• Chicken and Cheese Crescent Chimichangas

  Filed under Main Dishes - Chicken
  Sep 14
  
  The reason I first started this blog was purely just for me. I never would have imagined that I would become so addicted to reading other food blogs and wanting to share what I make with the world. It was originally just a way to keep track of what I made (with pictures) so that if I was ever looking at the same recipe or cookbook again, I would have a reference of how it went the first time around. I could also keep track of any changes I made, or suggestions for changes if I wanted to make that recipe again.
  
  Why do I mention this? Because of this recipe. It’s nothing spectacular. In fact, although it wasn’t horrible, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else. But I want to remember – so that next time I am flipping through the pages of this particular cookbook, and if this recipe catches my eye again, I can go back and read about it and remember that it is not really worth making again.

  This comes from the 50th anniversary edition of the Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook. I have actually made a few recipes out of this cookbook that I have really liked. It’s one of those cookbooks that are fun to flip through – along with lots of pictures, there are lots of profiles of home cooks that entered their creations in the Pillsbury Bake Off competitions over 50 years. It’s always fun to read about how regular, normal people came up with some of these creations. (Maybe that’s why I like reading food blogs so much!)

  If you’re not familiar with the Bake Off, it is a competition that Pillsbury sponsors. You can submit a recipe, but it must use eligible products (a list of eligible products is given.) These days, you have to use at least 2 of the products on the list in your recipe, but I wonder how it worked back in the 50′s when the store shelves weren’t packed with so many pre-made items. This recipe uses refrigerated crescent dinner rolls. It was great for an easy weeknight meal, but not something that really stood out to me or begged to be made again.
  
  I did make a couple of changes. I had some Monterey Jack cheese, so I substituted the Cheddar. I also mistakenly bought the extra large crescent rolls, so instead of 8 chimichangas, we had 6 larger ones. One serving was plenty for each of us, so I wrapped up the remaining ones and put them in the freezer for a quick dinner or lunch another day.
  
  Chicken and Cheese Crescent Chimichangas
  from Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off

  Yield: 8 servings

  1/2 cup chopped onion
  2 garlic cloves, minced
  3 tablespoons oil
  2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
  1/2 cup picante salsa
  8 oz (2 cups) shredded Cheddar cheese
  Sour Cream
  Salsa

  Heat oven to 350 F. Grease large cookie sheet. In large skillet, cook onion and garlic in oil until onion is tender. Add chicken; cook over low heat until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

  Separate dough into 8 rectangles; firmly press perforations to seal. Spread about 2 teaspoons of the salsa on each rectangle to within 1/2 inch of edges. Stir 1 cup of the cheese into chicken mixture. Spoon heaping 1/3 cup chicken mixture onto half of each rectangle. Starting at shortest side topped with chicken, roll up; pinch ends to seal. Place seam side down on greased cookie sheet.

  Bake at 350 F for 16 to 21 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; top each with about 2 tablespoons of the remaining cheese. Bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream and additional salsa.
  

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  12 Comments

12 Responses to “Chicken and Cheese Crescent Chimichangas”

1. 

   Belinda said on September 14th, 2007 at 3:54 pm

   Deborah, I agree, I love having all of my favorite recipes all in one place that I can easily find them. I also love the addictive fun of reading food blogs and getting to know the people who write them. I love reading those Pillsbury Bake-Off books too, and while you say that you may not want to make this particular recipe again, I can definitely say that it truly looks delicious. Now I want to go and browse through some Bake-Off books!

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2. 

   Elle said on September 15th, 2007 at 5:54 pm

   I used to always pay attention to the Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe winners, but have not lately. This looks so yummy with the gooey cheese. Also helps me feel that the bisquik in my latest post is not declasse’, but practical. Really

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3. 

   Big Momma said on September 16th, 2007 at 12:43 am

   I have the PBO books as well…the bakery items usually come out much better, at least the ones I have tried. Lately, I have hardly looked at any of my cookbooks. I have a few blogs (including yours) that I have been getting all of my ideas from!

   Clintonville Big Momma

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4. 

   Maryann said on September 16th, 2007 at 1:52 am

   I think it’s funny that you say “look what I made, but I don’t recommend it”. I like that kind of honesty

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5. 

   Sara said on September 16th, 2007 at 2:41 am

   too bad you don’t recommend it, ’cause it looks gooood.

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6. 

   Cynthia said on September 16th, 2007 at 3:19 pm

   Why I trust you? It was great for an easy weeknight meal, but not something that really stood out to me or begged to be made again.

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7. 

   Ellie said on September 16th, 2007 at 3:36 pm

   Wait…you mean a chimichanga is an actual thing? For some reason, I always just thought it was a nonsense word, like supercalifrajulipstick…etc! Sorry the recipe didn’t impress, but if its any consolation, they look and sound tasty

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8. 

   Kelly-Jane said on September 16th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

   I’m with you too, I started blogging for me but now it’s as much about the pleasure of reading friends blogs now and seeing what everyone else is making

   These look fab, all that melting cheese, it’s a shame they weren’t what you might have imagined.

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9. 

   Nirmala said on September 16th, 2007 at 5:20 pm

   Could have fooled me. This looks good but I’ll keep note. Do you like the Pillsbury dough?

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10. 

    Judy said on September 17th, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    This is one of those recipes that no matter what is in it, or how it is made, I know I like it already just by the name. Looks delish too.

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11. 

    Janet said on September 18th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    Those look really good. I love chimichangas. I always put a little bit cinnamon in mine too… I love the idea of the crescent rolls, I’ve always just used tortillas…

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12. 

    Pearlsofeast said on April 16th, 2008 at 12:02 am

    Hi Deborah, I always have chimichangas outside but never tried at home . Your recipe sounds damm good!!!!! 1 will now make them at home.

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