Wonton Taco Cups Recipe (2024)

Wonton taco cups are the perfect solution for busy party hosts who want a quick and easy appetizer that everyone loves.

Wonton wrappers are baked in a muffin tin until golden and crunchy, filled with layers of seasoned beef and gooey cheese, and finally garnished with your favorite classic taco toppings.

These flavorful snacks can even be made in advance and frozen, so there’s no stress on party day. Wonton taco cups are especially popular as hearty game day appetizers or Cinco de Mayo snack, but they’re versatile enough to be served for just about any occasion.

I have no doubt that they’re going to become one of your go to appetizer recipes worthy of a place in your recipe bank.

Why We Love Wonton Taco Cups

Tacos are tasty, there’s no doubt about it. But they can be messy, and they’re definitely not the easiest food to eat while mingling at a party. These wonton taco cups solve all those problems:

• The crunchy wonton cup is almost exactly like a taco shell, but its small size and cup shape actually makes it less messy to eat.
• They’re simple to make, and can even be made and frozen far in advance. You don’t even need to defrost them if they’re frozen!
• Guests can add their own toppings to create an appetizer they’re guaranteed to enjoy.
• They’re small enough to serve as an appetizer, but hearty enough that you can make a meal out of them if you want to.

How to Make Wonton Taco Cups (Step-by-Step Directions):

To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and a more detailed guide, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

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Step 1- Press a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each muffin tin cavity. Make sure the corners of the wonton wrappers point up in order to create small cups. Bake the wonton wrappers in a 350˚F oven for 5-10 minutes, until corners of the wonton wrappers just turn golden brown.

Step 2 – While the wonton wrappers bake, cook one pound ground beef in a large skillet until browned. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat up into small pieces as it cooks.

Step 3 – Drain any excess fat, then follow the directions on the back of the taco seasoning packet to season your meat.

Step 4 – Place the cooled wonton taco cups on a parchment lined baking sheet. Add about 1 tablespoon of cooked beef mixture to each wonton cup. (A small scoop is super helpful!)

Step 5 – Top with shredded cheese and return the filled wonton cups to the oven until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

Step 6 – Serve warm, garnished with a small dollop of sour cream, sliced green onions, chopped tomato, and any other taco toppings you might like.

Essential Tips and FAQ:

Don’t skip these tips – read them before baking to avoid any potential mistakes.

Don’t Let Your Wonton Wrappers Dry Out

Unless you have an 18 or 24-cavity muffin tin, you will likely need to bake the wonton wrappers in batches.

Keep unused wonton wrappers covered with a lightly damp paper towel to keep them from drying out.

Can I Use a Mini Muffin Tin?

I totally understand this question…because one or two bite appetizers are my favorite. And, after testing them with full size muffin tins, I don’t recommend using a mini muffin tin like this one.

Why?

Well, you won’t be able to fit many fillings in a mini muffin sized shell, which means they’ll mostly taste like the wonton wrapper, and might even become messier if they’re over-filled to the point of spilling.

If you’re worried that these will be too big (like I was), have no fear. These wonton taco cups hold up surprisingly well while eating. They’re not nearly as messy as I anticipated…even my 6-year-old son didn’t spill his fillings!

To use up the whole package of wontons

The brand of wonton wrappers shown above comes with about 50 wrappers in a package, which makes a fantastic size if you’re serving a large crowd. To use them all up, you will need:

• 3 pounds lean ground beef
• 3 1.25 ounce packets taco seasoning
• 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 bunches green onions, sliced.
• 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped

* Make sure to double check the quantity of wonton wrappers in your particular packaging before using these measurements.

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How to Make the Beef and Wonton Cups in Advance:

You can make the ground beef mixture and wonton cups up to two days in advance.

To Store the Wonton Cups: Allow the wonton cups to cool completely, then keep them in an airtight container with hard sides (something like this) at room temperature to keep them fresh.

To Store the Beef: Store, refrigerated, in an airtight container until it’s time to assemble. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop before assembling the cups as directed above.

How to Freeze Wonton Taco Cups

I prefer these made fresh, but you can prepare filled cups in advance and freeze them.

After you get through the point of melting the cheese, allow the taco wonton cups to cool completely.

Place the cups in a hard-sized, freezer safe container (again, I like this one). You can layer the cups in the container with a layer of parchment or wax paper between. Freeze for up to 1 month.

When you’re ready to serve:

1. Spray a regular sized muffin tin with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 350˚F
2. Place the frozen wonton taco cups directly in the prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350˚F until the meat is heated through and the wonton wrappers are crispy, about 15 minutes.
4. Serve warm, garnished with your favorite toppings.

Perfect for a Mini Taco Bar!

Some people love sour cream, others hate it.

Make life easy for yourself and fun for your guests. Set up a DIY taco cup bar and let your guests add their favorite toppings for a customized appetizer.

Taco Toppings to Offer:

I kept the recipe simple for a crowd, but there are so many delicious toppings you could also offer. Here are some ideas:

• Hot Sauce
• Jalapeno slices
• Sliced olives
• Diced red onion
• Diced bell peppers
• Avocado or guacamole
• Shredded Lettuce
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges (a squirt of lime juice cuts the richness of the meat and cheese and livens up the flavors)

Adaptations and Substitutions

• Wonton wrappers are usually found in the refrigerated area of your grocery’s produce section. But If you can’t find wonton wrappers, you can try using phyllo dough cups or puff pastry from your grocer’s freezer section. Just be aware that your cups won’t have the same crunch that the wonton wrappers offer.
• Instead of ground beef, you can also use shredded chicken or ground turkey.
• We used Colby Jack cheese, but you could also use shredded cheddar, queso blanco, Mexican blend cheese, or even Taco seasoned cheese.
• Fresh tomatoes are best, but you can also drain a can of Rotel tomatoes and use them to top your wonton taco cups for a zesty change-up.

If you liked my wonton taco cups recipe, you’re going to love my crockpot apple butter meatballs with bourbon. They’re an incredibly easy appetizer that’s bursting with flavor.

Or you can check out my other appetizers recipes right here.

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