Description
Cheesy Taco Sticks are a delicious and easy-to-make snack featuring seasoned ground beef and melty colby jack and cheddar cheese wrapped in pillowy pizza dough. These flavorful bites are brushed with a garlic parsley butter and baked to golden perfection, making them perfect for game days, parties, or casual family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Taco Meat
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or homemade taco seasoning)
For the Dough and Filling
- 1 tube Pillsbury Pizza Dough
- 5 colby jack and cheddar cheese sticks, halved
For the Topping
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a large baking sheet by lightly coating it with non-stick spray. This ensures your cheesy taco sticks won’t stick during baking.
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound of ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until browned and fully crumbled. Drain excess fat. Return the skillet to the stovetop and stir in the taco seasoning packet without adding water, coating the beef evenly. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out the tube of Pillsbury pizza dough flat on a clean surface. Cut it lengthwise in half, then make 4 cuts up and down the length to create 10 small rectangular pieces.
- Assemble the Taco Sticks: Place about a tablespoon or more of the seasoned taco meat in the center of each dough rectangle. Top each with half of a colby jack and cheddar cheese stick. Carefully roll up the dough around the filling, pinching the seams tightly to seal the cheesy taco sticks well.
- Add Garlic Butter Topping: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Brush this flavorful mixture generously over the tops of the assembled taco sticks for a golden and aromatic crust.
- Bake: Place the cheesy taco sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top and the cheese inside melts perfectly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot, optionally accompanied by your favorite taco toppings like salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for added flavor.
Notes
- Make sure the taco meat cools before assembling to prevent the dough from getting soggy.
- You can substitute the cheese sticks with your favorite shredded cheese for a different texture.
- These can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- For a spicier kick, add some chopped jalapeños to the filling.
- Use homemade taco seasoning to control sodium and additives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: Cheesy taco sticks, taco snacks, baked taco rolls, ground beef appetizers, easy taco recipe
