Description
A quick and easy snack featuring crispy, cheesy taco sticks filled with savory ground beef and melted cheese wrapped in warm flour tortillas. Perfect for game days, parties, or simple weeknight treats, this recipe is customizable, family-friendly, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Filling
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
Assembly
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend
Cooking
- 2 tbsp butter or cooking oil (for frying)
Optional Dips and Garnishes
- Sour cream (for dipping)
- Salsa (for dipping)
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Diced tomatoes (for garnish)
- Lime juice (optional garnish)
- Sliced green onions (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef Filling: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the finely chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned and no longer pink. Sprinkle taco seasoning evenly over the beef and stir well to combine. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes to meld the flavors.
- Assemble the Taco Sticks: Lay a flour tortilla flat on a clean surface. Spoon a generous amount of the beef mixture along one edge of the tortilla. Top with shredded cheese, then roll the tortilla tightly from the beef-filled side to the other edge, creating a snug cylinder. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Cook the Sticks: Heat butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place each rolled tortilla seam side down in the pan to seal them. Cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are golden brown and crispy and the cheese inside has melted thoroughly.
- Serve Warm: Remove the cooked taco sticks onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Serve immediately with your favorite dips like salsa and sour cream. Garnish as desired with cilantro, diced tomatoes, lime juice, or sliced green onions.
Notes
- Don’t overfill the tortillas to make rolling easier and prevent bursting during cooking.
- Use fresh tortillas for better rolling and even crisping.
- Seal the edges with a little water or cheese to keep the rolls closed while cooking.
- Cook on medium heat to ensure the inside cooks through while the outside becomes crispy.
- If using higher-fat beef, drain excess fat before assembling for a less greasy result.
- If baking instead of frying, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes for a crispy finish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven for best results.
- Assemble uncooked sticks can be frozen for up to 2 months; cook directly from frozen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 taco sticks
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg