Baked Beef Taquitos with Cheese

We love a good taco night in our house. Easy to make, customizable with toppings, and always delicious. While we love a standard taco, to switch it up we love making these beef taquitos!

Think tacos, but rolled up – crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and so dang easy to eat. Plus, the addition of toppings is my favorite part and not to be skimped on! It really takes them to the next level and adds some more flavor and texture.

Besides being so delicious, the beef taquitos are so easy to make! Simply make your ground beef, roll your tortillas, and then bake. They can easily be customizable using whatever meat you have on hand too. Serve with your favorite toppings (we love greek yogurt and avocado sauce) or sides for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love!

What is a taquito?

Taquitos are a Mexican dish similar to a taco, but the filling consisting of meat and cheese is rolled inside corn tortillas and is typically fried until crispy. They are then topped with things like sour cream, guacamole, or diced tomatoes or dipped into a condiment.

Are taquitos healthy

Taquitos can be heavy on fat and calories as they are usually fried. They also can be lower in protein, depending on what filling is used. That being said, when making them at home, you have full control over what ingredients you are using. To keep these lighter, we are baking the tortillas instead of frying them and making sure they are full of protein!

Beef taquitos ingredients

• olive oil
• onion
• garlic
• ground beef
• taco seasoning
• dried oregano
• tomato paste
• shredded cheese
• corn tortillas
• salt and pepper
• for serving – avocado, guacamole, salsa, pico de Gallo, sour cream, greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice…

How to make beef taquitos

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the baking sheet with oil.
2. Make your ground beef mixture. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat, add 1/2 tablespoon of oil, and let it get hot. Add onions and garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes until softened. Next, add your beef and break it up. Saute for 3-4 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato paste, and salt and pepper, and mix to combine. Saute for another 3-4 minutes until browned. Turn off the heat.
3. When the beef is done, heat up your tortillas. Take a dishcloth or a few paper towels and dampen them with water. Wrap around the tortillas to fully cover them. Microwave for 30 seconds, flip, and then another 15-20 seconds until warm. It’s important for your tortillas to be warmed through and pliable.
4. Assemble your taquitos. Take one tortilla and take 1-2 large spoonfuls of the meat mixture and spread it out on one side of the tortilla. Then, sprinkle some cheese on top of it. Taking the filled side of the tortilla, roll it up. Place it seam-side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas, evenly dividing the meat and cheese. Spread them out on the baking sheet so there is even room between them and they are not touching. Spray with some cooking oil to coat the outside of them.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
6. Enjoy! Serve with your favorite toppings and dip, and sides of choice.

How to heat up your tortillas

It’s essential for your tortillas to be warmed through and pliable as you don’t want them breaking as you are making the remaining taquitos. Here are a couple of ways to heat tortillas:

• in the microwave – take a dishcloth or a few paper towels and dampen them with water. Wrap around the tortillas to fully cover them. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds, flip, and then another 15-20 seconds until warm. Make sure you keep the stack covered so they don’t dry out. This is my preferred way of heating them up.
• frying in a pan – lightly fry each tortilla in a pan with some oil until warmed through. I have not tried this as it will take more time than putting them all in the microwave at once.

How long to cook taquitos in the oven

To cook taquitos in the oven, bake them at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.

How to roll taquitos

First and foremost, you must make sure your tortilla is warm and pliable so it is easy to roll and doesn’t break. To roll a taquito, place your filling on one side of your tortilla, covering about 1/2 of it. Taking the filled side of the tortilla, roll it up by tucking in the end and making sure the filling stays inside of it. Place them with the seem-side down so they don’t unroll. For extra security, you can thread a toothpick in them to make sure they stay together.

What to serve with taquitos

• rice – white rice, Mexican rice, or cauliflower rice
• beans – refried beans or black
• tortilla chips
• shredded lettuce
• diced tomatoes
• avocado sauce or guacamole
• sour cream or greek yogurt
• salsa or pico de gallo
• hot sauce
• cilantro
• jalapenos

Storage and reheating

• refrigerator – these taquitos are best right out of the oven, but you may have leftovers depending on how many people you are feeding. Store them in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. The tortillas won’t be as crisp the longer they sit.
• freezer – I haven’t tried it, but this recipe should freeze well. You can either freeze the whole recipe in a large container or individual servings. They should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
• reheating – reheat it in the microwave or a skillet until warmed through. You can also put them in the oven or air fryer. They won’t be as crispy once reheated.

More healthy mexican recipes

• red chicken & veggie enchiladas
• turkey baked tacos
• ground beef tostadas
• grilled steak tacos
• shrimp fajitas
• chicken taco casserole

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!