Why You’ll Love these Mexican Snacks
When game day rolls around, you need snacks that’ll actually keep your guests happy instead of wandering to your kitchen every five minutes asking what else you’ve got.
These Mexican snacks deliver exactly that. I’m talking about layers of seasoned beef, creamy beans, and fresh toppings that disappear faster than your team’s lead.
What Ingredients are in Mexican Snacks?
You’re probably wondering what magic goes into these crowd-pleasing Mexican snacks that have everyone coming back for thirds. The beauty lies in the simplicity – most of these ingredients are probably sitting in your pantry right now, just waiting to be transformed into something spectacular.
- 2 cups biscuit mix
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (14 ounce) can refried beans with green chilies
- 1 cup fat free sour cream
- 1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix
- 1 1/2 cups grated medium cheddar cheese
- 1 medium tomato, seeded and finely diced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper
The ingredient list might look long, but don’t let that scare you away. Half of these are just fresh vegetables that you’ll chop up for the colorful topping – think of it as confetti for your taste buds.
The real time-saver here is using biscuit mix for the crust instead of making dough from scratch, because who’s time for that when there’s a game to watch. Make sure your ground beef is actually lean, since you’ll be rinsing it anyway, and don’t skip the step of seeding your tomato unless you want soggy spots that’ll make your guests question your cooking skills.
How to Make these Mexican Snacks
Making these Mexican snacks is like assembling the perfect game day dream team – each layer brings its own superpower to the table. Start by mixing your 2 cups of biscuit mix with 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley in a medium bowl, then add 1/2 cup of water and stir until you’ve got a soft dough that’s ready to cooperate. Turn this slightly sticky situation onto a surface you’ve dusted with a bit more biscuit mix, knead it exactly 10 times (yes, count them – I’m not being dramatic), then press it into an ungreased 10 by 15 jelly roll pan. The dough will be ridiculously thin, almost see-through, but trust the process and bake it at 400 degrees for 10 minutes until it’s golden and firm. Let it cool completely, because patience is a virtue that prevents molten cheese disasters.
While your crust is cooling, scramble fry your 1/2 pound of lean ground beef, then do something that might feel weird but works like magic – rinse it with hot water to remove extra fat. Drain it well, because nobody wants greasy snacks, then mix in your 14-ounce can of refried beans with green chilies and spread this protein-packed mixture over your cooled crust.
Next comes the creamy middle layer: combine 1 cup of fat-free sour cream with your 1 1/4-ounce envelope of taco seasoning mix, spread it over the beef mixture, then sprinkle on 1 1/2 cups of grated medium cheddar cheese. The grand finale involves mixing your 1 medium diced tomato, 1/2 cup of finely chopped green onion, 1/4 cup of finely chopped green pepper, and 1/4 cup of finely chopped red pepper in a separate bowl, then sprinkling this colorful confetti over the cheese. Pack everything down lightly – think gentle love tap, not aggressive compression – refrigerate for 2 hours, then cut into 1 1/2 by 2-inch pieces that’ll disappear faster than you can say “touchdown.” For those who prefer a hands-off approach to cooking, a premium slow cooker can also be used to prepare the beef mixture with perfectly tender results.
Mexican Snacks Substitutions and Variations
Now that you’ve mastered the basic recipe, let’s talk about how to make these layered beauties work for your specific crowd, dietary needs, or whatever random ingredients are lurking in your fridge right now.
I’ll swap ground turkey for beef when I’m feeling virtuous, or toss in black beans for extra protein and fiber.
What to Serve with Mexican Snacks
These Mexican snack squares are practically begging for sidekicks that’ll turn your game day spread into a full-blown fiesta. I’m talking crispy tortilla chips for extra crunch, fresh guacamole because avocados make everything better, and maybe some salsa verde to add heat.
Don’t forget ice-cold beer or margaritas to wash down all that cheesy goodness.
Final Thoughts
Game day always seems to sneak up on me, but with this Mexican snack recipe in my back pocket, I’m never caught scrambling for something impressive to serve. It’s foolproof, feeds a crowd, and looks like I spent hours in the kitchen when really I just pressed some dough into a pan and layered tasty things on top.
