Description
Cheesy Taco Pinwheels are a delightful Tex-Mex appetizer featuring seasoned ground beef and melted cheeses wrapped in crispy crescent roll dough. Perfect for parties or a fun snack, these bite-sized pinwheels combine robust taco flavors with gooey cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, served warm and optionally garnished with fresh cilantro and sour cream for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup salsa
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Dough
- 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough or pizza dough
Garnish and Serving
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (optional)
- Sour cream, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pinwheels.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease to keep the pinwheels from being greasy.
- Season Beef: Stir in the taco seasoning and water, allowing the mixture to cook for 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and mix in the salsa thoroughly for added flavor.
- Prepare Dough: Roll out the crescent roll dough into a rectangle shape on a flat surface. If using crescent dough, press the seams gently to seal them together and create an even surface.
- Assemble Pinwheels: Spread the beef mixture evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses uniformly on top.
- Roll and Slice: Carefully roll the dough up tightly starting from the long edge to form a log. Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into 1-inch thick pinwheels.
- Bake: Place the pinwheels cut side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese has melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle chopped cilantro over the warm pinwheels and serve with sour cream for dipping.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef to vary the protein.
- Add black beans or diced jalapeños to the beef mixture for extra flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pinwheel
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
