Description
These Crispy Jalapeño Popper Beef Taquitos combine spicy pickled jalapeños, creamy cheeses, and savory ground beef rolled in tortillas and baked to golden perfection. A Tex-Mex inspired appetizer or main course, perfect for snacking or entertaining with a crispy outside and cheesy, flavorful filling.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeños
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Assembly
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- Oil spray or light vegetable oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks to ensure it cooks evenly. Once browned, drain off any excess grease to keep the taquitos from becoming too oily.
- Add Cream Cheese: To the still-warm skillet with beef, add the softened cream cheese. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and combines smoothly with the beef.
- Mix in Remaining Ingredients: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese, chopped pickled jalapeños, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated to create the filling.
- Assemble Taquitos: Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling onto each tortilla and roll tightly into a taquito shape. Place each rolled taquito seam-side down onto the prepared baking sheet to prevent them from unrolling during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly brush or spray the tops of the taquitos with oil to help them crisp up beautifully in the oven.
- Bake: Bake the taquitos in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the taquitos from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. They pair wonderfully with ranch, sour cream, or salsa for dipping.
Notes
- Serve with ranch, sour cream, or salsa for dipping to complement the spicy and cheesy flavors.
- To make ahead, assemble the taquitos and freeze before baking. When ready, bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
- For extra crunch, bake the taquitos on a wire rack set on the baking sheet to allow air circulation around each taquito.
