Beef and Cheese Tortilla Towers
  • 25 to 30 minutes
  • Makes 4 servings
  • Entrée

Beef and Cheese Tortilla Towers

Piled high and chock-full of nutrients, this tower of beef and cheesy tortillas  with a fresh fruit salsa is sure to please everyone in the family.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ground Beef (95% lean)
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) thick-and-chunky salsa
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 7 small whole wheat tortillas (6 to 7-inch diameter)
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
  • Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Cantaloupe-Mango Salsa:
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped ripe mango
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped cantaloupe
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings. Stir in salsa, beans and cumin. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through and most of liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.

    Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.

  2. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place 2 tortillas in single layer on pan. Spoon generous 1/2 cup beef mixture on each tortilla; sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cheese. Repeat layering of tortillas, beef mixture and cheese twice. Sprinkle remaining cheese over tops of tortilla towers. Cut 8 small stars from remaining tortilla with cookie cutter; arrange on towers. Bake in 350°F oven 12 to 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese melts.

  3. Meanwhile, combine salsa ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.

  4. Cut each tortilla tower into 4 wedges. Garnish with cilantro, if desired. Serve with fruit salsa.

  • Test Kitchen Tips Use a potato masher to break up Ground Beef into small crumbles while browning.