Here’s a delicious Loaded Cheesy Pocket Tacos recipe—crispy on the outside, gooey and savory on the inside. Perfect for family dinners, snacks, or game day!
🧾 Ingredients (makes ~12 pockets)
Taco Filling:
-
1 lb ground beef
-
1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade blend)
-
(Optional) ½ cup salsa, black beans, corn, or diced peppers reddit.com+15platefuljoy.com+15zestplate.com+15
Cheese Mixture:
-
8 oz cream cheese, softened
-
1 cup shredded cheddar (or ½ cheddar + ½ mozzarella)
-
½ cup salsa
-
¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional) recipesbyclare.com+7zestplate.com+7recipestasteful.com+7allrecipes.com+1myhomemaderecipe.com+1
Tortillas & Finish:
-
12 × 6″ flour tortillas
-
2 Tbsp melted butter (or oil) for brushing homechefworld.com+6recipecs.com+6cookmexican.com+6platefuljoy.com
Optional Toppings:
Sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, green onions, jalapeños, black olives, cilantro familydinnerrecipes.com+15platefuljoy.com+15middleeastsector.com+15
🔪 Instructions
-
Cook the Beef:
-
Sauté beef over medium heat until browned.
-
Drain excess fat, then stir in taco seasoning and optionally salsa/beans/corn. Simmer briefly. reddit.com+14zestplate.com+14recipestasteful.com+14platefuljoy.com+1recipesbyclare.com+1
-
-
Cheese Filling:
-
Beat softened cream cheese until smooth.
-
Mix in salsa (and smoked paprika, if using). Add shredded cheese and stir. recipestasteful.com+4zestplate.com+4recipecs.com+4
-
-
Assemble Tacos:
-
Lay out tortillas, spread a layer of cheese mixture on each.
-
Top with taco beef, then optionally more cheddar. allrecipes.com+15cookmexican.com+15platefuljoy.com+15
-
Fold tortillas into pockets (like burritos).
-
-
Bake to Crispy:
-
Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
-
Place pockets seam-side down on a greased tray.
-
Brush with melted butter.
-
Bake 15 min until golden and crisp. reddit.com+15recipecs.com+15allrecipes.com+15
-
-
Serve:
-
Top with lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, olives, etc. platefuljoy.com
-
⏱ Time & Tips
-
Prep: ~15 min, Bake: ~15 min
-
Total: ~30 minutes myhomemaderecipe.com+1reddit.com+1allrecipes.com+15platefuljoy.com+15reddit.com+15
-
Make‑Ahead: Assemble ahead and refrigerate before baking, or freeze uncooked pockets up to 2 months recipesbyclare.com+2platefuljoy.com+2zestplate.com+2
-
Dairy-free? Use dairy-free cream cheese and cheese.
-
Extra spicy? Add jalapeños in filling, use hot salsa or spicy taco seasoning.
-
Alternate crust: Some versions use biscuit or crescent dough, even frying them—great for variety recipecs.com+1reddit.com+1.
🍽 Why You’ll Love Them
-
Crispy + Gooey: Butter-brushed pockets bake up golden and crunchy, hiding a creamy, cheesy, savory center.
-
Customizable: Swap proteins, cheeses, or add veggies for your perfect flavor profile.
-
Family-friendly: Great as a hearty snack or main meal that’s easy and fun to serve.
📋 Quick Recipe Card
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Beef filling | Brown 1 lb beef, add taco seasoning and optional extras |
| Cheese mix | Cream cheese + salsa + cheddar (+ smoked paprika) |
| Assemble | Spread cheese + beef on tortilla, fold into pockets |
| Bake | 350 °F for 15 min, butter-brushed until crisp |
| Serve | Top with your favorite taco garnishes |
Want a printable PDF, slow-cooker adaptation, or video guide? Just say the word!