Taco Ranch Bites
These bite-sized appetizers combine seasoned taco meat, tangy ranch dressing, and crispy phyllo tart shells for a crowd-pleasing treat. Perfect for parties, game days, or quick snacks, they’re as easy to make as they are delicious!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef preferably lean
- 1 oz packet taco seasoning
- 1 can 10 oz diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese preferably aged for richer flavor
- 8 oz bottle ranch dressing
- 5 packs of 15-count frozen phyllo tart shells
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
- Set your oven to 350ºF.
Cook the Ground Beef
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Drain any excess fat.
Season the Meat
- Stir in the taco seasoning, followed by the diced tomatoes and green chiles.
- Mix thoroughly and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Prepare the Filling
- In a separate bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese with the ranch dressing.
- Add the cheese mixture to the cooked taco meat and mix well.
Assemble the Tarts
- Carefully spoon the taco meat mixture into the frozen phyllo tart shells.
- If freezing for later, do so at this stage before baking.
Bake
- Place the filled tart shells on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until heated through.
- If baking from frozen, increase the bake time by 2-3 minutes.
Serve
- Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm.
Notes
These tarts can be frozen before baking for later use. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
For extra garnish, top each tart with sour cream, chopped cilantro, or diced green onions.
Phyllo tart shells are delicate, so handle them gently when filling.