Why Not Try a Taco Ring For Your Next Taco Tuesday!

I love trying something different for Taco Tuesdays. While normally what I make each week varies from traditional tacos to burritos to carnitas, I like to mix it up. One week it was even a taco rice bowl. I don't feel the need to have tacos, I just like to honor the day with something that gives a nod to south of the border - whether traditional, Tex Mex or like this, just fun.

Taco Ring recipes using Pillsbury Crescent rolls are literally all over the internet. There are a few differences here and there. On the Pillsbury site, they mix the meat and cheese together before piling on the crescent roll ring. At Kitchen Fun they sprinkle it on top of the beef. I chose to do it a little differently as well.

From the Pillsbury website

First I really dislike the taco package seasoning. There is something just really off about the taste. My personal favorite over the years is something I came up with myself using store bought salsa, water, chili powder, salt and pepper.  I like the taste better. If you use this method, just make sure you buy a salsa that you LOVE as it will be the main flavor. You can use mild, medium or hot salsa to change the spiciness. 

Love the presentation of htis version Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons!

My other change was I wanted to add a few more ingredients inside to up the flavor. That makes it a little harder to fold the edges over, but it's do-able if you keep it simple. I think next time instead of sprinkling those ingredients on top of the meat, I will stir them into the meat so it's easier to pile on.  I've noted that in my instructions. 

Last but not least, a note on the recipe itself.  They always show perfectly identical, perfectly shaped triangles of dough in their pictures. If you've ever used the refrigerator crescent rolls you know this isn't the case.  They come out all different shapes, sized and widths, so just do your best. 

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Taco Ring

Ingredients - 

1 lb.             lean ground beef
½ C             Onion peeled and diced
½ C             Water
3/4 C           Store bought medium salsa (or mild or hot - just use your favorite)

Chili Powder - Salt - Pepper

2 cans          Crescent rolls 8 rolls per can, 16 total rolls
1 C               Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

My additions to the meat mixture - sliced black olives, diced fresh tomato and a diced avocado. I saw one recipe with cooked corn in it. HMMM interesting. 

Things you can fill the centre of the ring with to make a nice presentation include lettuce, tomato, salsa, guacamole, olives, jalapenos, etc.

Instructions -

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the ground beef into the pan and add the diced onions; cook until the beef is no longer pink. Pour the cooked beef into a colander to drain excess grease, then return the meat to the skillet.

Regular recipe - Add the water and a package taco seasoning to the cooked meat and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.

My way of making it - To the meat add water, salsa, 2-3 tsp of chili powder, salt and pepper. Simmer over low until liquid is reduced - almost gone, but not quite. You don't want it try, just a little juicy.

After this step, if you want other things inside, I would stir them into the meat mixture.  Make sure just small amounts of each or the dough won't reach over the top. 

Open the cans of crescent roll dough and separate the triangles. Arrange the crescent rolls into a circle by placing on a large baking sheet or pizza pan with the wide end of the dough triangles overlapping and the pointed ends facing out to create the look of a sunburst. Spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture onto the overlapped dough area of the circle.

Take the pointed part of the dough and bring it across the meat and cheese filling, then tuck the dough under. Repeat until all of the points of dough have been tucked in and most of the meat is covered by the dough. Bake the taco ring for 18 minutes, until golden brown.

Cool slightly, then slice the ring and serve with the toppings of your choice.