Ground beef taquitos are an easy and flavorful Mexican dish that consists of rolled corn tortillas wrapped around a seasoned beef mixture! The ground beef is sauteed with yellow onion, green chiles, garlic, and a blend of savory seasonings, then it's all fried in the tortilla to crispy perfection! Top them off with your favorite Mexican food toppings for a delicious snack, easy lunch, or quick family dinner!
Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, and cook until no pink remains. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up the meat as it cooks, then drain off any excess grease and return the pan with the ground beef to the stovetop.
Add the yellow onion, green chiles, and garlic to the ground beef and continue to cook until the onions are translucent (about 4-5 minutes).
Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, and salt & pepper, plus the Mexican hot sauce (if using). Stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes more and set aside.
To make the tortillas pliable and easy to roll, you can microwave them for 30 seconds or warm them for 10-15 seconds in a dry skillet.
Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture into the center of each corn tortilla. Top the meat with shredded Mexican cheese blend if desired, and roll your taquitos up tightly.
Pour the frying oil into a deep skillet set over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F (175°C).
Put your taquitos into the hot oil with the seam facing down. Fry, occasionally turning with tongs, for 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
Use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the beef taquitos from the oil and transfer them to a wire cooling rack with a plate lined with paper towels beneath it to catch any oil drips.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauces or Mexican food toppings.
Notes
You can use 1½-2 teaspoons of my homemade taco seasoning instead of the cumin and chili powder for convenience.
Try not to overfill the taquitos, or they will be hard to roll and can burst open while they are frying.
If needed, you can get your fingertip wet and run it around the edge of each tortilla to seal them before frying.
If you prefer not to fry your taquitos, put them on a baking sheet seam-side-down and bake them at 425°F (218°C) for 15-20 minutes.
To cook ground beef taquitos in your air fryer, place them seam-side-down in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F (205°C) for 4-5 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 3-4 minutes until crispy.
To prepare your beef taquitos in advance, you can assemble them and place them on a baking sheet. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer for a few hours until fully frozen. Then, transfer the taquitos to a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. You can fry them directly from frozen when ready to serve.
To store: Leftover ground beef taquitos should be placed in an airtight container or sealed storage bag. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Cooked taquitos can also be frozen using the same method above. Once cooled, flash freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to a heavy-duty freezer bag. Use within 3 months. There's no need to thaw taquitos before reheating, either!
To reheat: There are 2 ways to reheat taquitos. You can put them on a baking sheet in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 15 minutes or pop them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 4 minutes. The air fryer yields the crispiest results.