Recipe: Taco Bites

A while back this recipe for Taco Bites came from a need to nosh (New York word for snack) and us rummaging through the refrigerator…. leftover Taco meat offers a plethora (like the big word?) of possibilities… I had boxes of pie crust that would expire soon… so… a recipe was born… I’m sure I’m not the first to do this… but I thought I would share the idea…. especially with Game Day right around the corner… this little recipe can be prepared ahead… a perfect little add-on to your menu of munchies.

TIPS

Make the Taco meat the day before to save time… use either a commercial Taco Seasoning or my Taco Seasoning recipe…. of course I recommend my recipe… it has a little zip (not too much) and for those of you that like a lot of zip… you can add more heat (see the recipe for details).

Assemble the bites a few hours before you plan on serving them… cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge… let them stand out about 20 minutes before baking.

Numerous recipes call for baking at the same 375 degree F temperature… make them in the same oven to save time and have a variety of snacks quickly.

Make sure you chop the ingredients finely… it will be easier to fill the shells.

You only need about ½ pound of taco meat… most recipes are for a pound… cut the taco recipe in half or have a leftover night with tacos…

This recipe makes about 28 Taco Bites… if you don’t want that many… cook the Taco meat and use what you need and save the rest for leftovers and have tacos one night.

If you’re serving a lot of other food… then figure about 3 per person… if you’re not having a lot of food… then figure about 6 per person.

When chopping green onion… use both the green tops and white bottoms.

Each piece of pie crust will make about 14 Taco Bites.

I have a set of 3 biscuit cutters…. the middle size (approximately 2 ¼ inch) is perfect for cutting out the pie crust.

Try these…. you’ll love them!









Recipe: Taco Bites

All you need:

1 box of ready-made pie crust (2 crusts), softened as directed
½ lb. cooked Taco meat
3 green onions, finely copped
2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
1 cup finely shredded Fiesta blend or cheddar cheese
½ cup sour cream
Cooking spray to grease the mini muffin tins (olive oil flavor preferred)

All you need to do:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Lightly spray the mini muffin tin (I do this even though it is a non-stick pan… to ensure they don’t get stuck). Set aside.

Lightly dust a flat surface with flour.

Carefully unroll one of the pie crusts.

Using the biscuit cutter cut the pie crust into rounds.

Gently push the pie crust rounds into the mini muffin tin.

Add a small amount of Taco meat into each.

Add a small amount of tomato into each.

Add a small amount of green onion into each.

Sprinkle a small amount of shredded cheese on top of each.

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 8 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sides are a light brown color.

Remove from the oven.

Quickly turn the Taco Bites out of the pan.

Wearing an oven mitt… make sure they are all right side up.

Cool on a rack for until able to handle.

Drop a tiny dollop of sour cream on each.

Serve.