Description
Delightful taco ranch bites showcase zesty Mexican-inspired flavors in bite-sized appetizers. Ranch seasoning and ground beef create a perfect handheld snack for casual gatherings and game day celebrations. You’ll love these crowd-pleasing little treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (250 g) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 250 g (½ lb) ground beef or turkey
- 100 g (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 60 g (¼ cup) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 2 tbsps ranch dressing
- 2 tbsps water
- sour cream (optional)
- diced tomatoes (optional)
- shredded lettuce (optional)
- green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium heat, drain excess fat, and infuse with taco seasoning for 1-2 minutes to develop robust flavors.
- Filling Creation: Combine cooled seasoned meat with cream cheese, ranch dressing, and half the cheddar cheese, mixing until a smooth, creamy consistency forms.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 190C (375F) and liberally spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Dough Configuration: Divide crescent roll dough into 24 precise squares, slightly smaller than muffin tin openings, ensuring uniform size and shape.
- Dough Placement: Carefully press each dough square into muffin cavities, creating delicate cups with elevated edges for optimal filling retention.
- Filling Distribution: Evenly disperse the meat and cheese mixture into dough cups, filling approximately three-quarters full to maintain structural integrity.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over each bite, creating a golden, appetizing surface.
- Baking Process: Bake for 12-15 minutes until pastry achieves a crisp, golden-brown texture and cheese melts completely.
- Cooling and Garnishing: Allow bites to rest briefly, then adorn with optional toppings like sour cream, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or chopped green onions for added freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Manage Meat Moisture: Drain excess fat thoroughly after browning meat to prevent soggy pastry and ensure a crisp, clean bite texture.
- Control Dough Thickness: Stretch crescent roll squares gently and evenly to create uniform cups that cook consistently without tearing or uneven baking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese in two stages – some mixed into filling and some on top – for maximum flavor and perfect golden-brown surface.
- Temperature Precision: Let bites cool 3-5 minutes after baking to set filling and prevent burning, allowing easier removal from muffin tin and ideal serving temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg