Description
Savory taco cupcakes blend Mexican street food charm with playful party appetizer creativity. Crispy wonton wrappers hold seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty toppings, delivering compact flavor explosions you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 36 wonton wrappers
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning (1 oz/28 g)
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (16 oz/454 g) refried beans
- ⅔ cup (158 ml) water
- sour cream
- diced tomatoes
- chopped cilantro
- diced onions
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and thoroughly coat a muffin tin with cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
- Meat Preparation: Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and incorporate taco seasoning, simmering until the mixture thickens and absorbs spices completely.
- Base Construction: Gently press wonton wrappers into muffin cups, creating a delicate foundation. Spread a uniform layer of refried beans across each wrapper.
- Layering Process: Distribute seasoned beef evenly over beans, then generously sprinkle shredded cheese. Position a second wonton wrapper atop the cheese, pressing lightly to create a structured layer.
- Secondary Layering: Repeat the previous layer with refried beans, taco meat, and cheese, building depth and complexity of flavors.
- Baking: Slide the muffin tin into the preheated oven, baking for 15-18 minutes until wonton edges turn golden and cheese bubbles enticingly.
- Finishing Touches: Allow cupcakes to rest briefly for stabilization. Adorn with vibrant garnishes like sour cream, diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and sliced jalapeños to enhance visual appeal and taste profile.
- Serving: Present immediately while cupcakes remain warm, offering a portable and delectable taco-inspired delicacy.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Carefully: Pat ground beef dry before cooking to prevent excess liquid and ensure crispy, well-browned meat that doesn’t become soggy.
- Choose Wrapper Wisely: Use thin, fresh wonton wrappers that aren’t dried out to guarantee a crisp, golden-brown texture without becoming tough or chewy.
- Control Cheese Melting: Shred cheese freshly and add it in thin, even layers to promote uniform melting and prevent clumping or uneven distribution.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles, use low-fat cheese, and select gluten-free wonton wrappers to accommodate different dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 292
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 581 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 56 mg