Description
These Spicy Sausage & Cheese Tarts are a perfect savory appetizer combining flavorful cooked sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, and creamy ranch dressing, all nestled in crispy phyllo tart shells. Quick to prepare and baked to melty perfection, they make a crowd-pleasing finger food for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground sausage
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (8 oz) bottled ranch dressing
- 5 (15-count) frozen phyllo tart shells
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ºF to ensure it’s ready for baking the tarts evenly.
- Cook Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground sausage until it is fully browned and no longer pink inside. Drain off any excess fat to keep the tarts from being greasy.
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, shredded cheddar cheese, and the ranch dressing thoroughly so the flavors meld well.
- Fill Tart Shells: Spoon the sausage mixture evenly into each of the frozen phyllo tart shells. At this stage, you can freeze the filled tart shells if desired for later baking.
- Bake: Place the filled tart shells on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the filling is heated through. If baking from frozen, increase the baking time by 2-3 minutes to ensure thorough cooking.
Notes
- Use spicy sausage if you want to add extra heat to the tarts.
- Make sure to drain the sausage fat well to avoid soggy tart shells.
- Phyllo tart shells can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores; handle carefully as they are delicate.
- You can prepare and freeze the filled tarts ahead of time, then bake them directly from frozen with a slightly longer bake time.
- Serve warm for best flavor and texture.
