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
Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
Air Fryer Mexican Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas
EQUIPMENT
- Electric Mixer
- Toothpicks
- Air fryer
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.
- Spray the air fryer basket with some cooking spray. Set your air fryer to 400 Fahrenheit degrees. Place chimichangas seam side down in the air fryer basket. Set the timer to 6 minutes.
- 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.
Amy says
Oh my goodness, these Mexican Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas look fabulous. Your pictures are wonderful. You nailed in on the head when you talked about how as we get older everything changes, but I love your point that we need to go with moderation in all things. We need to have something to look forward to and I am definitely looking forward to making these chimichangas. Thank you for sharing at Inspire Me Monday link party.
Jas says
Amy, I'm thrilled that you like it and agree with my theory! As the youngsters would say: YOLO, and although we want to be healthy and prolong it, we also need to enjoy it while it lasts. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping in! x
Fabiola Rodriguez says
As a Mexican, I must say this is an interesting idea. I've had tortillas with a sweet filling crepe-style, so I would definitely give this a try. Pinning and tweeting this! Greetings from the Inspire Me Monday linky 🙂
Jas says
Thank you, Fabiola! I must say, I was surprised by how good this was. I love anything cheesecake but doubted that strawberries and cinnamon would taste good together. Well, they do! 😀
Alexandra says
Ooooohhhhh my goodness! This recipe combines a bunch of my favorite things. I can't wait to try this! Not to mention that I appreciate the frying instructions being in minutes, not just until it reaches a certain temperature or what-have-you.
I recently started a new link up on my EyeLoveKnots blog, and would love if you came to link up!
Jas says
I'm super happy that you like it, Alexandra! As far as cooking instructions, it can be tricky as not all the stoves are made the same. So, it's more like a guide than the rule. But I totally get it. I don't insert a thermometer in everything I cook. I think I used it once and it didn't work out that great, lol.
Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather says
OMG, these look fantastic, Jas! I am still in the "golden age" where I can eat two meals...I eat more than my husband! Not looking forward to that changing 🙁 Anyway, these look gorgeous and great for Cinco de Mayo coming up!
Jas says
Lucky you! I miss that age. 🙁
Rhonda says
These look delicious, and just in time for strawberry season. They even look easy enough for me to make. Thanks for sharing on Sunday's Best. I always look forward to your posts.
Jas says
They really are easy, Rhonda! Thank you
Rachel says
These look scrumptious! Love the pics!
Jas says
Thank you, Rachel! 😀
Beverly says
Wow, Jas, these look delicious! I agree that moderation is good for us, but I don't think I'd stop at just one of these. We'll be featuring your Mexican Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas at tomorrow's Snickerdoodle Party. See you there!
Jas says
Aw, Beverly, you're spoiling me 😀 Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Looks so yummy Jas! Pinned & sharing Thanks for joining the Inspiration Spotlight party. Hey, we are having a great giveaway going on. Feel free to pop by to enter. See you again soon!
Jas says
Thank you, Theresa! Will check it out 🙂
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Looks fantastic!! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner link up!
Jas says
Thanks, Helen!
Debbie says
Jas - these do look super duper easy - so much so I could probably make them and not ruin them LOL I love cheesecake and strawberries and yes - everything is ok in moderation! Thanks for linking up with #TuneInThursday last week. Hope to see you tomorrow too.
Jas says
These can't be ruined even if you try, ha!
Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy says
Those simply look divine!
Jas says
Thank you much, Danielle!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says
Thanks for linking up and sharing this tempting dessert recipe with us at #overthemoon link party. Have a great week, I've pinned and shared. 🙂
Jas says
Much appreciated, Sue!
Miz Helen says
What a very special treat that I can't wait to enjoy! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
Jas says
I am, thank you Miz Helen!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
These look awesome!! I want some right now! 😀
Jas says
Thank you! They're really easy to make 😀
Cassie Smallwood says
OMG! These look amazing! Some of my favorite things...chimichangas, cheesecake, and strawberries. Thanks for sharing!
Jas says
Thank you, Cassie! They're pretty good, if I may say so myself 😀
Akaleistar says
Oh, that looks yummy! Love anything involving cheesecake 🙂
Jas says
Thank you! I'm addicted to cheesecakes and am slowly building my own collection. They even have their own page on my blog 😀
Stephanie says
Wow! I'm not sure that I've ever seen a recipe for these...they look amazing! I especially like the option of adding Nutella (one of my many guilty pleasures).
Jas says
Yes, I LOVE Nutella! 😀 Thanks for visiting, Stephanie! Hope your weekend is going great!
Alison's Allspice says
Dessert chimichangas! How much fun! I love the extra touch with the cinnamon sugar finish too!
Jas says
Thank you, Alison! Honestly, I thought the cinnamon would be too much but it's a perfect balance 🙂
Michelle says
Oh wow, these look like heaven on a plate. Can I eat my screen now please Jas?
Jas says
Lol, Michelle, sure! Eat away 😛
Michelle Leslie says
Me again. This is becoming a habit. The second recipe of yours I’ve tried and it’s now become my go to pudding. I have never been able to make a cheesecake of any kind but this one is just so incredibly easy and beyond yummy. You’re a star Jas
Jas says
YAY! I can't believe you came so close to the kitchen, LOL. It makes me tremendously happy that you're trying my recipes, Michelle! Words can't describe it 🙂 So glad you like it and thank you so so much! Now you need to teach me to craft like you 😉 Mwah!
Roseann Hampton says
I think I have all of these ingredients - can't wait to make these!
Jas says
You will love them, Roseann! Thanks for visiting!