The “Guaranteed Touchdown” Appetizer: The Easiest Spicy Queso Wonton Cups!

What is the anatomy of a truly perfect party snack? It has to be easy to eat with one hand, absolutely bursting with incredible flavor, and have a satisfyingly addictive, crunchy texture. It is the kind of bite-sized appetizer that makes your guests’ eyes light up with delight.

Now, imagine a crispy, golden, and perfectly bite-sized wonton cup, filled with rich, savory, taco-seasoned ground beef. Picture that perfect little cup being generously topped with a warm, spicy, and gloriously gooey queso cheese sauce. It is literally everything you could ever want in a single, perfect bite.

Today, we are making these amazing Spicy Queso Wonton Cups. They are an incredibly fun and delicious appetizer that is perfect for any game day, party, or casual get-together. Get ready to discover your new signature party snack.

The Ultimate Game Day Snack: Crispy Wonton Cups

These Crispy Wonton Cups are a brilliant and wonderfully versatile base for all kinds of delicious appetizers. Simple wonton wrappers are gently pressed into a mini muffin tin and then baked until they are golden and unbelievably crunchy, creating the perfect edible vessel. They are a fantastic, bite-sized, and less-messy alternative to traditional tortilla chips or taco shells.

A Perfect Easy Ground Beef Recipe for Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers

You will find that this is a fantastic easy ground beef recipe. The simple, taco-seasoned beef filling is both incredibly quick to make and absolutely packed with a deep, savory flavour. This dish is also one of the most crowd-pleasing appetizers you can possibly make, as the fun, bite-sized format is a guaranteed hit with guests of all ages at any party.

Your Guide: How Do You Make Wonton Cups Not Soggy?

For anyone wondering how to make wonton cups not soggy, the most important secret is to pre-bake them in a mini muffin tin before you add any of your fillings. You will gently press the wonton wrappers into the cups of the tin and bake them for just a few minutes until they are golden brown and completely crisp. This crucial step ensures that your little cups will hold their wonderful, crunchy texture, even when you add the warm, savory beef and queso on top.

Why You’ll Love These Spicy Queso Wonton Cups

You are going to love this recipe because it has all the delicious, savory, and cheesy flavors of a loaded taco, but in a fun, bite-sized, and easy-to-eat format. You’ll also adore how incredibly simple this appetizer is to assemble, and how impressive it looks on a party platter. Plus, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will be the very first thing to disappear at your next party or game day gathering.

Nutritional Benefits

This fun appetizer is a great source of protein from the ground beef and cheese, which helps to make it a more satisfying and filling snack for your guests. By baking the wonton cups in the oven instead of deep-frying them, you are creating a much lighter and less greasy result. Making your own simple queso at home also allows you to have complete control over the ingredients and can avoid the artificial additives found in some store-bought cheese sauces.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create the ultimate party snack that will have everyone reaching for more? This detailed guide will walk you through every simple step, from creating the crispy wonton cups to making the flavour-packed filling and the gooey queso topping. Get ready to become a party food legend with this guaranteed touchdown of a recipe.

An easy, fun, and flavour-packed recipe for Spicy Queso Wonton Cups. These perfect bite-sized snacks feature crispy baked wonton cups filled with savory, taco-seasoned ground beef and topped with a simple, gooey, and spicy queso cheese sauce. This is the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer for a Super Bowl party, game day, or any casual get-together.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes | Yield: 24 wonton cups | Category: Appetizer, Snack | Method: Baking, Sautéing | Cuisine: Tex-Mex, American | Diet: N/A

Essential Ingredients for Spicy Queso Wonton Cups

This ultimate game day appetizer comes together with a handful of simple and delicious ingredients.

• Wonton Wrappers: 24 square wonton wrappers
• Ground Beef: 1 lb (450g) of lean ground beef
• Taco Seasoning: 1 packet (1 oz / 30g) of your favorite taco seasoning
• For the Spicy Queso:
  • 8 oz (225g) of Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 1 can (10 oz / 280g) of diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
• Garnish: Sliced jalapeños or chopped cilantro (optional)

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your wonton cups are a spectacular success.

