Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef – for a healthier, yet flavorful choice
- ½ cup finely diced sweet yellow onion – adds a subtle sweetness
- 1 ounce mild taco seasoning – for that perfect spice blend
- 10 ounces Rotel mild diced tomatoes and green chiles (or a similar brand) – use undrained for extra juiciness
- 17.3 ounces puff pastry – the flaky and buttery base
- 1¼ cups shredded fiesta blend cheese – for that gooey, cheesy goodness
Instructions
- Preparation: Start by preheating your oven to a cozy 375°F. Grab 2 baking sheets and line them with parchment paper. This little trick ensures easy cleanup and non-stick baking.
- Cooking the Filling: In a medium-sized saucepan (about 3 to 4 quarts), cook the lean ground beef and sweet yellow onion over medium-high heat. You’ll want to do this for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until the beef is no longer pink. Remember to stir frequently to ensure even cooking.
- Seasoning Time: Once your beef is perfectly browned, reduce the heat to low. It’s time to sprinkle in that mild taco seasoning, covering the beef and onions evenly. Next, add the undrained Rotel tomatoes and green chiles. Stir everything well and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Occasional stirring is key here!
- Preparing the Pastry: While your beef mixture is bubbling away, take one puff pastry sheet and lay it out on one of your prepared baking sheets. Use a pizza cutter to slice the pastry along its two seams, dividing it into three sections. Then, cut each section into three squares, giving you nine squares in total.
- Assembling the Pastries: Now for the fun part! Spoon about 1½ tablespoons of your savory meat mixture onto each square, placing it diagonally. Then, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese over the meat. To seal your pastries, dampen your fingertips with a bit of water and moisten two opposing corners of each square. Fold them over the filling, pressing gently to seal with your dampened fingers.
- Baking to Perfection: Pop your baking sheets into the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the pastries turn a delicious golden brown. Patience is key – let your puffy tacos cool a bit before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes