Description
Cheesy beefy rolls-up bring irresistible Mexican-inspired flavors to dinner tables across North America. Savory beef, melted cheese, and zesty spices roll together in these quick, satisfying appetizers that you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
- 8 small flour tortillas (soft taco size)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 2 tbsps butter or oil (for brushing/baking or frying)
- ½ cup salsa or Rotel tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Queso dip
- Alternative homemade taco seasoning:
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- Chopped cilantro or green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sauté ground beef and onions in a skillet until thoroughly browned, then drain excess fat completely.
- Flavor Infusion: Incorporate minced garlic, taco seasoning, and salsa into the meat, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop rich flavors for 2-3 minutes.
- Cheese Integration: Remove skillet from heat and fold in melted cheese blend, ensuring even distribution throughout the filling.
- Tortilla Assembly: Lay tortillas flat, spread beef mixture along the bottom third, then tightly roll, carefully tucking in sides to create sealed parcels.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400F (200C), line baking sheet with parchment paper, and arrange rolled tortillas seam-side down.
- Pre-Baking Technique: Brush exterior with melted butter to enhance crispiness and promote golden-brown coloration.
- Baking Process: Cook for 12-15 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform crispness and thorough heating.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the hot rolls alongside complementary sides like sour cream, salsa, queso, or guacamole.
- Final Touch: Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or green onions to add a vibrant, aromatic finish to the dish.
Notes
- Control Meat Moisture: Pat ground beef dry before sautéing to prevent excess water and achieve perfect browning, ensuring a crispy and flavorful filling.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use a blend of semi-soft and melting cheeses like cheddar and monterey jack for smooth, creamy consistency that binds the filling perfectly.
- Tortilla Selection Strategy: Choose fresh, flexible flour tortillas at room temperature to prevent cracking and ensure easy, tight rolling without breaking.
- Crispy Exterior Hack: Brush rolls with olive oil instead of butter for a lighter option that still provides golden-brown crispness and adds subtle flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg