Taco Pie Delight is a delicious fusion of two beloved dishes - tacos and pie. This savory dish combines the flavors of ground beef, cheese, and classic taco seasonings, all encased in a unique cheese-infused crust. It's topped off with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream, bringing together a delightful myriad of textures and flavors. This dish is perfect for a family dinner or a laid-back weekend meal.
The ingredients for this recipe are fairly standard and should be easy to find in most supermarkets. However, American cheese and refried beans may not be staples in everyone's pantry. American cheese is a type of processed cheese, known for its smooth melting quality which is ideal for this recipe. Refried beans are a traditional Mexican dish of cooked and mashed beans, adding an authentic touch to this taco pie. When grocery shopping, make sure you have these two ingredients on your list.
Ingredients for Taco Pie Delight Recipe
Butter: Used in making the crust, it gives a soft, crumbly texture.
American cheese: Its melting quality gives the crust a cheesy deliciousness, and is also used in the filling.
Flour: Fundamental ingredient for the crust.
Salt: Used to enhance the flavors.
Ground beef: The main protein in the filling.
Onion: Adds a slight crunch and sweetness to the filling.
Salsa: Brings zest and tang to the filling.
Refried beans: Adds a creamy, hearty element to the filling.
Taco seasoning: Infuses the filling with that distinctive taco flavor.
Lettuce: Adds a fresh, crunchy element to the topping.
Tomato: Brings a juicy, tangy flavor to the toppings.
Sour cream: Adds a tangy creaminess as a topping.
Cheese: Used as a topping to add extra cheesy goodness.
One reader, Athena Chance says:
This taco pie delight recipe is a game-changer! The crust is perfectly flaky, and the filling is bursting with flavor. The combination of ingredients creates a mouthwatering dish that's perfect for any occasion. I highly recommend trying this recipe - it's a definite crowd-pleaser!
Techniques Required for Making Taco Pie Delight
How to make the crust: Combine the crust ingredients except water in a food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture creates coarse crumbles. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms a ball. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, place it into a 9-inch pie plate, and trim the sides. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
How to prepare the filling: Cook onions and beef in a medium skillet until the beef is browned and cooked through. Drain if watery. Return the beef to the skillet, add salsa, and taco seasoning. Cook until bubbly. Pour the mixture into the baked crust, top with refried beans and cheese, then bake for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
How to assemble the taco pie: Let the pie cool, then top it with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and more cheese. Serve and enjoy.
How To Make Taco Pie
This taco pie serves a meaty tasty dish with a buttery crust that’s topped with seasoned beef, salsa, and refried beans for a flavorful Mexican-style meal.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Crust:
- ¼cupbutter,chopped
- 3slicesAmerican Cheese
- 1cupflour
- ¼tspsalt
- 2tbspwater
For Filling:
- 1lbground beef
- ½cuponion,chopped
- ½cupsalsa
- 1refried beans
- 1taco seasoning
- 6slicesAmerican Cheese
For Toppings:
- 1cuplettuce,shredded
- 1tomato,chopped
- sour cream,to taste
- cheese,shredded
Instructions
Crust:
-
Combine crust ingredients except water in food processor bowl.
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Pulse until the mixture creates coarse crumbles. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms a ball.
-
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Place into a 9-inch pie plate, and trim the sides.
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Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Filling:
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Cook onions and beef in a medium skillet until beef is browned and cooked through. Drain if watery.
-
Return beef to skillet, add salsa, and taco seasoning. Cook until bubbly.
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Pour into baked crust. Top with refried beans, and cheese.
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Bake for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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Let cool. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and more cheese.
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Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
- Calories: 787.48kcal
- Fat: 48.52g
- Saturated Fat: 23.95g
- Trans Fat: 1.82g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 17.13g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.20g
- Carbohydrates: 49.04g
- Fiber: 6.50g
- Sugar: 3.78g
- Protein: 38.89g
- Cholesterol: 141.26mg
- Sodium: 1175.06mg
- Calcium: 328.80mg
- Potassium: 1101.98mg
- Iron: 5.37mg
- Vitamin A: 146.57µg
- Vitamin C: 13.58mg
Helpful Technique Tip for Taco Pie Delight
When making the crust for your taco pie delight, it's important to add the water gradually. This allows you to control the consistency of the dough. If you add all the water at once, the dough may become too sticky and difficult to work with. By adding it slowly, you can achieve the perfect texture for a flaky and delicious crust.
