Cheeseburger Taquitos Recipe
These Cheeseburger Taquitos are filled with seasoned beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, and homemade burger sauce, then pan-fried until perfectly crispy.
Servings: 8 taquitos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- dash of salt
- 1 pound ground beef
- ⅓ cup diced dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons homemade burger sauce, recipe below
- 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 taco-size flour tortillas
- ¼ cup neutral oil, for shallow frying
Homemade Burger Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 splash dill pickle brine
- 1 tablespoon finely minced dill pickle
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
Optional Garlic Butter Finish
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or grated
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion and a small pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and lightly caramelized, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Make the Burger Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pickle brine, minced pickle, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne until smooth. Refrigerate while you prepare the taquitos.
Prepare the Filling
- Return the skillet to medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and fully cooked. If needed, carefully remove excess grease.
- Stir the caramelized onions back into the skillet along with the diced pickles and 2 tablespoons of the prepared burger sauce. Mix until evenly combined, then remove from the heat.
Assemble & Cook Taquitos
- Lay one tortilla on a flat surface. Spoon about ¼ cup of the beef mixture into the center, shaping it into a narrow strip. Sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese, then roll tightly into a taquito. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Pour enough oil into a skillet to lightly coat the bottom and heat over medium-low. Working in batches, place the taquitos seam-side down in the skillet. Cook, turning every couple of minutes, until all sides are evenly golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with the remaining homemade burger sauce for dipping.
Optional Garlic Butter Finish
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley. Brush the warm taquitos with the garlic butter mixture immediately after frying, if desired.
Notes
- Take your time with the onions. Lightly caramelizing them adds rich, classic cheeseburger flavor.
- Brown the beef well. Let it develop some color before stirring too often for the best flavor.
- Roll tightly. A snug roll helps the taquitos stay together while frying and creates the crispiest texture.
- Keep the heat moderate. Medium-low heat allows the tortillas to crisp up while giving the cheese time to melt.
- Optional garlic butter finish. Brushing the taquitos with garlic butter and parsley adds incredible flavor and a beautiful finish, but it will slightly soften the crispy exterior. Skip this step if you prefer maximum crunch.
- Freezer-friendly! Let the taquitos cool completely before freezing in a single layer. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container once frozen. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer until hot and crispy.
- Double the burger sauce. This recipe makes enough for the filling and dipping, but if you're serving these with fries or simply love extra sauce, I highly recommend doubling it.