Description
Golden, crispy beef taquitos filled with savory seasoned ground beef and melted cheese. A versatile and easy-to-make dish perfect as a meal, appetizer, or snack, with multiple cooking options.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Filling:
- 1/2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/4 medium onion, diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 recipe taco seasoning (or 1 packet store-bought)
- 1/4 cup water
For Assembly & Cooking:
- 20 corn tortillas
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
- Cooking oil (for frying or brushing, e.g., vegetable, canola, olive oil spray)
Optional Toppings:
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the avocado oil or olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes, or until it softens and becomes translucent. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook the beef, breaking it apart with a spoon or spatula, for about 5–6 minutes or until it is fully browned. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Warm the Tortillas: To make the tortillas pliable and prevent them from cracking when rolled, wrap the stack of 20 corn tortillas in a damp paper towel. Microwave them for 1 minute, flipping the stack halfway through, until they are soft and flexible.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Place one warm tortilla on a clean, flat surface. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cooked beef mixture in the center of the tortilla, then top it with about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese. Roll the tortilla tightly from one end to the other, making sure the filling is enclosed securely. If needed, you can use a toothpick to secure the seam closed, though often the warmth of the tortilla helps it stay. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- To Cook the Taquitos (Choose your method): A. To Bake:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Arrange the assembled taquitos seam-side down in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Lightly spray or brush the tops of the taquitos with cooking oil.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown. B. To Fry:
- In a large skillet or deep pot, heat about 2 inches of cooking oil to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to ensure accuracy.
- Carefully place 3–4 taquitos at a time into the hot oil, seam-side down first.
- Fry for 3–5 minutes, turning them as needed to ensure all sides become crispy and golden.
- Remove the fried taquitos from the oil and drain them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. C. To Air Fry:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, seam-side down. Do not overcrowd the basket; cook in batches if necessary.
- Lightly spray the taquitos with cooking oil.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, then flip them over. Spray again with oil and air fry for 2 more minutes, or until they are crisp and golden.
- To Serve: If you used toothpicks to secure them, carefully remove them before serving. Serve the Crispy Beef Taquitos warm, accompanied by your favorite optional toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cool sour cream, creamy guacamole, and zesty salsa.
Notes
- Tortilla Choice: While corn tortillas are traditional, you can use flour tortillas if you prefer (especially convenient for baking or air frying, as they’re less prone to cracking).
- Warming Tortillas: Don’t skip warming the tortillas! This makes them pliable and prevents cracking during rolling.
- Freezing: To freeze for later: assemble the taquitos, then freeze them before cooking. You can bake or air fry them directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cook time.
- Filling Don’t: Don’t overfill the tortillas, or they’ll be difficult to roll tightly.
- Oil Temperature: If frying, maintaining the correct oil temperature (350°F / 175°C) is key for crispness without greasiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Frying, Baking, Air Frying, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 165 kcal
- Sugar: 0.8 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 9.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.2 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 8.6 g
- Cholesterol: 28 mg
Keywords: Beef Taquitos, Crispy Taquitos, Easy Taquitos, Ground Beef Taquitos, Mexican Appetizer, Fried Taquitos, Baked Taquitos, Air Fryer Taquitos, Party Food