Description
These Crispy Beef Taquitos are a crowd-pleasing Mexican-inspired favorite. Featuring spiced ground beef, melted cheese, and perfectly golden tortillas, they’re ideal for game days, parties, or a fun family dinner. Serve them with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for the ultimate dipping experience!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 12 small corn or flour tortillas
- Oil for frying (or baking option below)
Instructions
- Cook the beef filling:
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook 1–2 more minutes. Stir in cheese and remove from heat.
- Assemble the taquitos:
- Warm tortillas to make them pliable. Place 2 tbsp of beef mixture on each tortilla, roll tightly, and secure with toothpicks if needed.
- Fry until crispy:
- Heat oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry taquitos seam-side down for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve:
- Garnish with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Make ahead: Freeze rolled, uncooked taquitos on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag; bake or fry from frozen.
- Cheese swap: Try Monterey Jack or pepper jack for extra flavor.
- Healthier version: Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Fried or Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 170kcal
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 25mg