Description
Cheesy Taco Sticks bring Mexican-inspired comfort straight to your kitchen with zesty ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy tortilla wraps. Delicious handheld snacks pack bold flavors that satisfy hunger and spark culinary excitement for family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) ground beef
Cheese:
- 5 colby jack and cheddar cheese sticks, halved
Dough and Seasonings:
- 1 tube pillsbury pizza dough
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or homemade taco seasoning)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lightly spraying it with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until it’s thoroughly browned and completely crumbled, breaking down any large chunks with a wooden spatula.
- Drain excess fat from the cooked beef and mix in the taco seasoning, ensuring the meat is evenly coated with the spices without adding additional water.
- Carefully unroll the pizza dough on a clean work surface and slice it lengthwise, then cut into 10 uniform rectangular sections of equal size.
- Distribute a generous tablespoon of seasoned taco meat onto each rectangular dough section, positioning it near one edge of the rectangle.
- Slice the mozzarella cheese sticks in half and place one half on top of the meat in each dough rectangle.
- Carefully roll up each rectangle, tucking in the sides and pinching the seams firmly to seal the filling completely and prevent leakage during baking.
- Melt butter in a small bowl and mix in garlic powder and dried parsley, creating a flavorful herb-infused coating.
- Gently brush the surface of each rolled taco stick with the seasoned melted butter mixture, ensuring even coverage.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the dough turns a rich golden brown and appears crispy and appetizing.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving with preferred taco toppings or dipping sauces.
Notes
- Grab a snack that combines the zesty kick of tacos with the gooey comfort of cheese sticks.
- Customize your taco sticks by experimenting with different cheese types like pepper jack or cheddar for extra flavor.
- Prep these appetizers ahead of time and store in the refrigerator, then bake when unexpected guests arrive.
- Leftover taco meat works perfectly for this recipe, making it a smart way to reduce food waste.
- Kids and adults alike will devour these handheld treats that bring the excitement of taco night into a portable, crispy format.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg