Description
Flaky, buttery pie crusts filled with savory taco-seasoned beef and melted cheese — cut into adorable ghost shapes for a Halloween twist! These Ghost Taco Hand Pies are the perfect blend of festive fun and cozy comfort food, ideal for parties, dinners, or spooky movie nights.
Ingredients
2 refrigerated pie crusts, softened for 5 minutes
1 lb lean ground beef (or substitute ground turkey or plant-based crumbles)
½ cup diced onion
2 tbsp taco seasoning
¼ cup salsa or water (for simmering)
¾ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Ghost-shaped cookie cutter, about 3–4 inches
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cook filling: In a skillet, brown the ground beef and onion over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning and salsa (or water). Simmer until thickened, then let cool slightly.
Cut dough: Roll out pie crusts and use a ghost cookie cutter to make even shapes. Gather scraps, reroll, and cut again.
Assemble pies: Spoon 1 tablespoon of taco filling onto half the dough pieces. Top with a sprinkle of cheese, then cover with another ghost-shaped piece of dough.
Seal and brush: Press edges with a fork to seal, and brush tops with egg wash.
Bake: Arrange on prepared sheet and bake 10–14 minutes, or until golden and puffed.
Cool: Let cool 5 minutes before serving with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Notes
Make-ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance; refrigerate until ready to bake.
Freezer-friendly: Freeze unbaked pies; bake straight from frozen, adding 2–3 minutes to cook time.
Variations: Swap beef for shredded chicken or black beans. Try puff pastry for an extra-flaky version.
Serving Tip: Perfect with Mexican street corn salad or a side of sweet potato fries.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snack, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Ghost Taco Hand Pies, Halloween Dinner Ideas, Spooky Snacks, Halloween Party Food, Savory Hand Pies, Kid-Friendly Halloween Recipes
