Description
Mouthwatering cheesy taco sticks deliver a fiesta of flavors straight from Mexican street cuisine. Crispy tortilla rolls packed with seasoned meat and melted cheese create an irresistible handheld snack you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Cheese:
- 12 Colby Jack cheese sticks
Dough and Seasoning:
- 2 cans Pillsbury pizza dough
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Water:
- Water (as directed on taco seasoning package)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 425°F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Maintain pizza dough chilled until preparation time.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, eliminating excess grease.
- Incorporate garlic, taco seasoning, and recommended water amount. Simmer until liquid reduces, approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Spread pizza dough on parchment-lined sheet, stretching into a 12×8-inch rectangle. Divide into twelve 4×4-inch squares across two dough sheets.
- Distribute taco meat centrally on each dough square, leaving modest border around edges.
- Position half a cheese stick atop meat filling for each square.
- Carefully encase filling by folding dough edges, pressing seams firmly to prevent leakage. Tuck and seal end sections, positioning each stick seam-side downward on baking sheet.
- Melt butter and combine with garlic powder and dried parsley. Generously brush mixture across taco stick surfaces.
- Bake 12-14 minutes until surfaces transform into golden, puffy texture. Serve immediately while warm for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Seal taco sticks tightly to prevent filling from leaking during baking, ensuring a clean and neat presentation.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack or sharp cheddar to add unique flavor profiles and personalize the dish.
- Use lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey for a healthier protein option that maintains the recipe’s delicious taste.
- Prepare extra taco meat mixture and freeze for quick future meal prep, making weeknight dinners faster and more convenient.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg