking about. Comfy clothes on, chimichangas in hand—weekend mode: activated.

Grab More Treats

Love easy dinner recipes like this? Download my Easy Eats Meal Bowls ebook.

Try this quick and delicious Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme– perfect for busy weeknights and easy to customize for the whole family!

Looking for more air fryer goodness? Explore all my Air Fryer Recipes for crispy, healthy meals made fast.

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