Cooking On The Ranch

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Hatch Green Chile Quiche With Bacon

By 25 Comments

Hatch Green Chile Quiche is made irresistible with bacon and lots of cheese. With a flaky homemade pie crust, half and half, eggs, and just right spicy with green chile peppers, this is an easy breakfast quiche recipe that is most certainly a crowd pleaser.

If you’re looking for more easy recipes to feed a breakfast crowd, don’t miss my recipe for Overnight Breakfast Burrito Casserole.

A slice of hatch green chile bacon quiche with a deep dish pie pan with quiche and spatula

Hatch Chile Peppers, They’re An Obsession

Gentlemen…start your roasters.

Hatch Chiles are here. Each Fall, we celebrate the arrival of Hatch Chile peppers. Parking lot and roadside stands fire up their chile roasting drums and the aromas of New Mexico chiles fill the air.

We evangelize and we obsess. We talk constantly about them and we add Hatch chile peppers to almost everything.

We clear out our freezers to make room for as many packages of roasted chile peppers as we can possibly squeeze in. A Winter stash is a cache to cherish.

And one of the first things I like to is this very popular Hatch Chile Quiche with Bacon. Let’s take a look.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Hatch Chile Peppers
  • Crumbled cooked bacon
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Chopped Sweet Onion
  • Half and Half
  • Eggs

Step By Step Instructions

green chile, bacon bits and chopped onion in a pie crust for bacon chile quiche
  • Step 1: After you cook the bacon bits, place them in an unbaked pie shell along with chopped onions and chopped hatch chile peppers.
Cubed cheddar cheese and shredded cheese to make a quiche
  • Step 2: Top with your choice of cheese. Cubed cheddar and cubed Monterey Jack Cheese, or a combo of cheddar and shredded three cheese Mexican blend.
Half and Half and cheese in a pie shell for hatch chile quiche
  • Step 3: Pour in the egg and half and half and egg mixture.
Hatch chile and bacon quiche on white linens with forks
  • Step 4: Bake for 45-ish minutes at 350 degrees or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Tips For Success

  • Don’t have Hatch chile peppers? Substitute roasted poblano peppers.
  • Please make a homemade pie crust. So much tastier and more pleasing texture than store purchased. Something every home cook should learn to do.  There’s such a vast difference, you’ll wonder why you don’t make more quiche recipes.
  • Want to make this green chile quiche crustless? Just spray the deep dish pie plate with PAM and then layer in the ingredients. Bake per instructions below.

Recipe for Hatch Chile and Bacon Quiche

A slice of green chile bacon quiche on a white plate

To celebrate chile season make this Hatch Chile Bacon Quiche recipe, this cheesy green chile quiche is totally delicious. It’s a big hit for dinner or brunch.

The Hatch chile pepper flavor is the star, even beating out the bacon …if you can imagine that.

This Hatch Chile Bacon Quiche was such a treat. Cheesy, chile-y and with bacon, who can resist a slice?

More Green Chile Breakfast Recipes

And if you’re looking for more breakfast recipes, don’t miss my Breakfast Category. You’ll find lots of breakfast and brunch recipes including one of the most popular for Home Fried Potatoes with Ham.

And if you're looking to learn more about Colorado and New Mexico Chile Peppers and how to use them, don't miss my article on Chile vs Chili … Know The Difference.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

A slice of hatch green chile bacon quiche with a deep dish pie pan with quiche and spatula
Print Recipe
5 from 12 votes

Hatch Chile and Bacon Quiche

Hatch Green Chile and Bacon Quiche. A great way to showcase those Hatch chile and a wonderful Southwestern breakfast or brunch recipe.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Breakfast Recipes
Cuisine: Southwestern
Servings: 8
Calories: 347kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 Pie Crust
  • 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese small cubes
  • 1 cup Mild Cheddar Cheese small cubes
  • ½ cup Hatch chiles roasted, peeled and rough chopped. 4 – 8 chiles depending on size. Add more if you'd like more spice.
  • ¼ cup sweet onion chopped
  • 1 ¼ cup Half and Half
  • 4 Eggs
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Gently press homemade pie crust into 9-inch deep dish plate.
  • Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until brown. Drain grease and pat with paper towels to remove excess grease. Crumble bacon.
  • Sprinkle bacon, Hatch chiles onions over the pie crust. Add the cheese cubes.
  • Mix together half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Once mixed, pour mixture into crust.
  • Bake quiche for 30 – 40 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.
  • Let quiche stand for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Notes

Use 1 or 2 4-ounce cans of chopped Hatch Chile peppers from the Mexican food aisle if you don’t have fresh roasted chiles. 
If you have a kitchen scale, cube the cheese and measure out to 6 ounces. 
This recipe makes an ample amount for one deep dish pie shell. Or enough for two 9″ tart pans.
I’ve also used 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese and 1 cup of shredded Mexican cheese blend. That combination also works very well. 

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 520mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 503IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 1mg

Hatch Chile and Bacon Quiche … It’s What’s for Breakfast.

Mexican Fried Tacos (Tacos Dorados)

By 23 Comments

Crisp up your next taco night with Mexican Fried Tacos. Corn tortillas are filled with a rich and robust savory cooked ground beef, then pan fried. These crispy tacos are a unique addition to your next taco night.

Serve this with Gulf Coast Style Baked Rice or a Southwestern Salad for a balanced meal.

Authentic Mexican Fried Tacos on a white platter served with salsa and sour cream.

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

Tacos are our culinary hero. A typical Mexican dish where a tortilla is simply folded around food and eaten with your hands, tacos provide us with so much culinary inspiration that the variations seem endless.

But have you ever had Tacos Dorados? Or Fried Tacos? Tacos Dorados is a rolled or folded tortilla filled with either seasoned beef, chicken or even potatoes. The tacos are then pan fried for a wonderful crispy tacos treat.

This unique version features taco seasoned ground beef that once cooked is folded inside a corn tortilla, then fried until crispy. You’re basically frying tacos with meat inside.

But the taco filling isn’t your run of the mill ground beef taco meat. A good amount of tomato paste, some smoked paprika and red chile flakes makes for a unique, robust and rich flavored taco filling.

I guarantee you’ve never tasted anything quite like it. These crispy pan fried tacos are indulgent, crispy meaty bites of awesome.

The key for light and crispy tacos is keeping the oil at the right temperature. You’ll find more about how to do this later in this article.

The inspiration for this recipe comes from a very popular local Mexican restaurant chain. I simply couldn’t wait to recreate these Sonoran inspired tacos at home. So with lots of research, and lots of trials and tests, here’s my Fried Tacos version.

Noteworthy Ingredients

Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, mostly pantry items.

Ingredients to make Mexican fried tacos.
  • Ground Beef: Choose a lean blend. 93-7% works well here.
  • Bell Pepper: Choose any bell pepper. I like red to add some color and sweetness. A green bell pepper will bring a grassier flavor. A poblano pepper would also be a good choice here and bring a little heat.
  • Spices: The spices in the ground beef mixture for this recipe are the key to the rich and robust flavor. Mexican Oregano, Hot Smoked Paprika, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes and Garlic. If you have a supply of my Homemade Seasoning for Ground Beef Tacos, this will work well as a substitute here. Use two tablespoons and add more water at the end if needed.

Mexican Oregano is preferred for this recipe. It's peppery, grassy, earthy flavor is a good compliment for Mexican Food. If you don't have Mexican Oregano, substitute Marjoram. Known for its aroma and delicate flavor, its related to Mexican oregano and will bring a sweet undertone to any recipe.

Chef’s Secret: Tomato paste is an MVP in the kitchen. The long cooking time used to make tomato paste gives it a concentrated sweet rich flavor. Just a dollop can add a subtle burst of robust flavor and body into just about any soup or tomato based pasta sauce. Add tomato paste at the beginning of the cooking process to add another layer of flavor. It’s a brilliant little trick.

Step by Step Instructions

Browning ground beef to make Fried Tacos.
Cooking meat and vegetables to make fried tacos.
  1. Step 1: Cook the ground beef in a skillet until the pink is just starting to leave the meat. Stirring and breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon and seasoned with salt and pepper.
  2. Step 2: Add the chopped onion, and chopped bell pepper and cook stirring for two minutes. Add minced arlic and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Adding seasonings to ground beef to make fried tacos.
Seasoned ground beef to make fried tacos.
  1. Step 3:Stir in the herbs and spices. Add the tomato paste and stir well.
  2. Step 4: Stir in the water, cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes.
Warming corn tortillas to make fried tacos.
Adding seasoned meat to a corn tortilla to make fried tacos.
  1. Step 5: How To Warm Corn Tortillas: You can't just take a corn tortilla out of the package and fill it with taco ingredients. They'll be rubbery and break. You have warm the tortilla shells into a pliable taco shell. I like to use this microwave Imusa Tortilla Warmer. They work quick and they work very well. I’ve provided an Amazon link to this product. Disclaimer: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase this item, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
  2. Step 6: Place 3-4 Tablespoons of beef mixture on each warmed corn tortilla.
Folding a corn tortilla and securing with a toothpick to make fried tacos.
Pan frying ground beef tacos.

How To Fry Tacos With Meat Inside

  1. Step 7: Fold the taco shell in half over the meat mixture. Gently slide a toothpick into the open end to secure and keep the taco closed.
  2. Step 8: How To Fry Tacos: It’s very important to heat the oil to the proper temperature of 350 degrees F. Or 175 degrees C. If the oil isn’t hot enough the tortillas will soak up the oil and become soggy and undesirable. I like to heat the oil in the pan and then tip the pan so the oil pools to one side. Use an Instant Read Digital Thermometer to measure the heat. Once it reads 350 degrees you’re ready to fry the tacos. Place them in the pan and fry for 3 – 4 minutes. Then turn and cook another 3 – 4 minutes or until golden brown. Voila, crispy tacos.

How To Warm Corn Tortillas

If you don’t have a tortilla warmer like shown above, I've always found the Rick Bayless method to warm corn tortillas to work well. Drizzle about three tablespoons of water over a clean kitchen towel. Wrap your corn tortillas in the towel. Slide the package into a gallon sized plastic bag. Don't seal the bag. Microwave the tortillas at 50% power for four minutes. This creates a steamy packet. Let sit 2 -3 minutes inside package before making any taco recipe.

Questions You May Have

Can I Make Crispy Fried Tacos With Flour Tortillas?

You can. Use a smaller sized flour tortilla and find a brand that’s thinner in thickness. A thicker flour tortilla may become soggy during the frying process. I personally prefer fried tacos using corn tortillas.

Do I Have To Use Ground Beef?

You can substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork. If using chicken or turkey, make sure it’s a blend, rather than just breast meat. You’ll need a little fat.

Can I Use A Deep Fryer?

If you own a deep fryer you can most certainly use it. However, I find these pan fried tacos to be easy and hassle free.

What To Do With Leftover Taco Meat?

Here’s what I do. I heat it in the microwave and use it as a dip for tortilla chips. It makes a great light lunch.

Tips for Success

  • Don’t over fill the corn tortillas. Too much ground beef filling will cause the ingredients to spill out when frying.
  • It is very important to keep the oil at the correct temperature when frying tacos. If the oil is not hot enough, you’ll end up with oil soaked tacos that will be very unpleasant to eat. You want to keep fried tacos light and fluffy.
  • Fry the tacos in batches. Don’t over crowd the pan. Keep the tacos separated. A crowded pan will result in lowering the oil temp. Plus touching tacos will create a steaming effect that will compromise the crispy texture.
  • Always warm more corn tortillas than you’ll need. There are bound to be a couple here and there that will break or tear when trying to secure them with the toothpick.

How To Serve Fried Tacos

Toppings and sides are the fun part of serving any type of tacos. Here are some ideas.

Storage

Fried Tacos are best served and eaten as they will lose their beautiful crispy texture once they sit for awhile. However, if you want to keep any leftovers, store in the refrigerator in loosely tented foil. Reheat in a 350 degree oven or better yet, for a few minutes in an air fryer. Reheating in a microwave will soften the shells and you’ll no longer have crispy tacos.

Recipe for Ground Beef Pan Fried Tacos

A platter of fried tacos served with sour cream and salsa.

If you’re looking for a more traditional seasoned ground beef taco, don’t miss my recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning. It’s a special blend that will take those beef tacos to the next level. You can use it to season the ground beef for this recipe.

Explore More Southwestern Beef Taco Recipes

We love our tacos here on the Ranch. Here are some more taco recipes to try.

And don’t miss my Taco Category, you’ll find more recipes and the most popular taco recipe on my site for Slow Cooker Tinga de Pollo Tacos. With poblano peppers this is a lively taco filling that you’ll want to make over and over.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Fried tacos served with salsa and sour cream.
Print Recipe
4.78 from 9 votes

Authentic Mexican Fried Tacos (Tacos Dorados)

Crisp up your next taco night. Great Mexican recipe with a unique seasoning for the ground beef mixture. This is a recipe for fried tacos where seasoned and cooked ground beef are placed in tortillas, then pan fried for a wonderful crispy taco.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course Beef
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 12
Calories: 168kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Lean ground beef 93 – 7% blend works well here
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 Medium Onion chopped, about 1 cup
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped.
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano preferably Mexican Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Hot smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon Dried red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup Tomato paste
  • ⅓ Cup Water
  • 12 tortillas for frying
  • ½ Cup Neutral Oil Canola, Vegetable, peanut or Avocado oil work well here.
  • Sour cream and salsa for serving

Instructions

  • Cook the ground beef in a skillet until the pink is just starting to leave the meat. Stirring and breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon and seasoned with salt and pepper.
  • Add the chopped onion, and chopped bell pepper and cook stirring for two minutes. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the herbs and spices. Add the tomato paste and stir well. Stir in the water Cover and cook on low for 10 minutes.
  • You can't just take a corn tortilla out of the package and fill it with taco ingredients. They'll be rubbery and break. You have warm them into a pliable taco shell. Use a tortilla warmer, or the Rick Bayless microwave method: Drizzle about three tablespoons of water over a clean kitchen towel. Wrap your corn tortillas in the towel. Slide the package into a gallon sized plastic bag. Don't seal the bag. Microwave the tortillas at 50% power for four minutes. This creates a steamy packet. Let sit 2 -3 minutes inside package before making tacos.
  • Place 3-4 Tablespoons of beef mixture on each warmed and pliable corn tortilla and roll up. Secure with a wooden toothpick and fry for about three minutes in a little oil until golden. Turn the tacos over and fry for another three minutes. Move to a paper towel and cover with another paper towel while you fry the rest of the tacos.
  • Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Notes

Tips For Success: 
  • Don’t over fill the corn tortillas. Too much ground beef filling will cause the ingredients to spill out when frying.
  • It is very important to keep the oil at the correct temperature when frying tacos. If the oil is not hot enough, you’ll end up with oil soaked tacos that will be very unpleasant to eat. You want to keep fried tacos light and fluffy.
  • Fry the tacos in batches. Don’t over crowd the pan. Keep the tacos separated. A crowded pan will result in lowering the oil temp. Plus touching tacos will create a steaming effect that will compromise the crispy texture.
  • Always warm more corn tortillas than you’ll need. There are bound to be a couple here and there that will break or tear when trying to secure them with the toothpick.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 414IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

Crispy Fried Tacos … They’re what’s for Dinner.

Smoky Ground Beef Sliders with Chipotle Mayo

By 25 Comments

Smoky Ground Beef Sliders with Chipotle Mayo, your new go-to slider recipe. Beautiful little ground beef sliders studded with smoky heat flavor from chipotle peppers. Add that Chipotle Mayo and grilled pineapple and you’ve got the best slider recipe ever.

Sliders with Chipotle Mayo and pineapple.

Every summer when the grill comes out so do the hamburger patties. Entertaining is easy when you have a grill full of burgers.

Even though my favorite burger is all-American, simple with a slice of onion, a ring of tomato and yellow mustard, these little ground beef sliders make an appearance at least once or twice each season.

I found this recipe years ago over at Cookin’ Canuck. I’ve crowned the recipe “find of the century”. 🙂

Beef sliders with Smoky in flavor and packed with goodness. Topped with a ring of pineapple and you've got a treat.

You should really make time to grill up some of these little flavor packed sliders. The chipotle mayo is a wonderful compliment to the smoky cilantro-laced patties. Topped with a slice of grilled pineapple…MUWAAAA! What a treat.

Smoky sliders with Chipotle Mayonnaise. Wonderful in flavor, in every way.

Be forewarned, these little goodies do pack a some heat. I'm kind of a wuss about that, but found them to be just right. Just make sure you scrape the seeds and veins off from inside those fire-ey chipotle peppers in order to enjoy their flavor instead of the their heat.

Recipe for Smoky Ground Beef Sliders with Chipotle Mayo

I hope you give these little ground beef sliders a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.

And if you have a favorite ground beef sliders recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

More Slider Recipes

And if you’re a burger fanatic like us, don’t miss my category for Hamburger Recipes. You’ll find the most popular burger recipe on my site for Bobby Flay’s Burger with Coleslaw. And don’t miss my post which features a line up of Best Grilled Burgers recipes. I’m positive you’ll find something you’ll fall in love with.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Sliders with Chipotle Mayo and pineapple.
Print Recipe
5 from 8 votes

Smoky Sliders with Chipotle Mayo

Smoky, spicy and perfect. Beef sliders with grilled Pineapple and chipotle mayonnaise
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Course: Main Course Beef
Cuisine: Southwestern
Servings: 8
Calories: 419kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • For the sliders:
  • 1 ½ pound Ground beef about 88% lean
  • 1 Chipotle pepper seeded and minced
  • 2 teaspoons Adobo sauce from the chipotle pepper can
  • ¼ cup Cilantro chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large rings pineapple
  • 8 slider buns
  • Chipotle Mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
  • The patties:
  • n a medium bowl, combine ground meat , chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper. Mix well with a wooden spoon or your hands. Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal pieces and form each into patties that are 2 ½ to 3-inches in diameter. (Can be made ahead. Place on a baking sheet, cover, and chill. Bring the room temperature before grilling.)
  • The pineapple:
  • Place pineapple rings on the grill and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and cut each ring into quarters.
  • Chipotle Mayonnaise Recipe
  • Putting it together:
  • Place the buns cut side down on the grill. Remove when the cut side is lightly toasted. Spread a generous amount of chipotle mayonnaise on each bun.
  • Place the meat patties on the grill and cook, lid closed, 5 minutes per side, or until barely cooked through. I like a little bit of pink inside to ensure optimal juiciness.
  • Remove the patties from the grill and place one patty on the bottom half of each prepared bun. Top each patty with a piece of grilled pineapple and top with the top half of the bun. Serve.

Notes

Please refer to this recipe for Homemade Chipotle Mayonnaise.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 760mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 3mg

Smoky Chipotle Sliders … They’re what’s for dinner.

Cream Cheese Churros Cheesecake Bars

By 18 Comments

Churros Cheesecake Bars. With a Shortbread Crust, a layer of Cheesecake and a Cinnamon Sugar Topping, These Mexican Cheesecake Bars are fab and I mean f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s

Churros Cheesecake Bars, cinnamon, cream cheese, dessert bars.

Not a lot of desserts come out of this meat and potato kitchen here on the Ranch. But due to a planned 4th of July kabob-athon party that included two of my favorite six and eight year old boys, I thought it wise to have a kid type dessert on the menu.

I’ve had this recipe pinned to make for quite some time, compliments of Holly over at A Baker’s House. Have you ever paid her blog a visit? Holly lives right here in Denver and is a very confident baker. Great site that would behoove you to subscribe to. And thank you Holly for this recipe.

With my love for Mexican food, you bet I’ve had my share of bites of Churros. A fried dough pastry with cinnamon and sugar which is just a little too sweet for my taste.

But take that flavor combination and add cream cheese and a shortcake crust and WOW. You’ve got a churros cheesecake dessert. And it brought back memories of all that cinnamon toast that I gobbled down as a kid.

Churros Cheesecake Bars. Super easy, super addictive and very kid friendly.

I also made these in anticipation to our recent trip to the Steamboat Springs area. I thought I’d save out a couple of these for the road.

These were a big hit! The shortbread crust is a perfect to tame the sweetness of the other ingredients. They are creamy, super easy and super addictive.

Recipe For Churros Cheesecake Bars

I hope you give these Churros Cheesecake Bars a try and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with this recipe.

And if you have a favorite churros cheesecake style recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

More Dessert Bar Recipes

  • Orange Slice Bars, An old fashioned recipe using orange slice candy wedges. If you're a fan of orange slice candies, you're going to go crazy over these chewy bars.
  • Cherry Delight: An easy and popular cream cheese cherry dessert.
  • Orange Chile Brownies, A super easy Mexican brownie recipe using a box mix, then adding some chili spice and citrus oil. The result is a brownie that's over the top delicious.

And if you’re looking for more dessert recipes, don’t miss my Dessert Category. You’ll find lots of recipes to satisfy that sweet tooth, including the most popular dessert recipe on my site for Cream Cheese Flan Recipe.  Another wonderful Mexican dessert.

Churros Cheesecake Bars, a wonderful creamy cinnamon treat on a shortbread crust. A great dessert recipe for a Mexican meal.
Print Recipe
5 from 15 votes

Churros Cheesecake Bars

These Churros Cheesecake Bars are Killer. Easy and addicting, a great kid dessert.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 36
Calories: 190kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • Base:
  • 1 ½ cups butter
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • Cheesecake:
  • 16 ounces cream cheese softened, 2-8 ounce packages
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup sugar
  • Cinnamon Sugar:
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9 by 13 pan with parchment.
  • In a food processor combine the 1 ½ cups butter, 2 ½ cups flower, 1 cup sugar and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch. Pulse until the dough comes together nearly in a ball. Press the dough into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minute or until the edges just begin to brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
  • Mix the cinnamon sugar in a small bowl. Use about half of the mixture to top the shortbread. The shortbread will not be cooled yet– that is fine and even helpful because the cinnamon sugar layer will melt into it and adhere more easily. Set the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture aside.
  • Now create the cheesecake layer: with an electric mixer or a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth then add in the egg and vanilla. Make sure your egg is at room temperature before adding or else your mixture will break apart and appear to curdle. Pour the smooth cheesecake mixture into the pan. It may be easier to scoop out the mixture and to place small lumps of it over the pan then use a spatula to even out the layer. Top the bars with the remaining cinnamon sugar to completely cover the cheesecake layer.
  • Bake at 325 for 35-40 minutes. Let cool completely then refrigerate before cutting and serving.

Notes

As with any cheesecake recipe, these bars can be difficult to slice. For a clean slice,  Keep that knife clean for each slice: fill a tall container with hot tap water deep enough to cover the blade of your knife.
Dip the knife into the hot water, then wipe it on a clean towel before making every cut.  The constant dipping and cleaning will prevent chunks of cake from the previous slice from depositing on top of the next slice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1square | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 412IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Churros Cheesecake Bars … They’re what’s for Dessert.

Travel Colorado: Summer Vacation Steamboat Springs

By 3 Comments

Looking for things to do around Steamboat Springs? Take a look at our three night trip from Denver to the Steamboat Springs area. A short vacation to Steamboat Springs must go on your “to do” list.

Bear sighting at Glen Eden Resort near Steamboat Springs.

We’ve just returned from a three day trip to north central Colorado. We celebrated the 4th here in Highlands Ranch with an afternoon at the pool and a grilling extravaganza that we called the kabob-athon. Chicken, beef, shrimp and vegetable kabobs were all wonderful and I plan to post recipes soon. Don’t miss the Churros Cheesecake Bars … ohmy.

I’m posting this shot of the bear that was at our cabin as the headliner shot. Exhilarating for me as it was my first bear sighting – ever. I’ve lived in Colorado for nearly 40 years, camped and explored our wilderness areas ad nauseam, been to Yellowstone twice and not once have spotted a bear. This shot was taken moments before he swatted that grill to the ground. We were told mom was next to our car, we didn’t see her. I’d call this guy a “teenager” in size.

Day One, Denver to Steamboat Springs

vacation to steamboat springs

We left bright and early on the 5th, our destination, Clark, Colorado. This area one of our favorite areas in Colorado. It’s far enough from Denver that you escape most of the rat race, pristine with lush green valleys surrounded by mountains. We rented a cabin along the Elk River. The location has it all, rivers, mountains, lakes, easy hiking trails along with a cozy cabin where we felt very comfortable. And our dogs were welcome. Perfect.

Arapaho-wildlife-refuge-walden-colorado

Bird Watching At Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

On our way to our destination, we took a little side trip to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge outside Walden, Colorado. The refuge supports diverse wildlife habitats, including sagebrush, grassland meadows, willow riparian areas and wetlands. 23,464 acres, the refuge was established in 1967 primarily to provide suitable nesting habitat for migratory birds.

