Tex Mex Mini Taco Bites Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup cheese blend. , Place tart shells in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Fill with taco mixture. , Bake 6 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese blend; bake until cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes longer. Freeze option: Freeze cooled taco cups in a freezer container, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated 350° oven until crisp and heated through.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat; add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the cayenne, chile powder, cumin and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar and cook until the sauce reduces slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the tacos in this order: cheese on the bottom, followed by the beef, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce and jalapenos. Serve the sour cream on the taco or on the side for dipping.

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray.
• Use your hands to mix the ground beef, taco seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until just combined. Drop heaping tablespoons of the meat mixture onto the rack (about 16 total), then use your hands to roll the portioned meat into balls. Press a tortilla chip into the top of each meatball, making sure that the meat goes mostly up the sides of the chip (be careful not to break the chips). Put 1 cheese cube in the middle of each chip.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet once halfway, until the meat is just cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bites to a large platter, top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with the lettuce and tomato. Serve with hot sauce.