Description
These Best Ever Beef Taquitos are crispy, flavorful rolled tortillas filled with a seasoned ground beef mixture and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a main course, these taquitos are pan-fried to golden perfection and garnished with fresh cilantro. Serve them with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for an authentic Mexican-inspired meal that’s sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Taquitos
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Cook the beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Season the mixture: Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and tomato sauce. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Add cheese and cilantro: Remove the skillet from heat, then mix in the shredded cheddar cheese and chopped fresh cilantro until the cheese is melted and well combined.
- Warm tortillas: Warm the corn tortillas slightly to make them flexible and prevent cracking when rolling.
- Roll the taquitos: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture onto the lower third of each tortilla. Roll tightly and place seam side down to seal.
- Fry the taquitos: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the rolled taquitos in batches until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch.
- Drain and serve: Remove taquitos from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces like salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Notes
- Warming the tortillas before rolling helps prevent them from cracking and makes rolling easier.
- For a lighter alternative, bake the taquitos at 400°F for 18 to 20 minutes instead of frying.
- Serve with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for extra flavor and dipping options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