Time-Saving Tips for Preparing Taco Pie Delight
Prep ahead: Prepare the crust and filling in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. This will save time when you're ready to assemble and bake the taco pie.
Use pre-made crust: If you're short on time, consider using a store-bought pie crust instead of making it from scratch. This can significantly cut down on prep time.
Multi-task: While the crust is baking, you can simultaneously prepare the filling. This efficient use of time can help streamline the cooking process.
Organize ingredients: Before you start cooking, gather and organize all the necessary ingredients and tools. This will prevent any last-minute scrambling and save time during the cooking process.
One-pot cooking: Whenever possible, try to cook multiple components of the recipe in the same pot or skillet to minimize clean-up and save time.
Substitute Ingredients For Taco Pie Recipe
butter - Substitute with margarine: Margarine can be used as a substitute for butter in the crust to achieve a similar texture and flavor.
american cheese - Substitute with cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese can be used as a substitute for American cheese in the crust for a sharper flavor.
flour - Substitute with gluten-free flour: Gluten-free flour can be used as a substitute for regular flour for those with gluten sensitivities.
ground beef - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey can be used as a leaner alternative to ground beef in the filling.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots can be used as a substitute for onions for a milder, sweeter flavor in the filling.
salsa - Substitute with diced tomatoes with green chilies: Diced tomatoes with green chilies can be used as a substitute for salsa for a similar flavor profile.
refried beans - Substitute with black beans: Black beans can be used as a substitute for refried beans for a different texture and flavor in the filling.
taco seasoning - Substitute with homemade taco seasoning: Homemade taco seasoning can be used as a substitute for pre-packaged taco seasoning for a more customized flavor.
american cheese - Substitute with monterey jack cheese: Monterey jack cheese can be used as a substitute for American cheese for a different flavor in the filling.
lettuce - Substitute with baby spinach: Baby spinach can be used as a substitute for lettuce for a different texture and added nutrients in the toppings.
tomato - Substitute with red bell pepper: Red bell pepper can be used as a substitute for tomatoes for a similar color and crunch in the toppings.
sour cream - Substitute with Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute for sour cream for a healthier alternative with a similar tangy flavor.
cheese - Substitute with vegan cheese: Vegan cheese can be used as a substitute for regular cheese for a dairy-free alternative.
Essential Tools for Making Taco Pie Delight
- Food processor: A food processor is a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used for chopping, slicing, shredding, and pureeing ingredients. It is a great tool for making pie crusts, salsas, and other food preparations.
- Mixing bowl: A mixing bowl is an essential kitchen tool used for combining ingredients, mixing batters, and preparing various components of a recipe. It comes in different sizes and materials to suit different cooking needs.
- Skillet: A skillet, also known as a frying pan, is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning ingredients. It is commonly used for cooking the ground beef and onions in this recipe.
- Pie plate: A pie plate is a round, shallow dish with sloping sides specifically designed for baking pies. It is essential for shaping and baking the crust for the taco pie delight.
- Rolling pin: A rolling pin is a cylindrical kitchen tool used to flatten and shape dough for pie crusts, pastries, and other baked goods. It is essential for rolling out the dough for the pie crust.
- Oven: An oven is a kitchen appliance used for baking, roasting, and heating food. It is necessary for baking the taco pie delight to achieve a golden brown crust and melted cheese.
- Knife: A knife is an essential kitchen tool used for cutting, chopping, and slicing ingredients. It is necessary for chopping onions, tomatoes, and lettuce for the taco pie delight.
- Spatula: A spatula is a kitchen utensil with a broad, flat blade used for lifting, flipping, and spreading ingredients. It is essential for transferring the cooked beef filling into the baked pie crust and for serving the pie slices.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Measuring cups and spoons are used to accurately measure and portion ingredients for recipes. They are essential for measuring flour, butter, salsa, and other ingredients in precise quantities.
