Description
Delicious and easy-to-make Air Fryer Taco Pockets filled with a flavorful mixture of ground beef, corn, black beans, salsa, and cheese. These golden, crispy pockets are perfect for a quick dinner or party snack, ready within 30 minutes and packed with Tex-Mex flavors.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup black beans, drained
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 1/2 cups cheese (shredded)
Dough
- 2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent sheet dough
Other
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Cook the beef and onions: In a skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound ground beef with 1 cup diced onions until the beef is fully browned and cooked through.
- Add spices and veggies: Stir in 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon paprika. Mix well, then add 1 cup corn, 1 cup drained black beans, and 1 cup salsa. Combine everything evenly. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool to lukewarm.
- Prepare the dough: Unroll the refrigerated crescent sheet dough. If using crescent rolls, pinch all seams closed tightly to create a uniform sheet.
- Cut the dough: Cut each crescent sheet into four equal squares to form individual pockets.
- Fill the pockets: Place a couple of tablespoons of the beef mixture in the center of each dough square. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese on top of the filling.
- Seal the pockets: Gather the corners and edges of the dough up and twist or pinch them together tightly to seal in the filling completely.
- Preheat the air fryer: Heat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, usually to 300°F (150°C).
- Prepare the air fryer basket: Spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the taco pockets in the basket with some space between each. Spray the tops of the pockets lightly with cooking spray to promote browning.
- Air fry the pockets: Cook the taco pockets at 300°F for 12-15 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove and serve: Use a spatula to carefully remove the hot pockets from the air fryer. Serve immediately with optional toppings like chopped lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, jalapeño slices, and cilantro.
Notes
- Letting the filling cool slightly before filling the dough helps prevent sogginess and makes it easier to seal the pockets.
- Ensure all seams are pinched tightly to avoid any filling leakage during air frying.
- You can customize the filling by adding jalapeños, olives, or other preferred taco ingredients.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based crumbles or extra beans and vegetables.
- Check your air fryer model’s size limits and adjust the number of pockets cooked per batch accordingly.
