Cheesy Taco Bombs in the Air Fryer – Crunchy, Cheesy, Game Day Favorite

Are you searching for the perfect family dinner, snack for game day, or appetizer to serve to guests? Then, these Cheesy Taco Bombs in the Air Fryer should be your go-to choice. They contain plenty of seasoned beef, melted cheese, and crunch, all wrapped in a homemade dough.

On my first attempt to make taco bombs, I over-stuffed them. I thought more filling – tastier tacos. Of course, half of the dough bags opened up during cooking and spilled melted cheese. Today, I know the secret is in using appropriate portions of the filling.

These crispy bombs in the air fryer have plenty of cheesy flavors, and it is really simple to prepare them.

Ingredients

For Taco Meat

• Oil – 1 tbsp (15g)
• White onion – 1/2 cup (75g), diced
• Ground beef – 2 lbs (907g)
• Garlic powder – 2 tsp (6g)
• Onion powder – 1 tsp (3g)
• Dried oregano – 1 tsp (1g)
• Ground cumin – 1 tsp (2g)
• Chili powder – 1 tsp (3g)
• Paprika – 1 tsp (2g)
• Cayenne pepper – 1 tsp (2g)
• Black pepper – 1 tsp (2g)
• Salt – to taste
• All-purpose flour – 2 tbsp (16g)
• Cream cheese – 2 oz (57g)
• Sour cream – 1/4 cup (60g)
• Salsa – 1/3 cup (80g)
• Shredded cheese – 1/2 cup (56g)

With the help of cream cheese, you will achieve a smooth, creamy filling that is easier to stuff in dough bags.

For Dough

• All-purpose flour – 3 ¾ cups (469g)
• Baking powder – 4 tsp (16g)
• Salt – 1 ¼ tsp (7g)
• Sugar – 1 tbsp (12g)
• Butter – 12 tbsp (170g), cold
• Water – 1 ¼ cups (300g), cold

Working with cold butter leads to the formation of many layers in the dough.

For Filling and Topping

• Shredded cheese – 120g, additional amount
• Nacho cheese sauce – 120g, additional amount
• Fritos corn chips, crushed – 50g
• Butter – 2 tbsp (28g), melted
• Garlic salt – ½ tsp (2g)

For Serving

• Guacamole
• Sour cream
• Salsa

Make the Filling

Place a large skillet over high heat. Add oil to heat it up, then add diced onion.

Then, add ground beef and seasonings, and break them up. While doing this, you will notice fragrances of cumin, chili powder, garlic, and paprika filling the air. This is how you can track the process and know that everything is going in the right direction.

Cook for 7 minutes, or until all beef pieces get browned.

Reduce heat to medium and start moving the beef aside so grease accumulates in the middle of the skillet.

Sprinkle with flour and mix it well with the beef.

This ingredient will absorb moisture, which will lead to the formation of a thick filling.

Pro Tip: Always pre-cook flour for 1 minute to remove raw flour taste.

Add cream cheese to melt it in the beef mixture

Once melted, add sour cream, salsa, and shredded cheese.

A creamy filling, which stretches slightly and does not pour off the spoon, is considered ready.

Turn off the heat and leave the filling to cool. You do not want warm filling inside the dough because it is harder to seal the dough.

Pro Tip: It is wise to transfer the filling onto a plate to cool faster, thus saving 15 minutes.

Preparation of Dough

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Now, add butter to the mixture and work it in using your hands until fine crumbs form.

You will see that there are tiny pieces of butter. These pieces guarantee a good result after kneading.

Now, pour in cold water to obtain a homogeneous mass. Mix well and knead for 3 to 5 minutes.

After that, you will receive a soft dough, which does not stick to your hands.

Pro Tip: After making dough, let it rest.

Divide Dough

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).

Divide dough into 10 or 12 portions.

To receive equal balls of dough, weigh them. Each piece should have approximately 86 g.

Form balls and leave under cover.

Leaving dough uncovered can dry out its surface.

Pro Tip: Work with dough at room temperature. In case the temperature is high, you can cover the dough balls with a moist cloth.

Preparing Filling

Take one dough ball and flatten it with your hands.

Spread a little layer of cheese on it.

Then, add a scoop of beef filling on top.

Sprinkle some nacho cheese sauce and a few pieces of crushed Fritos on the filling.

This combination is amazing since it is creamy cheese combined with crunchy chips.

Gently bring the edges together to form a ring.

Pull corners and continue bringing dough edges to close the filling in.

Finally, flip the dough ball and roll it on the countertop to flatten the bottom part.

Repeat this procedure for other dough balls.

Cooking Process

Place dough balls with fillings in the air fryer basket.

Drizzle with melted butter, which contains garlic salt.

As a result, bombs will have crispy and golden-colored crusts.

Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Cook for 12 to 15 minutes.

At the end, bombs will have a deep golden color and will be flaky and juicy.

Pro Tip: Check bombs at the 10th minute of cooking. Cooking time may be different for various air fryers.

Serve and Enjoy

Leave bombs in an oven for several minutes to cool.

Each bomb should be split with the appearance of melted cheese.

Serve bombs with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or whatever you choose.

These bombs are best served hot and crispy right after they are fried.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Overfilling Dough Bags

• The mistake: Adding too much filling.
• The reason: More filling is better.
• How to avoid this: Ensure that there is enough dough around filling.

Using Hot Filling

• The mistake: Stuffing dough bags right after cooking.
• The reason: Patience is not my virtue.
• How to avoid this: Wait until filling is completely cool.

Missing Flour from Filling

• The mistake: Not adding flour in beef mixture.
• The reason: It seems unnecessary.
• How to avoid this: This ingredient will contribute to thickening the filling.

Under-Kneaded Dough

• The mistake: Under-kneaded dough.
• The reason: It looks like the dough is ready.
• How to avoid this: Knead dough until smooth and soft.

Crowded Air Fryer

• The mistake: Sticking bombs one to another.
• The reason: This will save me lots of time.
• How to avoid this: Leave space around bombs to promote proper air circulation.

Ideas for Changing Recipe

Chicken Taco Bombs

Instead of beef, use shredded chicken with taco seasoning. It will give bombs a little bit different taste.

Spicy Pepper Flavored Bombs

To create a spicy flavor, add diced jalapeño peppers and pepper jack cheese to the filling.

Easy Bombs Without Homemade Dough

It is possible to make bombs using refrigerated biscuit dough.

How to Store and Serve

Leftovers must be stored for up to 2 hours at room temperature.

If you want to store leftovers for a longer period, it is necessary to place bombs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing bombs is also possible. However, you should cool bombs completely and then freeze them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

You should warm them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 4 to 6 minutes.

I suggest storing bombs in the refrigerator. They are best enjoyed hot with guacamole and sour cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make bombs in advance?

Yes. You can assemble bombs and keep them refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.

Is it okay to use dough bags bought in stores?

Certainly. Refrigerated biscuit dough is a great alternative.

Why do my bombs open?

There was probably too much filling, or the dough did not adhere strongly. Seal bombs well by pinching.

Can I freeze bombs before cooking?

Yes. Just place bombs on a baking sheet in the freezer and then freeze them in a bag. After that, bake bombs straight from the freezer and cook for a couple more minutes.

Which cheese melts well?

Cheese that melts nicely includes cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mexican, pepper jack, and Colby jack.