taco ranch bites

Taco Ranch Bites

These potluck and picnic-friendly Taco Ranch Bites are about to become your new secret weapon.

Picture this: all the bold flavors of your favorite taco night wrapped up in a bite-sized package that disappears faster than you can make them.

The beauty lies in how the creamy ranch perfectly balances the zesty taco seasoning, while the crispy wonton wrappers add that satisfying crunch we all crave.

These little cups pack serious flavor without the mess of traditional tacos.

Each bite delivers that perfect harmony of seasoned beef, melted cheese, and fresh toppings that makes everyone reach for seconds (and thirds).

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Taco Ranch Bites check every box for the perfect party appetizer.

They’re incredibly easy to make ahead of time – just pop the filled cups in the oven when your guests arrive.

The combination of familiar taco flavors with creamy ranch creates an irresistible taste that appeals to both kids and adults.

The presentation factor is huge too. These golden, crispy cups look impressive on any table, but they’re surprisingly simple to put together.

No complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients required.

Plus, they’re completely customizable – add jalapeños for heat, switch up the cheese, or throw in some black beans for extra protein.

Ingredients

For the cups:

  • 24 square wonton wrappers
  • Cooking spray

For the filling:

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works great)
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

For toppings:

  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Additional sour cream for serving

Instructions

Prepare the cups:

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin generously with cooking spray.

Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup, creating a small bowl shape. The corners will stick up slightly – that’s perfect. Lightly spray the wonton cups with cooking spray.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and set aside. Keep the oven on.

Make the filling:

While the cups bake, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. This should take about 6-8 minutes.

Drain any excess fat, then stir in the taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens and the water mostly evaporates.

Remove from heat and let cool for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the ranch dressing and sour cream until well combined.

Assemble and finish:

Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the beef mixture into each wonton cup. Top each with a pinch of shredded cheese.

Return to the oven for 3-4 minutes, just until the cheese melts.

Remove from oven and immediately top with diced tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Serve warm with extra sour cream on the side.

Tips for Success

These bites are best served immediately while the wonton cups are still crispy. If you need to make them ahead, prepare the cups and filling separately, then assemble and bake just before serving.

Don’t overfill the cups – about 1 tablespoon of filling is plenty. Too much and they’ll be messy to eat and might make the cups soggy.

Feel free to get creative with toppings. Diced avocado, pickled jalapeños, or a sprinkle of hot sauce all make great additions.

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taco ranch bites

Taco Ranch Bites

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These crispy wonton cups are packed with seasoned ground beef mixed with creamy ranch and sour cream, then topped with melted cheese and fresh tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro.

  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bites 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the cups:

  • 24 square wonton wrappers
  • Cooking spray

For the filling:

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works great)
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

For toppings:

  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Additional sour cream for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
  2. Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup to create bowl shapes, then lightly spray with cooking spray.
  3. Bake wonton cups for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Remove and set aside, keeping oven on.
  4. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
  5. Drain excess fat, then stir in taco seasoning and water. Simmer 3-4 minutes until thickened.
  6. Remove from heat, cool for 2-3 minutes, then stir in ranch dressing and sour cream.
  7. Spoon 1 tablespoon beef mixture into each wonton cup and top with shredded cheese.
  8. Bake 3-4 minutes until cheese melts.
  9. Top with diced tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Serve warm with extra sour cream.
  • Author: Rommy Mitchell
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes

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