Baked Chicken Burritos with Sour Cream-Poblano Sauce

I've had this recipe for Baked Chicken Burritos with Sour Cream-Poblano Sauce bookmarked for ages. I put it on the menu a few times only to swap it out for something else before we even got to the grocery store. I think the ingredient list was holding me back, although when you look at it more closely you see most are spices and things I already have on hand.

The other thing holding me back was time. This is not a weeknight meal. I started cooking the filling for the burritos and an hour later I was just finishing up the sauce. I made these on a Saturday afternoon and when it was time to eat all I had to do was wrap up the burritos and bake them off, then reheat the sauce and the refried beans I'd made to go with them.

We loved these. Absolutely loved them. I can't wait to make them again, which is saying a lot for a burrito (not typically my favorite Mexican dish). The tortilla was crispy, the filling was healthy and flavorful and Baby Girl finally realized she loves beans, inhaled the filling and asked for more.

I only made two minor changes - I increased the amount of chicken broth in the sauce since mine was very thick and I added a diced tomato for color and a little freshness. I also roasted the peppers on our charcoal grill over a small fire. It was so easy - just put them on and leave them alone. I checked on them every 10 minutes or so until they were nicely charred on the outside. No smoky pepper smell in the house and easy cleanup.

Baked Chicken Burritos with Sour Cream-Poblano Sauce
As seen on Smells Like Home, adapted from Elly Says Opa!

For the burritos:
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1 lb ground chicken
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup water or beef broth
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Kosher salt
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
4 burrito-size tortillas
Cooking spray

For the sour cream-poblano sauce:
2 poblano peppers
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/4 cups chicken broth at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream (light is fine) or non-fat Greek yogurt
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Diced tomato, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

To make the burritos: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and then add the oil. Once hot, add the onions and cook for 3-5 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the ground chicken to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 30-60 seconds before adding in the beans. Add the water or broth, cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne, brown sugar and salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon). Reduce heat and simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Place 2 tablespoons of the cheese at the end of each tortilla and then spoon some of the chicken and bean mixture over the top. Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla in, and then roll the tortilla up, from the end closest to you, to the top. Place seam-side down on a baking sheet and lightly spray the tops of the burritos with cooking spray. Bake for about 20 minutes, until tortillas are golden brown and crispy.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Place the poblanos directly over a gas burner. Using tongs, turn occasionally until skin is blackened on all sides. Place in a bowl and top with plastic wrap or a clean towel, until cool enough to handle. (Alternatively, you can roast the peppers under the broiler until all sides are well-charred.) Peel the peppers, remove the stems and seeds, and dice them.

Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat and melt the butter; stir in the flour and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and then the diced poblano; continue to simmer, whisking frequently, until thickened. Stir in the sour cream/yogurt and warm through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the sauce over the baked burritos, topped with the chopped tomato.