Mini Taco Bites With Phyllo Cups, Beef & Black Beans

Baked in the oven in under 10 minutes, these Mini Taco Bites Appetizers are the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Add your taco favorites and bake inside crispy, bite-sized phyllo cups and serve.  Perfect for parties… or a quick and easy dinner!

There’s never a need to fall back on ordinary chips and dip when we’ve got so many quick, easy appetizer recipes for you. These mini taco bites with phyllo cups are a unique take on a crowd-pleasing favorite. You’ll also be pleased if you try my favorite Creamy Whipped Feta or Pub-Style Beer Cheese Dip. 

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There’s always something so “magical” about crispy, light, and flakey phyllo pastry, and with an easy recipe like this one for taco phyllo cups, all the “mystery” disappears, and so do the taco bites!

With premade frozen mini phyllo pastry cups, there’s no need for a wand and “alohomora” to unlock the treat these taco bite appetizers make for all occasions. Perfect for game night or creative addition to any buffet table, these mini-taco bites can be made up in advance and frozen until you’re ready to enchant friends and family.

Why You’ll Love This Taco Bites Appetizer

• Mini taco bites are zesty, flavorful, and fun appetizers for any occasion.
• Versatile with fillings and toppings, you can even have guests fill and assemble their own mini taco cups.
• Easy to make and freeze ahead of time with minimum time from freezer to oven to table!
• Phyllo pastry is stress-free to bake and so delicious, you’ll start looking for other recipes to fill up these delightful, flaky little cups. 

Ingredients For Tasty Taco Bites With Beef & Black Bean Recipe

• Lean Ground Beef – cooked and drained of excess fat, or use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
• Rotel Diced Tomatoes w/Green Chilies – uses a secret blend of spices added to rich tomatoes and zesty green chilies that will add depth to your dish with a mild hint of heat.
• Black Beans, Drained – mild in flavor, soft and creamy, they reflect the taste of your dish.
• Taco Seasoning – using a packet of taco seasoning keeps it simple, but you can use your own taco seasoning blend. 
• Ranch Dressing Mix
• Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend – this mild cheese combination complements and balances the two seasoning blends.
• Miniature Phyllo Tart Shells – are light and crispy premade pastry dough that is convenient and super easy to use from freezer to oven.

How To Make Mini Beef & Black Bean Taco Bites

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

ONE: Brown ground beef, drain any excess grease and mix in all remaining ingredients except the cheese.

TWO: Simmer the beef and bean mixture for five minutes to allow all the flavors to marry and excess moisture to cook off.

THREE: Remove the taco filling from the heat source and stir in the shredded cheese.

FOUR: Fill frozen phyllo cups with the mini taco mixture and place them on an ungreased baking sheet. 

FIVE: Bake in preheated oven for 6-8 minutes.

Serve warm, delicious taco bites as is or with toppings and garnishes of your choice.

What to Serve/Pair with Your Mini Taco Bite Cups

Avocado Cream Sauce

Pineapple Mango Salsa

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Spicy Ranch Water

Mini Taco Bites With Beef & Black Bean Substitutions & Additions 

• Optional toppings to serve on the side: shredded lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo, black olives, guacamole, cilantro, and jalapeno slices.
• You can use shredded beef, ground chicken, or turkey for the mini taco filling.
• Try shredded chicken with tomatillo sauce along with the ground beef and bean if you would like to serve both beef and chicken appetizers.
• Scoop tortilla shells will work in a jam and are a perfect no-bake way to use up any leftover filling.
• If you don’t enjoy the mild heat from green chilies, you can use regular diced tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes instead. 

How To Reheat & Store Mini Tacos with Phyllo Shells

Beef and black bean mini taco bites can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

How Freeze Taco Bites

You can freeze thoroughly cooled mini taco phyllo cups layered on waxed paper in an airtight freezer container if you have leftovers. When ready to serve, bake in 350°F oven until reheated and the phyllo shells are crisp.

Mini Phyllo Cup Taco Bites FAQs

What are phyllo cups?

These light, crispy and super flaky little pastry shells are fully baked and sold in the freezer section at the grocery store., usually near the pie crust. They can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients and make the ultimate party appetizers and bite-sized desserts. Not only are they easy to make but and even more fun to eat!

Why are my phyllo cups soggy?

Do not fill phyllo cups until ready to bake, and don’t forget to drain black beans thoroughly. 

Keep the phyllo cups frozen until ready to fill and bake straight away. Once the bite-sized taco cups are cooked, place them on a wire rack if not served immediately. The airflow helps to keep the cups crisp and avoids soggy bottoms.

Do I have to use black beans in this mini taco recipe?

You can leave beans out altogether or use another type of bean if you prefer. Be sure to drain beans well of excess liquid to avoid making the taco cups soggy.

Can you make mini taco bites ahead and freeze? 

Yes, you can freeze beef and bean mini taco phyllo cup appetizers! Prepare mini tacos according to recipe instructions, but do not bake. Store the prepared mini taco cups in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to one month in the freezer. When ready to use, place frozen, not thawed, taco bites in the oven and bake for an extra 2-4 minutes. 

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Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Taco Bites With Phyllo Cups Turned Out!