Description
These crispy beef taquitos are the ultimate homemade party snack—crunchy, savory, and packed with flavorful seasoned beef. Perfect for game nights, potlucks, or anytime you need a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean preferred)
- 1 small onion, finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- 12–14 small corn tortillas (6-inch)
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 2 cups)
- Toothpicks, for securing taquitos (optional)
- Sour cream or Mexican crema (for serving, optional)
- Guacamole or sliced avocado (for serving, optional)
- Fresh salsa or pico de gallo (for serving, optional)
- Shredded lettuce (for serving, optional)
- Lime wedges (for serving, optional)
- Hot sauce (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until mostly browned (about 4-5 minutes).
- Add diced onion and cook another 3 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Drain excess fat if needed. Add tomato sauce or salsa and simmer for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese if using.
- Stack tortillas and wrap in a damp paper towel. Microwave for 30-40 seconds until pliable, or warm individually in a dry skillet for 10-15 seconds per side.
- Place about 2 tablespoons of beef filling along one side of each tortilla. Roll up tightly and secure with a toothpick if needed. Place seam-side down.
- Pour oil into a skillet to about 1/2 inch depth. Heat over medium-high until shimmering (about 350°F).
- Fry taquitos in batches, seam-side down, for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Do not crowd the pan. Use tongs to turn.
- Transfer cooked taquitos to a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Serve hot with your favorite dips and toppings.
Notes
Warm tortillas before rolling to prevent cracking. Do not overfill taquitos to avoid bursting during frying. Fry in small batches for even cooking. For a lighter version, bake or air fry instead of deep frying. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
Keywords: taquitos, beef taquitos, crispy taquitos, party snack, Mexican appetizer, homemade taquitos, fried taquitos, easy taquitos, game night snacks, beef recipes