Tacos are our family’s go-to meal—when we don’t know what to cook, we make tacos. They’re quick, portable, and perfect for busy nights. Taco sticks are a simple twist on classic tacos: seasoned ground beef and a Colby-Jack cheese stick wrapped in pizza dough, brushed with garlic salt (or garlic butter), and baked until golden. They bake up like homemade hot pockets and take about 20 minutes from start to finish, making them ideal for weeknight dinners or party appetizers when cut into bite-sized pieces.
These handhelds are a favorite in our house. If you like easy stuffed sandwiches, you might also enjoy other recipes I’ve adapted into “stick” form, like sloppy Joe sticks and Frisco melt sticks—both have been family hits.
Ingredients for Taco Hot Pockets
Just five basic ingredients and under 30 minutes to dinner.
- Refrigerator pizza dough – A tube of pizza dough (regular or thin crust) works perfectly.
- Ground beef – Use your usual ground beef; you can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or pork if preferred.
- Taco seasoning – Homemade or store-bought taco seasoning is fine.
- Colby-Jack cheese sticks – Colby-Jack is recommended, but cheddar or other cheese sticks also work.
- Garlic salt – Or garlic powder; for extra flavor mix with melted butter and brush on the dough.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Instructions for How to Make Taco Sticks
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water and simmer until the liquid reduces.
Open the pizza dough and roll it out on a baking sheet. Cut the dough into eight equal rectangles.
Divide the taco meat among the rectangles and top each with a cheese stick.
Roll the dough around the meat and cheese, sealing the seams at the ends. Place seam-side down on the pan and brush the tops with melted butter mixed with garlic salt (or sprinkle garlic salt directly).
Bake at 425°F for 10–12 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown. Remove from the oven and loosen from the pan with a spatula. Let the sticks cool slightly before serving; cutting them in half helps them cool faster.
Serve with salsa, sour cream or guacamole. For a richer crust, brush garlic salt blended with melted butter over the dough before baking.
Substitutions for Taco Hot Pockets
These taco sticks are very adaptable. Swap ingredients to meet dietary needs or flavor preferences:
- Meat: Use ground turkey, chicken, or pork instead of beef.
- Dough: Crescent roll dough works well if you don’t have pizza dough.
- Cheese: Try cheddar, mozzarella, or any melty cheese you prefer.
For gluten-free or dairy-free diets, use a gluten-free dough and dairy-free cheese alternatives.
Variations to Cheesy Taco Sticks
Small tweaks can turn these into different handhelds:
- Sloppy Joe sticks: Use a sloppy Joe filling for a sweeter, tangy version.
- Cheeseburger sticks: Season the beef like a burger and add your favorite burger-style sauce.
- Pizza sticks: Use Italian sausage and dip in marinara for a pizza-inspired stick.
Essentials for Quick Weeknight Dinners
Keeping a few staples on hand—pizza dough, ground meat, cheese sticks, and basic seasonings—makes it easy to pull together quick meals like these taco sticks without much fuss.
Storing Leftovers and Reheating
Leftover taco sticks make great lunches or snacks.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer for best texture.
- Freezer: Freeze baked sticks on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat from frozen in the oven or air fryer until heated through.
Top tip
Tips for best results:
- Drain excess grease from the browned beef before adding seasoning.
- Use a rolling pin to stretch the dough evenly.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment to prevent sticking.
FAQ
Taco sticks are made with pizza dough filled with seasoned taco meat and a cheese stick, then baked until golden.
Taco sticks are baked handhelds—similar to hot pockets—filled with taco-flavored ground beef and cheese.
Related Handheld Recipes
If you enjoy taco sticks, try other easy handhelds like ham and cheese croissants, sloppy Joe sticks, or Frisco melt sticks.
Taco Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tube refrigerator pizza dough
- 8 cheese sticks (Colby-Jack or preferred flavor)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
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In a large skillet, brown the beef until fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
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Add taco seasoning and water to the cooked beef, stir, and simmer until the liquid reduces.
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Roll out the pizza dough on a baking sheet. Cut lengthwise and into three crosswise sections to make eight rectangles.
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Spoon the taco meat evenly onto each rectangle and top with a cheese stick. Roll the dough around the filling, sealing seams and ends. Place seam-side down on the pan. Brush with melted butter mixed with garlic salt (or sprinkle garlic salt).
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Bake at 425°F for 10–12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Tips for best results:
- Drain excess grease from the browned beef before adding taco seasoning.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough for even stretching.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 24 g
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Protein: 14 g