Beef Taquitos

By Becky Hardin

Updated Jan 14, 2026

Easy to make Beef Taquitos are here just in time for your Cinco de Mayo fiesta! Seasoned ground beef is mixed with an array of ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, and flavorful pepper jack cheese, then rolled up in a soft flour tortilla before being baked to crispy perfection.

Beef taquitos on a white plate with a fork. - 5

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5-Star Review

“I used leftover beef pot roast for this recipe (instead of ground beef) and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. Family all raved. Great as an appetizer, dinner (pair with some beans and rice!) or just a snack. Thanks so much!” -Jessica

Easy Beef Taquitos Recipe

As someone who loves Mexican cuisine, I always look forward to celebrating Cinco de Mayo with flavorful, traditional dishes. To mark the occasion, I created my own take on beef taquitos so they are both easy to make and adaptable to whatever I have on hand. Sometimes I’ll use ground beef, leftover beef, or even swap in ground chicken or pork if that’s what’s lingering in the fridge.

Though classic taquitos are actually made with corn tortillas, I created this recipe using flour tortillas as they are less prone to breaking. Though technically, with flour tortillas, they are called flautas, but what’s in a name anyway? They are delicious regardless.

When I serve these taquitos to a crowd, I love making a taquito bar with individual bowls for each topping so guests can choose whichever ones they like. And if I want to kick up the spice a touch, I’ll add a pinch of cayenne pepper with the taco seasoning, opt for a spicy salsa, or go all in with a ghost pepper jack cheese!

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 lb. ground beef I used 85% but leaner also works as does leftover shredded beef or beef carnitas
▢ 1 oz. taco seasoning store-bought or homemade (1 packet)
▢ 4 oz. cream cheese (½ brick)
▢ ½ cup sour cream
▢ ½ cup salsa store-bought or homemade
▢ 1 cup freshly shredded pepper jack cheese for less spicy taquitos, opt for Monterey Jack or Mexican cheese blend
▢ 8 tortillas corn or flour

Optional Toppings

▢ salsa
▢ guacamole
▢ sour cream
▢ shredded cheese

Video

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan or jellyroll pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a large pan set over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. 1 lb. ground beef
Add the taco seasoning and stir to combine. 1 oz. taco seasoning
Mix in the cream cheese until melted and hot. 4 oz. cream cheese
Stir in the sour cream and salsa. ½ cup salsa, ½ cup sour cream
Remove the pan from the stove. Add the cheese and mix until melted and well combined. 1 cup freshly shredded pepper jack cheese
Microwave the tortillas for 10 seconds to soften. 8 tortillas
Assemble the taquitos. Place a tortilla on a clean work surface. Add a scoop of the beef filling on one side of the tortilla. Roll up the tortilla and place seam-side down in the pan. Repeat until all tortillas are filled and assembled.
Bake for about 15 minutes until crispy. Serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and shredded cheese. salsa, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese

Equipment

9×13 Baking Pan

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Beef Taquitos Step by Step

Cook the beef: Preheat your oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan or jellyroll pan with nonstick spray and set aside. Over medium-high heat, in a large pan, cook 1 lb. ground beef until no pink remains and the meat begins to sizzle.

Add 1 oz. taco seasoning to the ground beef and mix well so it gets combined with the meat.

Cooked seasoned ground beef with cream cheese in a skillet. - 7

Add the cream cheese: Stir in 4 oz. cream cheese, breaking up the brick until it melts and creates a creamy texture.

Cooked ground beef with cream cheese and sour cream in a skillet. - 8

Add the sour cream and salsa: Stir in ½ cup sour cream and ½ cup salsa, and mix until well blended and the meat takes on a lighter color.

Cooked beef taquito filling with cheese in a skillet. - 9

Melt the cheese: Remove the pan from the stove and add 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese, stirring until melted and well combined.

A flour tortilla with beef taquito filling laid on the bottom half. - 10

Assemble the taquitos: Microwave 8 flour tortillas for 10 seconds to soften. This makes them easier to work with. Place a tortilla on a clean work surface and add a scoop of the beef filling to one side, and flatten it out. Roll up the tortilla and place it seam-side down in the greased pan. This will keep the tortillas wrapped up and the filling inside while they bake. Repeat this process until all the tortillas are filled and assembled.

Bake the taquitos: Bake for about 15 minutes until the tortillas start to get crispy and turn a slight golden color.

A fork holding a halved taquito upright to show the filling on a white plate. - 12

Serve: Serve the taquitos with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and shredded cheese. Enjoy!

How to Store

Store leftover beef taquitos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.

Freeze beef taquitos individually wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the bake time.

Overhead view of 2 beef taquitos on a white plate garnished with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. - 13

Serving Suggestions

These cheesy, beefy, warm, and flavorful beef taquitos are worth celebrating. This Cinco de Mayo, I am serving them with a tall margarita to really get the party started! I’ll set out some bowls with creamy guacamole , homemade pico de gallo , sour cream, and shredded cheese, and serve them with a side of cilantro lime rice and refried beans .

more mexican recipes to try

Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken

a skillet full of cheesy mexican rice with black beans and jalapenos. - 16

a skillet full of cheesy mexican rice with black beans and jalapenos. - 17

Taco Skillet

Mexican Tostadas

Trash Can Nachos

Beef Taquitos Recipe

Equipment

9x13 Baking Pan