Description
These delicious Taco Sticks combine seasoned ground beef, melty Colby Jack cheese, and flaky pizza dough for a savory handheld treat perfect for parties, snacks, or casual dinners. Crispy on the outside and gooey inside, they’re easy to make and bake to golden perfection in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 package taco seasoning (plus water as called for on the package)
Dough and Filling
- 2 cans Pillsbury Pizza Dough
- 12 Colby Jack cheese sticks
Butter Topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper for easy cleanup and non-stick baking.
- Cook beef mixture: In a frying pan over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat. Add minced garlic, taco seasoning, and the water amount specified on the seasoning package. Cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes until the water evaporates and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
- Prepare dough: Keep the pizza dough refrigerated until ready to use. Remove dough from each can and unroll onto the parchment paper, shaping each into a 12×8 inch rectangle. Cut each rectangle into 6 equal 4×4 inch pieces, totaling 12 pieces.
- Assemble taco sticks: Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the beef mixture into the center of each dough rectangle. Cut each cheese stick in half and place a half on top of the meat. Carefully bring up the sides of the dough and pinch all edges together to seal, folding ends up to one side so the seams face down on the baking sheet. Avoid stretching the dough to maintain a puffed texture.
- Apply butter topping: Melt the butter in the microwave and stir in garlic powder and dried parsley. Use a pastry brush or spoon to evenly coat the top of each taco stick with the butter mixture for flavor and browning.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the taco sticks are puffed and lightly browned on top.
Notes
- Make sure not to overfill the dough pieces to avoid leakage during baking.
- Serving these with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole adds extra flavor.
- Use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder in the butter mix for more intense flavor if desired.
- Let the taco sticks cool for a few minutes before eating to avoid burns from hot cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco stick
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
