Description
Crispy Cheesy Beef Taquitos are a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican-inspired snack or meal featuring seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, rolled in small flour tortillas and fried to golden perfection. These taquitos are crispy on the outside, cheesy and flavorful inside, and perfect for serving with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
Tortillas
- 10-12 small flour tortillas
Frying
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 1 inch depth)
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Season the Beef: Add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to the beef. Stir well to combine and continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Add Cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until it melts and the mixture is well combined.
- Warm the Tortillas: Heat the flour tortillas briefly in the microwave or on a warm skillet just until pliable, making them easier to roll without cracking.
- Fill and Roll: Spoon a few tablespoons of the beef and cheese mixture onto each tortilla. Roll them tightly, ensuring the filling is secure inside.
- Heat the Oil: In a large frying pan, pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil and heat it over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Fry the Taquitos: Carefully place the rolled taquitos seam-side down into the hot oil. Fry each taquito for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove the fried taquitos with tongs and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain off any excess oil.
- Repeat Frying: Continue frying the remaining taquitos in batches until all are cooked.
- Serve Hot: Serve the crispy cheesy beef taquitos immediately with your choice of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa for dipping.
Notes
- To prevent the tortillas from cracking while rolling, ensure they are warmed properly to make them pliable.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan while frying to maintain oil temperature and ensure even crispiness.
- You can substitute corn tortillas for a gluten-free version, though they may be more fragile.
- Use a splatter screen while frying to minimize oil splashes.
- Leftover taquitos can be reheated in an oven or air fryer to retain crispiness, but are best served fresh.
