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Taco Ranch Bites

Taco ranch bites are crisp wonton cups filled with seasoned ground beef and topped with melted cheddar. Bake them in a mini muffin pan for an easy, shareable appetizer with golden edges.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 24 bites
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 105

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cooking spray for coating
  • 24 wonton wrappers about half of a 12-ounce package
  • 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 tbsp ranch seasoning mix
  • 0.67 cup water
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Equipment

  • 1 24-cup mini muffin pan
  • 1 12-inch skillet

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Lightly coat a 24-cup mini muffin pan with cooking spray and press one wonton wrapper into each cup.
  3. In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and it reaches 160°F.
  4. Drain excess fat.
  5. Stir in the taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, and water, then simmer for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
  6. Divide the beef mixture among the wonton cups.
  7. Top evenly with the cheddar cheese.
  8. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the wonton edges are golden and the cheese is melted.
  9. Rest in the pan for 5 minutes before removing the bites.

Notes

For crisp wonton edges, press each wrapper firmly into the muffin cup before filling. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended because the wonton cups can lose their crispness. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free wonton wrappers and check that the seasonings are gluten-free.