• The Wonton Wrappers: You can find these thin sheets of dough in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, often near the tofu or fresh pasta. They are the secret to creating a wonderfully light, crispy, and perfectly bite-sized cup for our delicious filling.
• The Ground Beef: For the best result, it is a good idea to use a lean ground beef, such as a 90/10 blend. This will give you a rich, savory flavour without creating too much excess grease in your filling. You can also easily substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
• The Spicy Queso: The key to an incredibly easy and foolproof queso with a perfectly smooth and creamy texture is to use a processed cheese like Velveeta. It melts beautifully without breaking or becoming oily. The can of diced tomatoes with green chilies adds a wonderful, zesty flavour and a gentle, spicy kick to the cheese sauce.

How to Make Spicy Queso Wonton Cups

Let’s walk through the simple steps to assemble and bake this incredibly fun and delicious party snack.

• Step 1: Create the Crispy Wonton Cups. First, preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Gently press one wonton wrapper into each cup of a 24-cup mini muffin tin. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the wrappers are crispy.
• Step 2: Prepare the Taco Meat. While the wonton cups are baking, you can prepare your filling. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned, crumbling it with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
• Step 3: Season the Filling. Stir the packet of taco seasoning and about ¼ cup of water into the cooked ground beef. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
• Step 4: Make the Easy Spicy Queso. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine the cubed Velveeta cheese and the entire can of undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the cheese is completely melted and the queso is smooth and creamy.
• Step 5: Assemble the Wonton Cups. Once the wonton cups are baked and crispy, carefully remove them from the muffin tin and arrange them on a serving platter. Spoon a small amount of the prepared taco meat into each crispy wonton cup.
• Step 6: Top and Serve. Drizzle a generous spoonful of the warm, spicy queso over the top of the meat in each wonton cup. Garnish with some sliced jalapeños or fresh cilantro if desired, and serve immediately.

Storage Options

These spicy queso wonton cups are at their absolute best when they are served fresh, while the wonton cups are crispy and the queso is warm and gooey. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Please be aware that the wonton cups will become soft as they sit with the filling.

Variations and Substitutions

This fun and easy recipe is a wonderful template that you can easily adapt to your tastes. You can substitute the ground beef with ground chicken, turkey, or even a spicy chorizo for a different flavour. For a vegetarian version, you could fill the cups with a mixture of seasoned black beans and corn. You can also get creative with your toppings by adding a small dollop of sour cream, some guacamole, or some sliced black olives to each cup.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the absolute crispiest wonton cups, be sure to pre-bake them until they are a nice golden brown before you add any of the filling. To save time on party day, you can prepare both the taco meat and the spicy queso ahead of time. You would then just need to reheat the fillings and assemble the cups right before your guests arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make the wonton cups ahead of time? Yes, absolutely! You can bake the empty wonton cups a day or two in advance. Just let them cool completely and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you are ready to fill and serve them.
2. My wonton cups are breaking when I try to get them out of the muffin tin. What can I do? The baked wonton cups can be a little delicate. It is a great idea to lightly spray your mini muffin tin with a little bit of non-stick cooking spray before you press the wrappers in. This will help them to release much more easily after they are baked.
3. Can I use a different kind of cheese for the queso? While Velveeta provides the most classic, smooth, and stable result, you could also make a queso with a different cheese. You would need to create a simple roux with butter and flour, then slowly whisk in milk and shredded cheese, like cheddar or Monterey Jack, until you have a smooth sauce.
4. How can I make this appetizer even faster? To make this recipe even quicker, you could use a pre-cooked, seasoned taco meat that is available in some grocery stores. You could also use a good quality, store-bought jar of queso as a shortcut instead of making your own.
5. What is the best way to serve these for a large party? For a large crowd, it can be fun to set up a “build-your-own” wonton cup bar! You can set out the crispy wonton cups, the warm taco meat, the warm queso, and a variety of other fun toppings like sour cream, jalapeños, and salsa, and let your guests assemble their own perfect bites.

Conclusion

These Spicy Queso Wonton Cups are the ultimate easy, fun, and delicious appetizer for your next game day or party. It’s a dish that takes all the beloved, classic flavours of a taco and transforms them into a perfect, bite-sized, and crowd-pleasing snack. It’s a guaranteed touchdown of a recipe that will have everyone at your party reaching for more. This is one of those Super Bowl Appetizer Recipes you will make every year. If you love this easy and delicious party food, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite appetizer board on Pinterest!