Air Fryer Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas are a healthier version of deep-fried burritos or taquitos. This quick and easy dessert of stuffed soft flour tortillas with creamy cheesecake filling, fresh strawberries, and cinnamon sugar is simply irresistible!
Similar to classic cheese blintzes, the Mexican version uses tortilla shells instead of crepes.
A favorite in Tex-Mex and other Southwestern US cuisine, xangos, or fried cheesecake, has its roots in Mexico. It's a quick-fix treat for those last-minute sugar cravings.
You are probably familiar with chimichanga as a savory dish, usually stuffed with shredded chicken or beef, rice, and beans. But have you ever tried this sweet version of scrumptious crispy pastry with a fruity, creamy center and a sugary topping?
Let me tell you, my cheesecake addiction just got greater by a notch.
You don't have to be planning a Cinco de Mayo celebration or Fiesta Party to enjoy these delicious strawberry cheese-filled chimis.
Similar to cheese blintzes, these chimichangas are perfect when you need a sweet treat in a pinch and are sure to be your family's new favorite.
📃 Why it Works
- Quick and easy to make with simple and affordable ingredients.
- Made in an air fryer, they are a healthier alternative to deep-fried chimichangas. If you don't own one, you can also bake them in the oven (see the FAQ section below) or pan-fry them.
- It's a celebration of texture that adds a whole new dimension to your taste buds' experience: crispy, creamy, and crunchy.
- It's a family-approved dessert and the perfect snack to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.
How is air-frying food healthier?
Cooking or frying your food in an air fryer is much healthier because of the minimal oil required in the cooking process. Baking is another alternative if an air fryer is not in your budget.
Instead of butter or vegetable oil, we used the avocado cooking spray in this recipe, but coconut oil is also a healthy option.
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
Tortillas: Use soft flour or gluten-free tortillas. Wonton wraps and fillo dough would also work as an alternative, but not the corn tortillas.
Cream cheese: I recommend full-fat for the creamier texture.
Strawberries: Fresh is the best way to go.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1
- Beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, two tablespoons sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
- Fold in the sliced strawberries.
- Divide the mixture evenly among the tortillas, then roll the tortilla up like a burrito. Secure it with a toothpick. Repeat the rolling process with the remaining tortillas.
Step 2
- Place chimichangas seam side down in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to work in batches.
- Bake at 400 F for 6 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, flipping them once after 3 minutes.
- Roll the warm chimichangas into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat the frying and rolling process with the remaining chimichangas.
- Tortillas come in a thick and thin texture, while Thin works better for this recipe.
- Use gluten-free tortillas if you or someone in your family has celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
- Keep tortillas at room temperature or warm them up, so they don't crack when rolling.
- If your cinnamon sugar isn't sticking to the tortillas, spray with oil or lightly brush with melted butter or coconut oil while still warm.
- You could also divide the cheesecake filling among eight tortillas.
👉 Variations
Try these delicious fillings:
- Banana and chocolate or Nutella
- Caramel apple pie filling like in these fillo apple pie rolls
- Cherry, lemon, blueberry, or peach cheesecake
- Bavarian cream
- The pumpkin cheesecake filling is perfect for fall and Thanksgiving
🍽 How To Serve It
Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup or honey, and garnished with strawberries or chocolate shavings.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh strawberries are the best option. If you must use frozen fruit, you should thaw it before using them. Also, if using canned fruit, drain it first.
Yes, you can bake cheesecake chimichangas in the oven. Put them seam-side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush with oil, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 450 F for 5-10 or at 350 F for 15-20 minutes (flipping over once) or until golden brown.
These fried cheesecakes come together fast, so I haven't made them ahead of time. My concern is that tortillas might get a bit soggy.
If I had to, I'd keep them refrigerated and then take them out a few hours before cooking. Also, they are best when served warm.
Once fried, tortillas will soften and become a bit chewy when stored in the fridge for several days, but that doesn't mean they aren't still delicious cold!
I never tried freezing chimichangas, but if you must, you could freeze them after they've cooled down without coating them with cinnamon sugar.
Then, warm them up in the oven straight from the freezer, spray with oil, and cover with sugar. However, the cheese filling won't have the same texture, and strawberries might leak extra moisture into the filling, so perhaps dried strawberries would work better.
- Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowl
- Mexican Chicken Soup
- No-Churn Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
- Strawberry Oatmeal Cake
- Mexican Guava Charlotte
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Air Fryer Mexican Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas
EQUIPMENT
- Toothpicks
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 ½ cup chopped strawberries, plus more for garnish
- 6 8-inch soft flour tortillas
- Cooking spray, avocado or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, 2 tablespoons of sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in the sliced strawberries.
- Divide the mixture evenly among the tortillas, spreading portions in the lower third of each tortilla.
- Next, fold the two sides of each tortilla toward the center and then roll the tortilla up like a burrito. Secure it with a toothpick. Repeat the rolling process with the remaining tortillas.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to work in batches. Cook for 6 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, flipping them once mid-way through.
- Combine the remaining sugar with the cinnamon in a shallow dish.
- Transfer the chimichangas to a plate and remove the toothpicks. Lightly spray them with cooking oil and roll them into a cinnamon-sugar mixture while still warm.
- Repeat the frying and coating process with the remaining chimichangas. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Tortillas come in a thick and thin texture. Thin work better for this recipe.
- Use gluten-free tortillas if you or someone in your family has celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
- Keep tortillas at room temperature or warm them up so they don't crack when rolling.
- If your cinnamon sugar isn't sticking to the tortillas, spray with oil or lightly brush with melted butter or coconut oil while still warm.
- You could also divide the cheesecake filling among 8 tortillas.
- Strawberry chimichangas are best when served warm.
- For variations and FAQs, please read the post.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in May 2017 and updated in March 2021 with new photos and recipe tips.
amyathealthhomeandheart says
Oh my goodness, these look amazing! I can't believe they are so simple to make. My whole family would love these. I'll be trying these very soon. Thanks so much for sharing at Sweet Inspiration!
Jas says
Thank you, Amy! They are simple and more delicious than I expected. I'm sure you'll love them! 🙂
Connie says
Oh my goodness, these look so good I can't wait to make these. Thanks for joining us at bloggers pit stop. Hope to see you next week
Jas says
Thank you, Connie! I'm thrilled you like them. 🙂
Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Thanks for linking up to Friday Frenzy! This looked so yummy, I had to make it one of our featured posts this week! Pinned! XOXO
Jas says
Thank you so much, Kelly! Made my day 😀
Shirley Wood says
This recipe is Featured at the Merry Monday party this week. Pinned and sharing on my FB page. We look forward to seeing you at the new party going on now.
Jas says
Yay! Thank you, Shirley! What a nice surprise to start off my week. 😀
Erlene says
Omgosh, I need to make these. I have 8lbs. of strawberries sitting in the fridge and this sounds perfect. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned and will be featuring this.
Jas says
Hi, Erlene! Happy you want to give this one a try. It's yummy and easy to make. Where do you get so many strawberries this time of the year? It's still winter-ish here 🙂
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice says
Thanks for sharing this sweet strawberry recipe on Friday Frenzy! I have a feeling this is a recipe that would be great for kids!!!
Jas says
Thanks, Colleen! You're right - kids love this dessert. 🙂 Have a great week!