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Taco Sticks: A game-day favorite that's handheld and bursting with cheesy, beefy goodness.
It was a sunny Saturday when I first crafted these taco sticks, a quirky twist on a classic, during a game-day gathering at my cousin Sam's place. Sam, who prides himself on having the ultimate man-cave, hosted small, laid-back weekend meetups for our tight-knit group of sports enthusiasts. We’d bring snacks and cheer on our favorite teams. I wanted something different from the usual chips and salsa—something warm, cheesy, and handheld. With a can of taco seasoning and a tube of pizza crust, inspiration hit like a home run.
Ground beef was sautéed and mixed with that flavorful taco seasoning. This step was a small revelation for me; leaving out the water created a more concentrated spice mix that clung to the beef, just like how Sam hugs you with claps on the back. I found Colby-Jack and cheddar to be the perfect blend, offering a creamy melt that balanced the taco spice. Rolling that cheesy goodness into soft pizza dough and baking it until golden brought everything together. One crucial tip: let the beef cool before wrapping it, or you’ll find your crust soggy in no time. Plus, that butter and garlic finish makes all the difference.
The moment I pulled these out of the oven, the room was filled with a buttery, garlicky promise of deliciousness. As the group devoured these taco sticks between cheers and groans at the TV screen, I knew I had scored a culinary touchdown. This recipe is my way of sharing game-day joy in a compact, mess-free package that’s anything but ordinary.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 (13.8-ounce) tube refrigerated classic pizza crust
- 5 sticks Colby-Jack and cheddar cheese halved
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Lightly coat a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the beef and cook, while crumbling, until it is no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning to the cooked beef and stir until it is fully coated. Note: Do not add water as the instructions call for.
- Transfer the skillet from the heat and let the seasoned beef mixture cool to room temperature.
- Evenly roll out the pizza crust into a rectangle until it is flat.
- Cut the pizza crust in half lengthwise, then cut 4 vertical lines in each half to create 10 small rectangles.
- Place about 1 tablespoon of the seasoned beef mixture in the center of each of the pizza crust rectangles, then top each with 1 of the cheese stick halves.
- Carefully roll up each of the rectangles, then pinch the seams closed to create the dough sticks.
- In a small bowl, add the melted butter, the garlic powder, and the parsley and stir to combine.
- Place the dough sticks on the prepared baking sheet, then evenly brush the seasoned butter over each of them.
- Bake the dough sticks until they are golden-brown, about 10-12 minutes.
- Serve.
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