Storing and Freezing Taco Pie Delight
Let the taco pie cool completely before storing or freezing. This will prevent condensation from forming and making the crust soggy.
To store in the refrigerator, cover the pie tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will keep well for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, freeze the taco pie:
- Wrap the cooled pie tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This double layer will help prevent freezer burn.
- Label the wrapped pie with the date and contents.
- Place the wrapped pie in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat the refrigerated or frozen taco pie:
- If frozen, thaw the pie overnight in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Remove any plastic wrap and loosely cover the pie with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes (for refrigerated pie) or 30-40 minutes (for frozen pie), until heated through.
- For a crispy crust, remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
If you want to freeze individual portions, cut the cooled pie into slices and wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. This way, you can thaw and reheat only the number of servings you need.
How To Reheat Taco Pie Delight Leftovers
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover taco pie on a baking sheet and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted. This method helps to retain the moisture and prevent the crust from becoming too crispy.
If you prefer a crispier crust, you can reheat the taco pie in the oven without covering it with foil. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until the filling is hot and the crust is crispy.
For a quicker option, you can use the microwave. Place a slice of the taco pie on a microwave-safe plate and heat it on high power for 1-2 minutes or until the filling is heated through. Keep in mind that the microwave may cause the crust to become slightly soggy.
If you have an air fryer, you can use it to reheat the taco pie. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place a slice of the pie in the basket. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the filling is hot and the crust is crispy.
For a stovetop method, place a slice of the taco pie in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cover the skillet with a lid and heat for 5-7 minutes or until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted. This method helps to crisp up the bottom of the crust while keeping the filling moist.
Interesting Fact About Taco Pie Delight
The taco pie delight recipe is a fusion of Mexican and American cuisine, combining the flavors of a taco with the comfort of a pie. It offers a unique twist on traditional taco ingredients, making it a delightful and satisfying dish for any occasion.
Is Making Taco Pie Delight at Home Cost-Effective?
This taco pie delight recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The ingredients, such as ground beef, onions, salsa, and refried beans, are affordable and readily available. The use of simple pantry staples and basic cooking techniques makes it budget-friendly. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $15-$20. The overall verdict rating for this recipe is 8/10, considering its affordability, ease of preparation, and delicious outcome.
Is Taco Pie Delight Healthy or Unhealthy?
The taco pie delight recipe, while undeniably delicious, is not the healthiest option due to several factors:
- The crust is made with butter and American cheese, which are high in saturated fat and sodium.
- The filling contains ground beef, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Refried beans are often high in sodium and fat, especially if they are not homemade or low-fat varieties.
- The toppings include sour cream and additional cheese, which further increase the fat and calorie content of the dish.
However, this recipe can be modified to make it a healthier option without sacrificing taste:
- Replace the butter in the crust with a healthier fat, such as olive oil or avocado oil, and use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- Opt for lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, or use a plant-based alternative like crumbled tofu or lentils.
- Choose low-sodium, low-fat refried beans or make your own using whole beans and spices.
- Use reduced-fat cheese and sour cream, or replace sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
- Increase the amount of vegetables in the toppings, such as adding diced bell peppers, onions, or jalapeños to the lettuce and tomato.
- Serve the taco pie with a side salad or roasted vegetables to increase the nutrient content of the meal.
Editor's Opinion on the Taco Pie Delight Recipe
This taco pie delight recipe offers a unique twist on traditional tacos. The combination of a flaky, cheesy crust with a flavorful beef and bean filling creates a delicious and satisfying dish. The addition of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream adds a refreshing contrast to the warm, savory flavors. The use of American cheese throughout the recipe provides a creamy and indulgent element. Overall, this recipe is a delightful fusion of classic taco ingredients presented in a new and exciting way.
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Why trust this Taco Pie Recipe:
This recipe is a delicious fusion of taco and pie, offering a unique and flavorful dining experience. The combination of savory ground beef, zesty salsa, and creamy refried beans creates a mouthwatering filling. The golden-brown crust, made with real butter and cheese, adds a delightful crunch. Topped with fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and rich sour cream, this dish promises to tantalize taste buds. With carefully selected ingredients and precise instructions, this recipe guarantees a satisfying and enjoyable meal.
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