Description
These Taco Ranch Bites are a crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring seasoned ground beef nestled in crispy mini tortilla scoop chips, topped with melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, and cilantro. Perfect for parties or game day snacks, served with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 tbsp ranch seasoning (or ranch dressing mix)
- 1/4 cup water
- 24 mini tortilla scoop chips (e.g. Tostitos Scoops)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
For Serving
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until fully browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat to ensure the bites are not greasy.
- Season: Stir in the taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, and water into the cooked beef. Mix thoroughly to coat all the meat. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and flavors meld together.
- Assemble the Bites: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a baking tray, neatly arrange the mini tortilla scoop chips. Spoon the seasoned beef mixture evenly into each chip, then sprinkle diced tomatoes and shredded cheese generously over the top.
- Bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted and is bubbly for that perfect gooey texture.
- Finish and Serve: Carefully remove the tray from the oven. Garnish each taco ranch bite with chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately while warm with sides of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa to complement the flavors.
Notes
- Drain the cooked ground beef well to avoid soggy tortilla chips.
- You can substitute ranch seasoning with ranch dressing mix if preferred.
- Use mini tortilla scoop chips designed to hold toppings for easy serving and eating.
- For a spicier kick, add some diced jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- These bites are best served fresh but can be reheated gently in the oven to keep the chips crispy.
