Description
These Beef Taquitos are a delicious, crispy, and cheesy Mexican-inspired appetizer or main dish perfect for family dinners or game day. Ground beef is cooked with taco seasoning, cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, and pepper jack cheese to create a rich, flavorful filling wrapped in corn or flour tortillas, then baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade, 1 packet)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (½ brick)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup salsa (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup freshly shredded pepper jack cheese
Assembly
- 8 tortillas (corn or flour)
For Serving
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan or jellyroll pan with nonstick spray. Set it aside to prepare for baking the taquitos.
- Cook the ground beef: In a large pan set over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even browning.
- Add taco seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning until it is evenly combined with the cooked beef, infusing the mixture with bold flavors.
- Mix in cream cheese: Add the cream cheese to the pan and stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and blends smoothly into the beef mixture.
- Incorporate sour cream and salsa: Stir in the sour cream and salsa until everything is well combined and heated through. Then remove the pan from the heat to prevent overcooking.
- Add cheese: Stir the shredded pepper jack cheese into the beef mixture until it is melted and evenly incorporated, enhancing the richness and texture.
- Soften tortillas: Microwave the tortillas individually for about 10 seconds to make them pliable and easy to roll without cracking.
- Assemble the taquitos: Place a tortilla on a clean work surface and spoon a portion of the beef mixture onto one side. Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and beef mixture.
- Bake the taquitos: Bake the assembled taquitos in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until they become crispy and golden brown. Monitor closely to prevent burning or drying out.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the warm taquitos with your preferred toppings such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and shredded cheese for a flavorful and fun eating experience.
Notes
- You can use either corn or flour tortillas based on your preference, but warming them before rolling helps prevent cracking.
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the taquitos for an additional 1-2 minutes after baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- If you prefer a spicier filling, add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Leftover taquitos reheat well in the oven or air fryer to retain crisp texture.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter protein option.