Barn-Arapaho-National-Wildlife-refuge

I love barns, so couldn’t resist taking a photo of this one that sits on the refuge. Googling told me this is the Case Barn. The area was settled by Owen Case in 1889. He was a school teacher and a rancher. There is little information about the construction of the barn. The USFWS surveyed the barn in 1991 and the recorder estimated it was built around 1948. The barn is not open to the public.

Cabins Around Steamboat Springs, Clark Colorado

Here’s where my photo taking turns lame. We stayed at Glen Eden Resort, Clark, Colorado.  I had to snatch this photo off the internet. I took not one photo of our cabin complex. Cabins were close to the river, clean, well equipped and we loved it there.

Steamboat Lake Colorado.

Steamboat Lake

Our cabin was an easy drive to popular and pristine Steamboat Lake. It’s a Colorado State Park located in Routt County 27 miles north of Steamboat Springs. The 2,820-acre park was established 1967 and includes a 1,101 acre reservoir.

barn-steamboat-lake-colorado. Fetcher barn at Steamboat Lake.

Another barn to photograph. The Fetcher Barn was constructed in 1929 by J.T. Kelton, who moved his family to Clark in 1927. He served as County Sheriff to supplement the family income during the depression. The Fetcher family moved to Clark from Pennsylvania and purchased the ranch in 1949. The barn sits on the west side of Steamboat Lake.

Best picnic spot near Steamboat Lake. Hahns peak picnic area.

Hahn’s Peak Lake and Campground

Time for a picnic lunch, we moseyed over to Hahns Peak Lake and Campground. Hahns Peak Lake is a small, quiet lake, especially when compared to nearby Steamboat Lake. It's tucked away, and fishing, camping and hiking are the main attractions. Featuring a scenic picnic area, the best spot, right on the water, was taken by a family fishing, and our picnic table is just above. These spots are near campsite #7. The 160-acre lake sits at 8,500 feet and is surrounded by wilderness. The 10,774-foot Hahns Peak adds to the scenery.

Pearl Lake

Pearl Lake is also a short trip from Clark. A beautiful little lake and State Park that my friend Teri describes as “heaven.” Pearl Lake is named for M. Pearl Hartt, the wife of pioneer sheep rancher, John Kelly Hartt.

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I love this photo of this young man who spent some time laying on the end of the dock just staring down at the water. Summer!

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There’s a great trail to hike at Pearl Lake. Easy, lush and untouched.  It’s a short walk to the dam for a bit of exercise.

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This was little Remy’s first ever wilderness hike. He made sure we had no unexpected chipmunk attacks.

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Almost back to the parking lot, I snapped this shot of people enjoying the beautiful water. Unpolluted and quiet with great fishing and wakeless only boating, it's what a mountain lake should be.

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On the road leading out of the park, I snapped this shot of Hahns Peak.

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Fish Creek Falls, Easy Day Hike Steamboat Springs

Just East of Steamboat Springs is Fish Creek Falls.  If you’re in the area, I highly recommend this side trip. Clear and fresh high alpine water roars down Fish Creek Canyon, spilling over the magnificent 280-foot Fish Creek Falls. It’s one of the most popular destinations around Steamboat Springs. Get there early…by the time we left at 10:00 the parking lot was full and the road leading into the site filling up with cars.

Hiking the trail at Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs Colorado

The hike and trails to the falls are easy and we felt as if we were in a rain forest. So lush with ferns, aspen, oak and vegetation.

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I had the opportunity to snap this shot of a Cordilleran Flycatcher.

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Stagecoach Reservoir, Easy side Trip, Steamboat Springs

After our trip to the Falls, we headed over the Stagecoach Reservoir.  17 miles South of Steamboat and a relaxing drive,  Stagecoach State Park sets the stage for great recreation in the Yampa Valley. Vistas and views are backdrops to the 820-acre reservoir providing renown lake fishing.

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A shot of one of the interesting formations that tower over Stagecoach Lake.

For the drive home, we chose a different route back to Denver. This route heads over Rabbit Ear’s Pass then South to Kremmling, then east to Granby. I highly recommend the variation in routes as they both offer stunning scenery.

Steamboat Springs Vacation

If you’re planning a Summer vacation to Steamboat Springs, don’t miss these wonderful lakes near town.  It’s what to do around Steamboat Springs.