Description
Crispy taco pinwheels bring Mexican-inspired flavors to life in this quick air fryer delight. Cheese, tortillas, and zesty fillings create an irresistible appetizer perfect for parties or snack time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- ½ pound ground beef (or turkey)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ¼ cup salsa
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Base and Toppings:
- 4 large flour tortillas
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Craft a robust taco-flavored ground beef mixture by sizzling the meat in a skillet with olive oil, ensuring thorough browning and complete crumbling of the protein.
- Enhance the meat’s flavor profile by incorporating zesty taco seasoning and salsa, allowing the ingredients to meld and intensify for a few minutes before removing from heat.
- Select soft tortillas and create a smooth base layer using cream cheese, spreading it evenly across the entire surface to provide a creamy foundation.
- Distribute the seasoned taco meat uniformly over the cream cheese, maintaining a consistent layer that ensures balanced flavor in each bite.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese generously across the tortilla, creating a melty and rich component that will complement the savory meat.
- Carefully roll each tortilla into a compact, tight cylinder, pressing gently to secure the ingredients and maintain structural integrity.
- Slice the rolled tortillas into uniform pinwheel segments, aiming for bite-sized pieces approximately one inch thick.
- Prepare the air fryer by preheating to 375F, creating an optimal environment for achieving a crisp exterior.
- Lightly mist the pinwheels with cooking spray to promote golden browning and prevent sticking.
- Arrange the pinwheels in a single layer within the air fryer basket, ensuring adequate spacing for even crisping.
- Air fry for 6-8 minutes, rotating midway to guarantee uniform crunchiness and attractive golden coloration.
- Plate the crispy pinwheels and accompany with classic Mexican-inspired dipping options like sour cream, guacamole, or fresh salsa.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian option that maintains the same zesty flavor profile.
- Ensure tortillas are room temperature and pliable to prevent cracking when rolling, which helps create perfect, tight pinwheels.
- Pat ground beef dry before cooking to achieve better browning and prevent excess moisture that could make the pinwheels soggy.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack or Mexican blend to add extra kick and complexity to the filling.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg