Cheesy Taco Crescent Ring Recipe

Introduction

The Cheesy Taco Crescent Ring is a fun and flavorful twist on classic tacos, perfect for sharing at gatherings or a casual dinner. With its buttery crescent roll crust, savory taco beef filling, and melty cheeses, this dish delivers comfort and excitement in every bite.

The dish is a round pastry ring with about ten sections of golden, flaky crust folded over a filling of cooked ground meat. The meat is dark brown and slightly crumbly, filling each section fully. On top, melted cheddar cheese spreads across the sections in a bright orange layer, mingling with small pieces of diced red tomatoes and green chopped cilantro scattered evenly over the cheese. The pastry has a shiny, crisp texture with light layers visible on the folds. The whole ring rests on a flat silver baking sheet placed on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese
  • 1 small can diced green chiles (optional)
  • ½ small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced
  • ½ cup shredded lettuce
  • Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Sour cream
  • Lime wedges (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Hot sauce or jalapeños (optional)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it.
  2. Step 2: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, about 7–9 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
  3. Step 3: Add the taco seasoning and 2/3 cup water to the beef. Stir well and let it simmer for 4–5 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and the beef is flavorful.
  4. Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat and mix in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and the Monterey Jack cheese. Add diced green chiles if using. Let the filling cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Step 5: On the prepared baking sheet, arrange the crescent rolls in a ring shape by overlapping the wide ends in the center, creating a sun-like pattern with the pointed tips facing outward. Press down to secure the center.
  6. Step 6: Spoon the taco beef mixture around the circle where the dough overlaps. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the filling.
  7. Step 7: Fold the pointed ends of the dough over the filling and tuck them under the inside edge of the ring. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; the crescent dough is forgiving!
  8. Step 8: Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Step 9: Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Fill the center of the ring with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, and guacamole or avocado.
  10. Step 10: Serve with sour cream, salsa, or your favorite dips in the center for easy grabbing and dipping.

Tips & Variations

  • For extra heat, add jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce to the beef mixture before baking.
  • Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter protein option.
  • Use a mix of cheeses like mozzarella or queso fresco for different textures and flavors.
  • Try adding black beans or corn to the beef mixture for added texture and nutrition.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime for a bright, fresh finish.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes until heated through and the crust is crisp. Avoid microwaving to maintain the crescent rolls’ flakiness.

How to Serve

A round pastry ring with many layers of golden brown flaky dough folded inwards creating multiple wide segments, each segment filled with browned ground meat mixed with small red tomato pieces. The top of each segment is melted bright orange-yellow cheese that drips slightly down the sides of the pastry. Fresh green cilantro leaves and diced red tomatoes are sprinkled evenly on top, adding vibrant color contrast. The pastry is set on a shiny metal pan with a few crumbs scattered around, all placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the beef filling a day in advance and assemble the ring just before baking. This helps save time on the day you want to serve it.

Can I freeze the crescent ring?

It’s best to freeze the beef filling separately to maintain texture and freshness. The assembled ring can be frozen unbaked, wrapped tightly, for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Print

Cheesy Taco Crescent Ring Recipe

Cheesy Taco Crescent Ring is a delicious and fun Tex-Mex inspired appetizer featuring a flaky crescent roll dough filled with seasoned ground beef, melty cheeses, and classic taco toppings. Perfect for parties or family dinners, this savory ring combines a buttery crust with spicy, creamy fillings that everyone will love.

  • Author: Sophie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crescent Ring:

  • 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese
  • 1 small can diced green chiles (optional)

Toppings and Garnishes:

  • ½ small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced
  • ½ cup shredded lettuce
  • Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Sour cream
  • Lime wedges (optional)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Hot sauce or jalapeños (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
  2. Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, about 7–9 minutes. Drain any excess fat to keep the filling from becoming greasy.
  3. Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning packet and 2/3 cup water. Simmer the mixture for 4–5 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce and the beef to absorb the flavorful seasoning.
  4. Mix Cheese and Chiles: Turn off the heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and the Monterey Jack cheese. If desired, add diced green chiles for an extra kick. Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes to prevent melting the dough.
  5. Form Crescent Ring: Arrange the crescent rolls on the prepared baking sheet in a ring, overlapping the wide ends in the center to form a sun-like pattern with the pointed tips radiating outward. Press down firmly to seal the center.
  6. Fill the Ring: Spread the seasoned beef mixture evenly around the overlapping center section of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the filling.
  7. Fold Dough Over Filling: Fold the pointed tips of the crescent dough over the taco beef filling and tuck them underneath the inside edge of the ring to enclose the filling. Imperfections are okay as the dough is flexible and forgiving.
  8. Bake: Bake the assembled ring for 20–25 minutes until the crescent rolls turn golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Cool and Add Toppings: Remove the ring from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Fill the center of the ring with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, and guacamole or avocado.
  10. Serve: Serve warm with sour cream, salsa, or your preferred dipping sauces in the middle for easy sharing and dipping.

Notes

  • Optional diced green chiles add a mild heat but can be omitted if preferred.
  • Customize the cheese blend based on your taste preference for more or less spice.
  • If you want extra crispiness, bake on a preheated baking stone or pizza stone.
  • Leftover ring can be reheated in a warm oven wrapped in foil to keep it moist.
  • Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce for added zest and heat.

Keywords: cheesy taco ring, crescent roll taco ring, taco appetizer, Tex-Mex appetizer, easy party recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating