Many Disney guests don’t realize this, but in the shadows of Disneyland’s popular snacks like turkey legs and dole whips, lives the less famous (but equally delicious) chimichanga. For those unfamiliar, a chimichanga is basically a fried burrito (yes my friends, you read that right…a fried burrito). The Disney version of the chimichanga is a delicious, portable, and very simple combination of ground beef, beans, and spices rolled up in a crispy, flaky, fried tortilla. And while it is not the most sophisticated of Disney snacks, this not-so-good-for-you-but-still-delicious treat is one of my favorite calorie splurges when in the parks. And if you’ve been paying attention, you know what happens when I like a Disney snack…I recreate it at home! With that, I give you my recipe for DIY Disneyland Chimichangas. Enjoy!
*Above photo of actual Disneyland chimichanga courtesy of disboards.com
What you’ll need:
- 4 LARGE tortillas
- 1 14oz can of refried beans
- 1 lb ground beef (or, for a meatless option, omit the ground beef and double the beans)
- 1 pkg of McCormick Taco Seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup nacho cheese sauce (usually can in the Mexican food aisle of the grocery store)
- vegetable or canola oil for frying
- Deep fryer (optional) *If you don’t have a deep fryer, a regular pot can work. But I find that I deep fryer with a basket works incredibly well for holding the tortilla closed while frying the chimichanga. This is the one I use: (X).
What to do:
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef thoroughly on the stove top over medium heat until brown. Once brown, drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Mix taco seasoning and water in to the ground beef, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
- Mix in beans and nacho cheese. Continue to cook on medium-low heat for about 7 minutes. While meat/beans mixture is cooking, preheat oil for frying to 375°F.
- To roll chimichangas, place tortilla on a flat surface and add beef/bean mixture to the center of the tortilla (about half a cup). Fold the top and bottom of the tortilla inward, toward the center. Then starting on the right (or left, if left-handed), roll the tortilla over the mixture until you have formed a burrito. Repeat with all 4 tortillas.
- When oil is ready for frying. Place one chimichanga in to the fry basket with the “open flap” side down and submerge the basket in to the oil. Cook for 1 minute. Chimichanga should be evenly crispy and golden brown. Place on a cooling rack or paper towels to drain.
*Note: When frying, make sure the chimichanga is fully submerged in the oil. If it is not, fry for 1 minute on each side. NEVER fill a deep fryer past it’s “MAX” line. If you are not using a deep fryer with a basket, use kitchen tongs to submerge chimichanga in to the frying oil.
*To make this portable like the ones at Disney, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of aluminum foil and wrap the chimichanga in it. This works great to keep them warm if you are putting them out for a party. Or you can serve it on a plate with sour cream and salsa. Get creative and make it your own! 
