Cheesy Taco Sticks Fiesta Twist (Print-Friendly Version)

Melty cheese and spiced beef wrapped in golden dough—an irresistible treat for dipping and sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 450 g ground beef
02 - 1 packet (about 30 g) taco seasoning mix
03 - 5 colby jack cheese sticks, halved
04 - 5 cheddar cheese sticks, halved

→ Dough

05 - 1 tube (390 g) refrigerated pizza dough

→ Garlic Butter

06 - 60 ml unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat to avoid greasy filling.
03 - Add taco seasoning to cooked beef according to packet instructions, mixing thoroughly. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out pizza dough into a rectangle. Cut dough into 10 equal rectangles using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
05 - Place a small portion of seasoned beef onto each dough rectangle. Top with half a cheese stick. Avoid overfilling to ensure proper sealing.
06 - Carefully roll each piece of dough around the filling, pinching edges tightly to fully seal and prevent leakage during baking.
07 - Position the filled sticks seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
08 - Combine melted butter, garlic powder, and dried parsley in a small bowl. Brush each taco stick generously with the mixture for flavor and golden color.
09 - Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until dough is crisp and golden brown, and cheese is melted. Check after 12 minutes to avoid overcooking.
10 - Allow taco sticks to cool for several minutes before serving for optimal texture and safety.

# Additional Tips:

01 - Do not overfill the dough rectangles, as this can cause the filling to spill during baking.
02 - Pinch and seal the edges of the dough tightly to lock in filling and maintain shape.
03 - Oven temperatures may vary; bake until dough is fully cooked and golden brown.
04 - Brief cooling before serving helps retain melted cheese and improves handling.
05 - Experiment with different cheese types or add finely chopped onions, bell peppers, or jalapeno for variation.