Cheesy Taco Sticks are a fun new combination of mozzarella sticks, pizza pockets, and, of course, tacos! These rolls are absolutely packed with melty cheeses and ground beef, and they are perfect for dipping into your favorite queso or guacamole.
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Pin RecipeReady in just 30 minutes and perfect for dipping in all your favorite Mexican restaurant-style dips and salsas, these mouthwatering cheesy taco bites are a fun twist on your Taco Tuesday classic.
Pair this taco sticks recipe with some of my other favorite taco dishes like Taco Soup Recipe, Walking Tacos, and Taco Ring.
Cheesy Taco Stick Recipe
There is no reason not to love these quick, easy, and flavor-packed cheesy taco sticks. This is a great recipe regardless of whether you’re using store-bought dough and seasonings or if you want to take the time to make homemade versions — either way, the outcome is a warm, melty taco treat!
With only a handful of steps between you and taco heaven, the ingredients for this easy dinner recipe are items you may already have around the kitchen. For example, I always have a stock of seasoning packets and string cheese, both of which are integral parts of these taco sticks. All you need otherwise is a tube of your favorite pizza dough and a pound of ground beef or ground turkey.
Taco sticks are perfect for holidays, football viewing parties, or just a fun weeknight dinner. I love pairing them with small bowls of guacamole, queso, and chunky salsa — dipping the sticks is half of the fun!
For more delicious taco recipes, be sure to check out my Taco Lasagna and Doritos Taco Salad!
Ingredients For Cheesy Taco Sticks
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Ground beef โ You only need a pound of ground beef for this recipe (unless you’re making LOTS of sticks). For a healthier dish, substitute ground turkey instead.
- Taco seasoning โ If you’re in a rush, you can use a packet of your favorite store-bought seasoning mix, and if you want to make your own, you can try my easy homemade taco seasoning recipe.
- Pizza dough โ I used a tube of Pillsbury Pizza Dough, but any brand will do.
- Cheese โ You need all the cheese! I ended up using 5 sticks of string cheese sticks, cut in half, and did a mix of Colby jack, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses.
Variations
- Turn up the heat. To add a spicy kick to your taco sticks, use a spicy seasoning mix, add chili powder to your ground beef, or even incorporate a few chopped jalapeรฑo peppers.
- Make it vegetarian. Substitute ground beef with tofu, or pack your cheesy taco sticks with your favorite fajita veggies to turn this into a vegetarian-friendly dinner.
- Dips galore. Whether you’re a queso fanatic or prefer chunky salsa, there’s no reason you can’t serve your delicious taco sticks with a range of tasty dipping sauces.
How To Make Cheesy Taco Sticks
- Prep: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Then, lightly coat a large baking sheet with non-stick spray and set it aside.
- Cook Beef: Cook the ground beef in a skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until fully browned and crumbled. Drain any fat before adding in the taco seasoning.
- Add Taco Seasoning: Mix in the taco seasoning packet, plus the water called for on the package. Continue to cook until all the water has evaporated. Remove from the skillet from the heat, and allow to cool while you prepare the dough and cheese sticks.
- Cut Dough: Spread the pizza dough out until it’s flat, and cut into 10 small rectangles.
- Assemble Taco Sticks: Place about a tablespoon of the taco meat in the center of each pizza dough and top with a halved cheese stick. Carefully roll up the pizza stick. Be sure the seams are pinched closed. Combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley in a small bowl and brush it on the tops of the cheesy taco sticks.
- Bake: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Serve with salsa, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeรฑos, or any of your favorite taco toppings!
Quick Tip
Less is more when it comes to cheese! Don’t skip out on cutting the cheese in half, as it will ooze out if you add too much to the dough.
How To Store Cheesy Taco Sticks
If you happen to have leftovers at the end of dinner (I rarely do!), you can seal the beef taco sticks in an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that when you reheat, it will heat much like a soft taco. For the best results, your taco sticks should be re-baked not microwaved! While these aren’t the worst leftovers, they are definitely best enjoyed fresh.
Serving Suggestions
Don’t forget that you can eat these taco sticks on their own. Or, for a restaurant-worthy meal, pair them with sides like rice and beans. You can’t go wrong with a simple recipe like this!
FAQs
You can definitely add chopped vegetables, jalapeรฑo slices, or other toppings to your taco sticks before baking. Be careful not to overload the sticks, though. If you’re adding more veggies, consider lessening the amount of cheese or beef you are adding to each taco stick.
I would recommend against fully making these taco sticks in advance; however, you can always make the ground beef ahead of time and gather your ingredients — that way, when it comes time to cook, you only need to assemble and bake.
Yes! Chessy taco sticks will last in the freezer for about two months. Wait until they are fully cooled, and wrap them in an airtight container. When you are ready to reheat them, place them in the oven on a baking sheet.
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Cheesy Taco Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 tube Pillsbury Pizza Dough
- 5 sticks Colby jack and cheddar and/or pepper jack cheese sticks halved
- 4 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Lightly coat a large baking sheet with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Cook the ground beef in a skillet, breaking up with a wooden spoon until fully browned and crumbled. Drain any fat before adding in the taco seasoning.1 lb ground beef, 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- Mix in the taco seasoning packet, plus the water called for on the package. Continue to cook until all the water has evaporated. Remove from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the dough and cheese sticks.
- Spread the pizza dough out until it's flat and cut into 10 small rectangles.1 tube Pillsbury Pizza Dough
- Place about a tablespoon of the taco meat in the center of each pizza dough and top with a halved cheese stick. Carefully roll up the pizza stick. Be sure the seams are pinched closed.5 sticks Colby jack and cheddar and/or pepper jack cheese sticks
- Combine the melted butter, garlic powder and parsley in a small bowl and brush it on the tops of the cheesy taco sticks.4 tbsp butter, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried parsley
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Serve with salsa, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeรฑos, or any of your favorite taco toppings!
Could you use Pillsbury crossiants for this?
It should work! The texture will just slightly different. You might also need to adjust the baking time!
Is the nutritional information for all 10 sticks or just a serving? If the serving, what is the serving size?