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Air Fryer Taco Pockets

Air Fryer Taco Pockets are made from tender, fluffy crescent roll dough stuffed with seasoned ground beef, corn, salsa, onion, tomato, and cheese.

Taco pocket being picked up.


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I love easy recipes to serve on taco days that aren't necessarily the standard tacos. Add these taco pockets, my Loaded Taco Dip, and my Crescent Roll Taco Bake recipe to your taco rotation for dinner and your family will thank you.

What is an air fryer

An air fryer is a countertop convection oven. I have a Corsi and I love it! It circulates hot air at a high speed producing a crips brown product. Great for quick and easy dinners or simply reheating leftover Skillet Pizza, and Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings.

Why these taco pockets work

These easy Taco Pockets are perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a fast dinner. They're ready in only 35 minutes. 

Using the Air Fryer leaves the oven and stovetop free for other dishes and still offers a way to crisp up those delicious pockets and get them that beautiful golden brown color. These are like hot pockets but with a fun twist!

Simple Ingredients

All the ingredients needed for taco pockets.,
  • Ground beef: Ground chicken or ground turkey will also work.
  • Onion: Any color works
  • Corn: Fresh or frozen
  • Salsa: I prefer jarred salsa because it has a thicker consistency.
  • Spices: Chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, Paprika
  • Cheese: Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Mexican cheese blend, or other shredded cheese blend you prefer.
  • Refrigerated crescent sheet: You can also use crescent roll dough, you'll just need to pinch the seams together.
  • Cooking spray: This is needed to help the taco pockets brown up nicely in the air fryer.

How to make taco pockets

Taco filling cooked in a skillet then scoops placed into pieces of crescent roll dough.
  • Step 1: Cook beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until soft. Add corn, some of the salsa, and spices, and stir it all together.
  • Step 2: Carefully unroll the crescent roll sheet, pinch any seams if you are not using the full sheet.
  • Step 3: Cut the dough into 4 pieces. 
  • Step 4: Add some of the beef mixture to each piece of dough. 
Taco filling placed onto slices of crescent roll dough rolled into balls and placed into the air fryer and fried.
  • Step 5: Sprinkle cheese over each pocket. 
  • Step 6: Working one at a time, pull up the corners and edges and twist them together. Repeat until all are sealed up.
  • Step 7: Spray your Air Fryer basket with nonstick spray place each pocket in the basket and spray the top of each pocket.
  • Step 8: Air fry until golden brown. 
Two taco pockets on a plate.

Recipe Tips

  • Instead of individual spices, you can use a package of taco seasoning or some of my homemade taco seasoning
  • Let the meat cool down a bit before adding it to the crescent dough.
  • Any leftover taco meat can be stored in a container to use for regular tacos or in other Mexican recipes later. 
  • This recipe is easy to increase if feeding a large family or a large crowd. But you'll need to work in batches because you don't want to overcrowd the Air Fryer basket. It may be better to bake in the oven on a large baking sheet for a quick meal. 

Recipe Faq's

What do you serve with these pockets?

When serving these pockets onย taco night make sure to bring out the chopped or shredded lettuce, tomato,ย sour cream, salsa, jalapeno, and cilantro. You can add any otherย taco fillings orย favorite toppings
that yourย whole family enjoys. Don't forget theย hot sauce!ย 

Can I bake these in the oven?

Yes, if you prefer to make this in the oven over the Air Fryer, assemble as you would in this recipe and then bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes, or untilย crescent dough pockets areย golden brown.
.ย 

What else can I add to these pockets?

Try adding some dicedย green pepper, cookedย black beans orย refried beans, and rice.ย  You could serve beef and my Mexican Rice alongside yourย beef taco pockets.ย 

Can these be frozen?

Yes bake them as directed, let them cool completely and wrap each pocket in plastic wrap, and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat.

 

Close up of air fryer taco pocket.

Air Fryer Taco Pockets

5 from 2 votes
Written By: Wendie
Air Fryer Taco Pockets are made from tender, fluffy crescent roll dough stuffed with seasoned ground beef, corn, salsa, onion, lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 Pockets
Calories 532

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 cup corn fresh, or frozen
  • 1 cup black beans drained
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2-8 ounce tube refrigerated crescent sheet
  • 1 1/2 cups cheese
  • Non stick cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Cook the hamburger in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook till the hamburger is totally cooked.
  • Add the chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, and stir, then add in the corn, beans and salsa and mix until combined. Let this cool to lukewarm.
  • Unroll the crescent sheet (if using the crescent rolls, pinch all seams closed well).
  • Cut each sheet in fourths.
  • Place a couple of tablespoons in the center of each piece evenly. Sprinkle with cheese onto each piece.
  • Pull up the corners and edges and twist them together.
  • Preheat the air fryer.
  • Spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the pockets in the air fryer basket and place the basket in the air fryer. Spray the top of each pocket with cooking spray. this helps them brown.
  • Set the air fryer temperature to 300ยฐ and bake for 12-15 minutes.
  • Use a spatula to remove the hot taco pockets from the air fryer.
  • Serve with chopped lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, jalapeno slices and cilantro.

Video

Notes

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of ground beef.
You can substitute 1 pkg of store bought or my homemade taco seasoning in place of the spices.
If using crescent rolls make sure you pinch the seams really well.
To Bake: Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
To Freeze: Fry them as directed, let them cool completely and wrap each pocket in plastic wrap, and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pocketCalories: 532kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 27gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 959mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11g
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!
Course Air Fryer, Entrees
Cuisine Mexican
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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