Description
Taco Ranch Bites are a savory, bite-sized appetizer featuring seasoned ground beef mixed with diced tomatoes, green chiles, cheddar cheese, and creamy Ranch dressing, all served in crisp phyllo tart shells. Perfect for parties or casual gatherings, these flavorful morsels combine classic Tex-Mex flavors with a creamy twist and a crunchy base.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (1-oz) package premium taco seasoning
- 1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
Dairy and Sauce
- 2 cups shredded aged cheddar cheese
- 1 (8-oz) bottle premium Ranch dressing
Shells
- 5 sets (15-count each) frozen phyllo tart shells
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to ensure it’s ready for baking the bites once assembled.
- Meat Preparation: Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat to keep the mixture lean and prevent greasiness.
- Seasoning Addition: Stir in the taco seasoning and then add the entire can of diced tomatoes and green chiles, including the liquid. Mix well and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors, then remove from heat.
- Mixture Preparation: In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese and Ranch dressing until evenly blended. Fold in the cooked taco meat mixture until everything is fully incorporated.
- Assembly: Carefully spoon the taco meat mixture into the frozen phyllo tart shells, filling each shell generously. At this point, you can freeze the assembled bites for later use if desired.
- Baking: Place the filled tart shells on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the cheese melts and the shells are crisp. If baking from frozen, add 2-3 minutes to baking time to ensure thorough heating.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce grease and keep the bites from getting soggy.
- Aged cheddar cheese enhances the flavor complexity but you can substitute with sharp cheddar if needed.
- Phyllo tart shells add a delicate crunch; ensure they remain frozen until filling for best texture.
- These bites can be assembled ahead and frozen; bake straight from frozen, adjusting baking time accordingly.
- For added freshness, garnish with chopped cilantro or a dollop of sour cream before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 bites (approx. 100g)
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: Taco Ranch Bites, appetizer, phyllo tart shells, ground beef, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, Ranch dressing, Tex-Mex appetizer
