Description
Irresistible taco ranch bites deliver Mexican-inspired flavor with crispy chicken and zesty ranch dressing. Crowd-pleasing appetizers bring festive excitement to any gathering, promising you a delicious journey through spicy, creamy comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 250 g (½ pound) ground beef or turkey
Dairy:
- 100 g (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 60 g (¼ cup) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
Seasonings and Base Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 package (250 g) refrigerated crescent roll dough
Optional Toppings:
- sour cream
- diced tomatoes
- shredded lettuce
- green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the meat mixture by sautéing ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium heat until completely browned. Eliminate excess fat and incorporate taco seasoning, allowing the flavors to meld together for 1-2 minutes.
- Cool the seasoned meat slightly, then blend in cream cheese, ranch dressing, and half the cheddar cheese to create a rich, creamy filling.
- Heat the oven to 190C (375F) and thoroughly coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Carefully separate crescent roll dough and slice into 24 uniform squares, ensuring each piece is slightly smaller than the muffin tin openings.
- Gently press each dough square into the muffin tin, forming delicate cups with slightly raised edges.
- Distribute the meat and cheese mixture evenly among the dough cups, filling each to approximately three-quarters full.
- Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese across the top of each bite, creating a golden, melty surface.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the pastry transforms into a crisp, golden-brown color and the cheese becomes completely melted.
- Allow the bites to rest for several minutes after removing from the oven to prevent burning.
- Garnish with optional toppings like sour cream, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground meat with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that maintains the same zesty flavor profile.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground turkey or chicken instead of higher-fat beef options.
- Prep dough squares in advance and refrigerate to streamline the assembly process and save time during cooking.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or Mexican blend for added flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 268
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 54 mg