Description
Zesty taco ranch bites blend Mexican and American flavors in a compact appetizer. Small bites pack complex taste profiles with creamy ranch and spicy seasoned meat, offering a quick crowd-pleasing snack you’ll crave at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (½ lb) ground beef or turkey
- 1 package (250 g) refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 100 g (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 60 g (¼ cup) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 2 tbsps water
- 2 tbsps ranch dressing
- Sour cream
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Green onions
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle ground meat in a skillet over medium heat until completely cooked, eliminating excess fat, then incorporate taco seasoning for an intense flavor burst.
- Filling Development: Lower skillet temperature and blend cream cheese, ranch dressing, and cheddar into the meat, creating a luxurious, smooth mixture that melds all components harmoniously.
- Dough Configuration: Transform crescent roll dough into 24 uniform squares, carefully nestling each piece into a greased mini muffin tin, forming delicate pastry vessels with slightly elevated borders.
- Assembling Bites: Generously layer the seasoned meat mixture into each dough pocket, filling approximately 3/4 full to prevent spillage, then crown with an additional sprinkle of cheddar cheese.
- Baking Process: Slide the muffin tin into a preheated 190C oven, allowing 12-15 minutes of cooking time until pastry achieves a golden-brown complexion and cheese transforms into a bubbling, appetizing topping.
- Finishing Touch: Permit bites to rest momentarily after removing from oven, then embellish with optional garnishes like sour cream, fresh tomatoes, crisp lettuce, or zesty green onions to elevate the culinary experience.
Notes
- Drain Meat Thoroughly: Remove all excess fat from ground meat to prevent soggy, greasy bites and ensure a crisp texture.
- Avoid Overfilling Dough: Fill dough cups only 3/4 full to prevent messy overflow and maintain a clean, professional appearance during baking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese just before final baking stage to achieve perfect golden-brown, bubbly cheese topping without burning.
- Dietary Adaptation Tip: Swap crescent roll dough with gluten-free alternatives and use lean ground turkey for a healthier, low-carb version of the recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg