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Taco-flavored ground beef and melty cheddar cheese stuffed in corn tortillas and baked into a crunchy, cheesy Baked Beef Taquito nirvana. The perfect quick and easy dinner or after school snack all without the fuss of frying.
While it almost feels silly to post something so simple on the blog, my kids absolutely devour these easy baked beef taquitos so I decided they deserved a permanent spot in the archives. I’ll make a big batch at the beginning of the week, freeze them and pull them out as needed for busy sports nights, easy lunches or simply an after school snack.
Ingredients in Baked Beef Taquitos
Beef. I prefer ground beef but the method can be used with ground turkey or chicken.
Spices. I skipped the chili powder this time and used cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder salt. A dash of chili powder or smoked paprika would be great additions as well.
Onion + garlic. Always a must.
Cheese. Literally any cheese will work here! We use co-jack but pepper jack, sharp cheddar or Oaxaca cheese works too.
Tortillas. For me a taquito means corn tortilla. Of course, the better quality you can get, the better.
Avocado oil spray. Instead of brushing the tortillas with olive oil, I like to lightly spray them with avocado oil spray.
Let’s make Baked Beef Taquitos
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Heat a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the ground beef. Use a wooden spoon to break it up into crumbles. After 2–3 minutes, stir in the onion. Cook until the beef is browned all the way through. Add the spices and water, stir, and cook for another 1–2 minutes until everything is fragrant. Remove from heat.
Prep the tortillas. While the beef cooks, shred the cheese. Place your tortillas on a large sheet pan. Spray both sides lightly with avocado oil spray. Pop the sheet pan in the oven for 3 minutes, just until the tortillas are warm and pliable. Let them cool enough to handle.
Fill and roll. Stir the shredded cheddar into the beef mixture. Spoon two heaping tablespoons of filling onto each tortilla in a line. Roll tightly, jelly-roll style, and place seam-side down on the sheet pan. Repeat with all tortillas.
Bake! Bake the taquitos in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp on the edges.
Can I make Baked Beef Taquitos in Advance?
Yes! I make them from start to finish and then either keep them in the fridge and reheat in a 325 degree oven or freeze them on a baking sheet.
Tips and Tricks for Recipe Success
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- Be sure to warm the tortillas with a little oil before rolling. This will keep the tortillas from breaking.
- Season to taste. Everyone’s palate is different so make sure you season the beef appropriately before rolling in the tortillas
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- Freezer-friendly: Bake, cool, then freeze in a single layer. Reheat in the oven for a quick snack or dinner.
More tex-mex recipes we love
Baked Beef Taquitos
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 15 corn corn tortillas
- Avocado oil spray
Equipment
- 1 Cast iron skillet
- 1 sheet pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Heat a medium cast iron skillet to a medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the ground beef. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat. After about 2-3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic. Continue to brown the meat until it is cooked all the way through breaking it up as small as possible as you go. Add the spices, salt and water. Cook another 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- While the meat cooks, shred the cheese. Add the corn tortillas to a large sheet pan. Lightly spray the tortillas with avocado oil spray. Flip and spray the other side making sure the whole tortilla is evenly coated. Place the sheet pan in the oven for three minutes. Remove from the oven and let them rest just until they are cool enough to touch with your hands. They should still be warm.
- Add the cheese to the ground beef. Stir to combine.
- Spoon two heaping tablespoons of the filling in a line on one tortilla. Roll up jelly roll style and place back on the sheet pan seam side down. Repeat with remaining filling and tortillas.
- Place the assembled taquitos on the sheet pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until crispy and brown.
- Serve with sour cream, salsa and guac.
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