Cheesy taco sticks are the ultimate comfort food mashup—seasoned taco meat and gooey melted cheese wrapped in soft, golden breadsticks. They’re handheld, dippable, and packed with flavor, making them one of my favorite easy meals or party snacks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it’s fast, filling, and totally customizable. Whether I’m making them for a family dinner, game day, or just a fun lunch, they’re always a hit. They taste like tacos rolled up in pizza dough and baked to perfection—what’s not to love? Plus, they freeze well and reheat like a dream.
Ingredients
(Here's a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Refrigerated pizza dough or homemade bread dough
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Taco seasoning
- Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Optional: chopped jalapeños, black beans, or onions
- Olive oil or melted butter (for brushing)
- Garlic powder or taco seasoning (for topping)
Directions
- I start by browning the ground beef in a skillet, then drain any grease and stir in taco seasoning with a splash of water. I let it simmer for a few minutes until thickened.
- I roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle and cut it into strips.
- On each strip, I spoon some taco meat and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- I fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal, shaping each into a breadstick.
- I place them seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- I brush the tops with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder or extra taco seasoning.
- I bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown and puffy.
- I serve them hot with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for dipping.
Servings and Timing
This recipe makes about 8 taco sticks. It takes around 15 minutes to prep and 12–15 minutes to bake, so I can have them ready in under 30 minutes.
Variations
- I’ve used leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken for a different twist.
- Adding beans or corn to the filling makes them heartier.
- I use pepper jack cheese when I want a little kick.
- For a vegetarian version, I swap in seasoned black beans and chopped veggies.
Storage/Reheating
I store leftover taco sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, I warm them in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes or in the microwave for about 30 seconds. They also freeze well—just thaw and reheat when I’m ready to enjoy.
FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, I often prep and fill them in the morning, then bake just before serving. They’re great for make-ahead meals or parties.
What kind of dough works best?
I usually use refrigerated pizza dough for convenience, but homemade bread or crescent roll dough works just as well.
Can I freeze taco sticks?
Absolutely. I let them cool completely, then wrap them individually and freeze. They reheat well in the oven or microwave.
What dips go well with these?
Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, queso, or even ranch dressing all work perfectly for dipping.
Can I make them spicy?
Definitely. I add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the filling for extra heat.
Conclusion
Cheesy taco sticks are one of those recipes that check all the boxes—easy, fun, flavorful, and totally satisfying. Whether I’m feeding a crowd or just craving something cheesy and savory, they always deliver. Once I made these, they quickly became a regular in my kitchen.
Cheesy Taco Sticks
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12–15 minutes
- Total Time: ~30 minutes
- Yield: 8 taco sticks
- Category: Appetizer, Snack, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Description
Cheesy Taco Sticks are the perfect mashup of tacos and breadsticks—featuring seasoned ground beef and melted cheese wrapped in golden pizza dough. These easy taco sticks are fun to make, quick to bake, and ideal for family dinners, snacks, or game day appetizers. Serve with your favorite dips for a crowd-pleasing comfort food everyone loves.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated pizza dough or homemade bread dough
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Taco seasoning
- Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Optional: chopped jalapeños, black beans, or onions
- Olive oil or melted butter (for brushing)
- Garlic powder or taco seasoning (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease. Add taco seasoning and a splash of water; simmer until thickened.
- Roll out pizza dough into a large rectangle. Cut into strips (about 8).
- Spoon taco meat and shredded cheese onto each strip. Add optional fillings if desired.
- Fold dough over filling and pinch edges to seal, forming breadsticks.
- Place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
- Brush tops with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder or taco seasoning.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve hot with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for shredded chicken, turkey, or black beans for variety.
- Pepper jack cheese adds extra spice.
- You can prep and assemble ahead—just bake when ready.
- Leftovers store well and freeze beautifully.
- Great with queso, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauces.
