Description
Savory bite-sized appetizers featuring seasoned taco meat, zesty ranch, and melted cheese in crisp phyllo shells—perfect for entertaining or game day snacking!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package (1 oz) taco seasoning
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bottle (8 oz) ranch dressing
- 5 packages (15 count each) frozen phyllo tart shells
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F. This temperature ensures that the phyllo shells become crisp while heating the filling thoroughly without burning.
- Cook the Beef
- Cook ground beef in skillet until no longer pink. Drain fat. Breaking up the meat into fine crumbles while cooking will ensure even seasoning distribution and better filling texture.
- Season the Meat
- Add taco seasoning, tomatoes and chiles to beef. Cook 5 minutes more. This step allows the flavors to meld together and reduces excess moisture from the tomatoes.
- Prepare the Filling
- In bowl, combine cheese and ranch dressing. Add cooked taco meat and mix. The cheese will begin to melt slightly when mixed with the warm meat, creating a creamy, cohesive filling.
- Fill the Shells
- Spoon mixture into frozen phyllo shells. Fill each shell generously but avoid overfilling to prevent spillover during baking.
- Bake
- Bake 8-10 minutes if shells are thawed, or 10-13 minutes if frozen. The phyllo shells should become golden brown and crispy while the filling is heated through.
Notes
- For a spicier version, use hot taco seasoning or add a diced jalapeño to the beef mixture.
- These can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and kept refrigerated before baking.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, or a small dollop of sour cream for added flavor and presentation.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use light ranch dressing.
- The phyllo shells can be filled while still frozen—no need to thaw before filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 bites
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 35mg