Description
Delicious handheld taco filling wrapped in flaky dough, perfect for Halloween parties or cozy snacks.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Dough and Filling
- 2 crusts Pie dough or refrigerated pie crusts (Two crusts usually makes about 8 to 10 ghosts.)
- 1 pound Ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 packet Taco seasoning (Store-bought or homemade.)
- 1 medium Onion, finely chopped (Optional but adds great flavor.)
- 2-3 spoons Salsa or diced tomatoes (For moisture and flavor.)
- 1 cup Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend) (For filling.)
- as needed Salt and pepper (To taste.)
- 1 large Egg (For egg wash (or a splash of milk if you do not want to use egg).)
- Black olives, peppercorns, or extra dough (For ghost face decoration.)
Instructions
Prepare the Filling
- Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium heat. If using onion, add it to cook with the meat.
- Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Add the taco seasoning and water as instructed on the packet, and stir in salsa. Simmer until thick.
- Let the taco filling cool for about 10 minutes.
Shape the Hand Pies
- Roll out the pie dough and cut out ghost shapes.
- Place half of the ghost shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add a small mound of taco filling and sprinkle cheese on top without overfilling.
Seal and Decorate
- Brush water or egg wash around the edge of the bottom ghost shape.
- Place the top ghost shape over it and press to seal. Use a fork to crimp the edges.
- Add black olives for eyes and poke holes for a mouth if desired.
Bake the Hand Pies
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush tops lightly with egg wash and cut steam slits.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
These can be prepped ahead of time. Assemble and refrigerate before baking for best results. Variations for filling include vegetarian options like lentils or sweet potatoes.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Cuisine: American, Mexican
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15