Description
These Taco Hand Pies are delicious, portable snacks perfect for a quick meal or party appetizer. Made with seasoned ground beef, Mexican cheese, corn, and black beans, all enclosed in flaky pie crust, they’re baked to golden perfection and easy to make with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 oz taco seasoning
- â…” cup water (for taco seasoning, as per package directions)
- 1 cup taco/Mexican blended cheese
- ½ cup corn, drained
- ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
Crust & Topping
- 2 packs refrigerated pie crust
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Beef: Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the lean ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add taco seasoning and ⅔ cup water according to the seasoning package directions, then bring to a simmer for a few minutes to blend flavors.
- Add Cheese: Stir in 1 cup of taco or Mexican blended cheese into the seasoned beef mixture until melted and well combined.
- Add Vegetables: Incorporate the drained corn and rinsed black beans into the beef and cheese mixture, stirring evenly throughout for a well-balanced filling.
- Cut Dough Circles: Using a 4-inch diameter biscuit cutter, cut circles out of the refrigerated pie crust dough. Arrange half of the circles on a clean surface to be filled.
- Fill and Seal Pies: Place a heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture in the center of half of the cut dough circles. Beat the egg to create an egg wash. Brush egg wash around the edges of the filled circles to help seal. Top each with a remaining dough circle. Use a fork or a sandwich press to crimp the edges securely, preventing any filling leakage during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush another layer of egg wash over the tops of the sealed hand pies to promote browning. Place pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
Notes
- Ensure the filling is not too watery to prevent soggy crust; drain extra liquid if needed.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Freeze assembled pies before baking for convenient make-ahead meals; bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- For spicier pies, add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the filling mixture.
- Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking on the baking sheet.
