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Taco Braid is an easy dinner recipe made with seasoned ground beef, cheese, and crescent roll dough. A family-friendly meal perfect for busy weeknights.
If you’re looking for a fun twist on taco night, this Taco Braid is one of my favorite easy dinners to make. It’s loaded with seasoned taco meat and melted cheese, all wrapped up in flaky crescent roll dough and baked until golden brown. I top mine with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream.
This is the kind of dinner I make when I want something a little different but still easy enough for a busy weeknight. It uses simple ingredients, comes together quickly, and is always a hit with my family.
Whether you’re looking for an easy taco recipe, a kid-friendly dinner, or a fun weeknight meal, this Taco Braid is one of those recipes you’ll find yourself making again and again.
Yet another taco recipe that is a favorite in my house. If you know anything about me then you probably know how much I love tacos.
I’ve made it in just about every form you can think of, and this taco braid tops the list of favorites, probably just under my all-time favorite Taco Soup. It’s perfect for family dinner or cut it into slices for an easy party food.
How to make a Taco Braid:
This Taco Braid seems like it may be difficult to make, but it really isn’t! Cook your beef with the taco seasoning just as you would for tacos. While the beef is cooking spread your pizza dough out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cut the dough into strips 1 inch from the edge to make the braids. Spread the taco meat down the middle of the dough. Braid the strips by overlapping alternating strips from each side. Top with cheese before baking. Bake and serve with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredient Notes:
- Olive Oil
- Ground Beef – Lean ground beef works best, but any ground beef will work. Just drain any excess grease.
- Onion – diced into small bite-sized pieces.
- Water
- Taco Seasoning – Try my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe or use a packet.
- Refrigerated Pizza Dough – rolled out.
- Salsa – Use your favorite brand and chunkiness/spice level.
- Mexican Blend Cheese – Shredded.
- Lettuce – finely shredded or chopped for topping.
- Tomatoes – diced small enough for topping.
- Sour cream – for topping.
Directions:
Step One – Heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add ground beef and cook until fully cooked.
Add 1/4 cup water and then taco seasonings and salsa. Set aside.
Step Two – Places refrigerated pizza dough out on a cookie sheet greased with remaining olive oil. Make small sliced about an inch wide all the way down both sides of pizza dough. Leaving a large space in the middle.
Recipe Tip
Make sure to take care in cutting the dough into even thickness for the braid, and not too deep into the center.
Step Three – Add ground beef mixture and 1 cup of shredded cheese to the middle part of the pizza dough. Start wrapping one strand of dough to the opposite side back and forth until fully braided.
Recipe Tip
To make the braid, you want to fold the edge strips overlapping each other to make the braid. Be careful not to rip them in the braiding.
Top with remaining cheese and bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.
Top the Taco Braid with your favorite taco toppings:
You can top your taco braid with whatever you want. Use your favorite taco toppings when you serve it.
- Sour Cream
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Salsa
- Lettuce
- Jalapenos
Tips for Best Results
- Allow the taco meat to cool slightly before assembling.
- Don’t overfill the braid or it may be difficult to seal.
- Use parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.
FAQs
Can I make Taco Braid ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble it ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Absolutely. Ground turkey works great in this recipe.
What cheese works best?
Cheddar, Monterey Jack or a Mexican blend are all great options.
Can I freeze Taco Braid?
Yes, you can freeze it after baking and reheat when ready to serve.
Try some of my other favorite Taco Inspired Recipes:
Taco Pizza – Your favorite taco ingredients piled into a pizza crust! This easy Taco Pizza makes the perfect weeknight dinner.
Taco Spaghetti – My new favorite way to make spaghetti, Taco Spaghetti! A Spaghetti casserole filled with those flavors you love from tacos. Taco seasoning, tomatoes, onions, all mixed in with noodles and Mexican Cheese this easy dinner recipe is going to be something you want on your menu plan soon!
Taco Casserole – This easy Taco Casserole is layered with seasoned ground beef, cheese, and tortilla chips for a quick, family-friendly dinner perfect for busy weeknights.
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Taco Braid
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Olive oil, (divided)
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1/4 cup Onion, (diced)
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1 oz Taco seasoning
- 1 can Refrigerated pizza dough, (1 crust)
- 1 cup Salsa
- 1 1/2 cup Mexican blend cheese, (shredded and divided)
- 1 1/2 cup Lettuce, (chopped)
- 1 cup Tomatoes, (diced)
- 1 cup Sour cream, 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add ground beef and cook until fully cooked. Add 1/4 cup water and then taco seasonings and salsa. Set aside.
- Places refrigerated pizza dough out on a cookie sheet greased with remaining olive oil. Make small sliced about an inch wide all the way down both sides of pizza dough. Leaving a large space in the middle.
- Add ground beef mixture and 1 cup of shredded cheese to the middle part of the pizza dough. Start wrapping one strand of dough to the opposite side back and forth until fully braided. Top with remaining cheese and bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and top with shredded lettuce and tomatoes. Serve with sour cream for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
