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Crispy Cheesy Ground Beef Flautas (Taquitos)

A stack of freshly baked cheesy beef flautas showing the seasoned ground beef filling and melted cheddar cheese topping.
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Make satisfying, crispy beef and cheese flautas using ground beef. This recipe provides instructions for achieving a perfect crunch whether you bake or fry them.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
  • 12 small corn tortillas (for taquitos) OR 12 small flour tortillas (for flautas)
  • Cooking oil for frying OR cooking spray for baking/air frying

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the water, bring to a simmer, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted into the beef mixture. This is your simple cheesy beef filling.
  5. Prepare the tortillas: If using corn tortillas, wrap them in damp paper towels and microwave for 30 to 45 seconds until they are pliable. If using flour tortillas, warm them briefly. This step prevents tearing when rolling.
  6. Place about 2 tablespoons of the beef filling near one edge of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling. Secure the seam with a toothpick if necessary, especially with corn tortillas.
  7. Choose your cooking method: For deep frying, heat 1 inch of cooking oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry the flautas seam-side down first for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
  8. For oven baking, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the rolled flautas seam-side down on a baking sheet. Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until crisp.
  9. For air frying, arrange the flautas in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown.
  10. Remove any toothpicks before serving. Serve your crispy homemade flautas immediately with your favorite dips.

Notes

  • To make these ahead, roll the flautas, secure with toothpicks, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
  • For extra flavor in the filling, substitute the water with 1/2 cup of beef broth.
  • If you prefer a shredded beef vs ground beef taquitos texture, use slow-cooked shredded beef instead of browning ground beef.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hearthbite.com/cheesy-beef-flautas-or-beef-taquitos-recipe/