Description
Taco Salad Bourbon Queso Bites are addictive, handheld appetizers featuring crispy fried corn tortillas loaded with a fresh taco salad mix and finished with smoky bourbon queso and melty cheddar. Each bite offers a hit of crunch, creamy cheese, and classic Tex-Mex flavors—perfect for parties or game day gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Tortillas & Oil
- 8 small corn tortillas (about 4 inches in diameter)
- Cooking oil (for frying)
Taco Salad Filling
- 1 cup cooked corn kernels
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup sliced scallions
- ½ avocado, diced
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning
Cheese & Toppings
- ¼ cup bourbon queso dip (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salsa and sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven – Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it’s ready once your bites are assembled.
- Crisp the Tortillas – Lightly brush both sides of each small corn tortilla with oil. Working in batches, fry them in medium-hot oil for about 30–45 seconds per side, until puffy and crisp. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make the Taco Salad Mixture – In a mixing bowl, combine the corn, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, sliced scallions, diced avocado, shredded lettuce, and taco seasoning. Toss everything together until the salad is well combined and evenly coated with seasoning.
- Assemble the Bites – Arrange the crisped tortillas (now shaped like little boats) on a baking sheet. Spoon a bit of bourbon queso dip into the bottom of each tortilla.
- Top & Add Cheese – Add a generous scoop of the taco salad mixture to each tortilla bite, and then sprinkle evenly with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake – Bake the assembled bites for 5–7 minutes, just until the cheese melts and the bites are heated through.
- Serve – Remove from the oven and serve immediately, offering salsa and sour cream on the side for dipping.
Notes
- If you can’t find mini tortillas, use a large one cut into circles using a round cutter.
- For extra spice, add diced jalapeños to the salad or use hot queso dip.
- Bourbon queso can be homemade or store-bought—substitute with plain queso if you prefer.
- These bites are best served fresh but can be prepped ahead (fry tortillas, prep salad) and assembled just before baking.
- Leftover filling is great as a taco topping, in wraps, or even served with chips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 145mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 7mg