Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F and lightly coat a large baking sheet with non-stick spray. This ensures your taco sticks won't stick to the pan and will have the perfect baking temperature from the start.
Cook Ground Beef
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until fully browned and crumbled. Drain any excess fat. Removing the excess fat prevents the dough from becoming soggy during baking.
Season Beef
Return the skillet to the stovetop and mix in the taco seasoning packet (dry, without water) until the beef is fully coated. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Allowing the meat to cool prevents the dough from getting soggy when assembling.
Prepare Dough
Spread the pizza dough out on a clean surface until flat. Cut in half lengthwise, then make 4 cuts across to create 10 small rectangles total. Even-sized rectangles will ensure consistent cooking time.
Add Filling
Place about 1 tablespoon or more of the cooled taco meat in the center of each dough rectangle. Top with half a cheese stick. Don't overfill or the dough may tear during baking.
Roll Taco Sticks
Carefully roll up each pizza stick, making sure to pinch all seams closed tightly to prevent filling from leaking out during baking. Proper sealing is crucial for containing the delicious filling.
Apply Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley. Brush this mixture generously over the tops of all the taco sticks. This adds flavor and helps achieve a golden-brown finish.
Bake
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the dough is cooked through. Serve hot with your favorite taco toppings like salsa, sour cream, or guacamole!
