What Is The Difference Between A Chimichanga And A Burrito
There are a few differences between a chimichanga and a burrito. These differences depend on the origin of the food, the filling, and size. Chimichangas typically originate from Mexico or Tex-Mex cuisines while burritos originated from Mexican cuisine. They also have different flavors and ingredients since they come from different regions. In addition, they vary in size but can be served with some similar dishes such as rice, beans, guacamole, salsa, sour cream etc.
1) Origin: chimichanga & burrito
A chimichanga is usually deep fried and originated from Mexican cuisine whereas a burrito is not deep fried and originated from Mexican cuisine.
2) Flavor: chimichanga compared to the burrito
Typically, a chimichanga has more authentic flavors than a burrito since it is originally from Mexico and the US’s Tex-Mex cuisine. It has more of a South American flavor than an Italian one because it uses tortillas which are eaten in South America as opposed to the sauce and toppings such as cheese and marinara sauce used on pizzas which were originally served in Italy. Sometimes, people like to add their own flair to make it taste better using different spices instead of sticking with authenticity for traditional dishes such as this. Usually, there are more filling options for a chimichanga than a burrito but sometimes, some people add the same things to a burrito that they would add to a chimichanga such as rice, beans, meat or vegetables.
3) Size: chimichanga measured against burrito
A chimichanga is typically larger than a burrito. It is more of a meal whereas a burrito can be eaten for lunch or dinner but not usually both since it doesn’t fill an eater up since it does not have enough filling. Also, a chimichanga is normally deeper fried giving it more of an authentic Mexican flavor which makes it more delicious and addicting. It has more of an Italian texture with its crunchy exterior from being deep fried followed by having softer areas around the filling then being finished off with hot sauce or salsa on top.
4) Filling: burrito vs. chimichanga
A chimichanga typically has more filling than a burrito which makes it a better choice for those who are hungry since it can fill up a person’s stomach especially if they do not have a large appetite. A chimichanga is normally stuffed with the same ingredients as a burrito except some people prefer to add different sauces and spices such as queso sauce, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder etc. It is normally drenched in hot sauce or salsa before being served whereas a burrito is usually served with sour cream and guacamole. In addition, some people like to put rice inside of them while others will fry the entire thing including the rice.
5) Dishes: chimichanga vs burrito
A chimichanga can be served with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, rice, beans, meat or vegetables while a burrito is typically served with only one type of filling that includes some sort of sauce or condiments on top such as guacamole, sour cream etc.
6) Deep frying: burrito vs. chimichanga
Typically, a chimichanga is deep fried making it crunchier and more authentic tasting but a burrito is not deep fried which makes it more like an Italian dish due to its soft exterior which does not require any sort of oil to make. As mentioned before in this article some people choose to deep fry their entire burrito which makes it crunchier and taste like a chimichanga. They can be served with the same types of dishes such as rice, beans, guacamole, salsa or sour cream making them both versatile.
7) Tex-Mex cuisine: chimichanga vs burrito
A chimichanga is listed as part of Tex-Mex cuisine because it originates from the US’s Tex-Mex cuisine while a burrito comes from Mexican cuisine. As mentioned before in this article they are normally deep fried giving them extra flavor but some people choose to eat only the filling without deep frying everything which gives it different textures that can vary depending on where someone eats one. Some places might have different recipes for things so it is sometimes hard to predict what someone will get when they order either one of these delicious dishes.
Conclusion
So you want something other than an enchilada, but which dish do you prefer?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a burrito and a chimichanga since some places choose to deep fry their entire burrito but in general, a chimichanga is bigger, crunchier and more flavorful than a burrito due to being deep fried which makes it taste more authentic because it was created in 1946 in Mexico whereas the burrito was created in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1910. Both are delicious though so people should not have difficulty deciding between them. So basically if your burrito is deeply fried, then it’s a chimichanga; if it’s not deep-fried, then it’s a burrito!