Burrito Meat Filling & Baked Chimichungas Recipes

I call this recipe Burrito Meat Filling though I also use it in baked Chimichungas and Tacos besides using it in burritos. You can use shredded or ground meat. The difference of the two forms of meat is how long you simmer it. For chunks of meat, it needs to be simmered longer to tenderize it.

You can use any meat you prefer. I use extra-extra lean beef or pork, either ground or chunks. The baked chimichungas pictured below is using chunks of beef. The photos only show a half-batch. I used the rest of the meat for something else. The meal shown is from-scratch Mexican rice, refried beans, a tamal I froze (recipe for Beef Tamales here) and a baked chimichunga. What a feast that was!

Bake the buns for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool 5 to 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Of course, if you have any leftover like we do, you can either refrigerate for the following day or freeze the leftovers. They are a great busy day meal.

This recipe is from a friend and neighbor back in the 80s. Yes, she was Mexican for those who are into “authentic”. Our families made things by what we could find at the store, no matter what ancestry we were. She showed me how to make Mexican foods I had not learned to make as a teen at my friend’s homes. I showed her what I learned, plus other types of foods. We had fun cooking together.

We are eating burritos tonight using the same recipe with ground pork. It is delicious and not spicy-hot. Of course, you can make it spicier if your digestive system allows it. I first list the burrito meat filling recipe, then how I make them into baked chimichungas. Note: I BAKE mine instead of deep-frying them. They come out very good without the mess or being overly greasy. Win-win!

Burrito Meat Filling

Using whole meats:
Cube meat into small pieces. You can coat in flour first before lightly searing brown in a little oil or fat. You can also boil the meat in water to cover for 2 hours, until it falls apart. Drain and shred if boiling when the meat is done. If using chicken, boil the chicken in water to cover until done, 2 to 4 hours, let cool enough to handle and shred the meat. You can also roast or cook the meats in a crockpot until they are tender and falling apart.

For ground meat:
In a large skillet with a cover and on medium to medium-low heat, add the meat and onions. Cover and cook  until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally. Time depends on your stove and the type of heat, elevation, sun spots… Proceed as written below.

Next:

Add all of the dried spices (except for fresh garlic if using instead of granulated or powdered), along with just enough water to barely cover. Cover the skillet and let simmer 15 minutes. Add water if necessary, though it rarely is required.

Add the onions if using the now-shredded meat, tomatoes with juice and bell peppers. If using fresh garlic, add it now. Cover and simmer until tender, about 30 to 45 minutes for shredded meat; 15 minutes for ground meat. You may want to take the cover off the last 15 minutes to reduce the amount of liquid for the shredded meat. If using ground, do not cover if you want or need to reduce the amount of liquid. It will not over-cook the meat.

The meat filling is ready to be made into burritos, tacos or chimichungas (below).

I eyeball-divide the meat using a spatula to somewhat even out the filling. Spoon the filling on the tortilla, a little close to one edge. Fold it over just enough to cover the filling. Fold the two sides over towards the middle, then finish rolling up the tortilla. Place the filled tortilla in the baking dish, seam-side-down.