Description
These Red, White, and Blue Taco Bites are a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for gatherings. Ground beef seasoned with taco spices is layered on blue corn tortilla chips with melted Monterey Jack cheese, zesty salsa, and creamy sour cream for a colorful, bite-sized treat that’s easy to prepare and sure to please any crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
- 35 round blue corn tortilla chips
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
- 1 cup red salsa
- ½ cup sour cream, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the ground beef until it is browned and crumbly, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess oil to reduce greasiness.
- Season Beef: Stir in the taco seasoning mix thoroughly. Continue cooking the mixture for another 2 minutes to blend the flavors, then transfer the beef to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess moisture.
- Arrange Chips: Spread the blue corn tortilla chips evenly in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet without overlapping to ensure even heating.
- Assemble Taco Bites: Top each chip with a small amount of shredded Monterey Jack cheese, a spoonful of the cooked beef mixture, some salsa, and a small dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of each assembled chip for a melty finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: After baking, add a small amount of the remaining sour cream on top of each taco bite either by piping or spooning. Arrange them on a platter and serve immediately for best enjoyment.
Notes
- For extra heat, add chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce before baking.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter protein option.
- Use gluten-free taco seasoning to make this recipe gluten-free.
- To keep the tortilla chips crispier, add toppings just before baking rather than letting them sit assembled for a long time.
- This recipe yields 35 bite-sized appetizers, great for parties or game day snacks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
