Can I use crescent roll dough instead of pizza dough?

Absolutely! Crescent roll dough works wonderfully as an alternative. You'll need to press the perforations together before cutting into rectangles, and the texture will be slightly flakier and more buttery.

How can I make these spicier?

Add diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or hot sauce to your taco meat mixture. You could also substitute pepper jack cheese sticks for an extra kick throughout.

What's the best way to prevent the cheese from leaking out during baking?

Make sure to completely seal all edges of the dough with firm pinching. Also, placing the cheese on top of the meat (rather than directly on the dough) creates a barrier that helps contain the melting cheese.

Can I make a vegetarian version of these taco sticks?

Definitely! Substitute the ground beef with vegetarian crumbles, a combination of black beans and corn, or even well-seasoned roasted vegetables. The taco seasoning works just as well with these alternatives.

Taco Sticks Recipe

Name: Taco Sticks Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 package taco seasoning (plus water called for on the envelope); 2 tubes Pillsbury pizza dough; 12 Colby Jack cheese sticks; ¼ cup unsalted butter; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Description

These cheesy and flavorful taco sticks are the perfect combination of crispy pizza dough and seasoned taco beef, with a gooey cheesy center. They make for an irresistible snack or appetizer, perfect for parties, game nights, or a quick family dinner. Serve them with salsa or sour cream for a complete Tex-Mex treat!

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Taco Filling:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 package taco seasoning (plus water called for on the envelope)

For the Dough and Assembly:

2 tubes Pillsbury pizza dough
12 Colby Jack cheese sticks

For the Topping:

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Leave the pizza dough tubes in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them, as cold dough is easier to handle.
Prepare the Taco Filling
In a large frying pan, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, until fully cooked. Drain off the excess grease. Add the minced garlic, taco seasoning, and the specified amount of water as per the seasoning package. Cook the mixture on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water has evaporated. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
Shape the Dough
Remove the chilled pizza dough from the cans. Unroll each piece of dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheets. Flatten each dough piece into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle using your hands. Cut each sheet into 6 equal-sized rectangles, resulting in 12 pieces total. Each rectangle should measure roughly 4 x 4 inches.
Fill and Wrap the Dough
Scoop approximately 3 tablespoons of the prepared taco meat mixture into the center of each dough rectangle. Cut each Colby Jack cheese stick in half and place one half on top of the meat mixture. Gently bring up the sides of the dough to pinch them together over the filling. Seal the ends, folding them up towards the seam for a secure closure. Place each seam-side down onto the prepared baking sheets.
Add Butter Topping
Melt the butter in the microwave. Stir in the garlic powder and dried parsley until evenly combined. Using a spoon, brush the butter mixture generously over the top of each taco stick.
Bake
Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the tops of the taco sticks are a light golden brown.
Serve and Enjoy
Remove the taco sticks from the oven and serve them hot. Enjoy them plain or with your favorite dipping sauces such as salsa or sour cream.

Notes
This is a fantastic way to use up leftover taco meat you may have in your fridge.
Avoid overfilling the taco sticks, as this can make them difficult to seal and cause the filling to leak out during baking.
Be careful not to overly stretch the dough while shaping it, or the final pastry may not puff up in the oven as expected.

Notes

This is a fantastic way to use up leftover taco meat you may have in your fridge.
Avoid overfilling the taco sticks, as this can make them difficult to seal and cause the filling to leak out during baking.
Be careful not to overly stretch the dough while shaping it, or the final pastry may not puff up in the oven as expected.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 taco stick
Calories: 250
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 400mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 35mg