Homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch (Taco Bell Copycat)

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 packet Taco Bell Original Taco Seasoning
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 2 large flatbreads
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Dash of cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. In a large pan, brown the ground beef until cooked through, breaking it up with a potato masher for a fine consistency.
2. Drain excess fat from the beef.
3. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry. Set aside.
4. Add Taco Bell taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of water to the browned beef. Stir to combine.
5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until thickened.
6. While the beef simmers, prepare the spicy ranch: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, hot sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Whisk until smooth.
7. Shred cheddar and pepper jack cheese.
8. Shred lettuce very thinly.
9. Place a flatbread on a microwave-safe plate, top with shredded cheeses, and microwave until the cheese is melted.
10. Place a hard shell taco in the middle of the melted cheese on the flatbread and fold the flatbread over the taco to seal it with the cheese.
11. Fill the taco with the seasoned ground beef.
12. Top with spicy ranch, shredded lettuce, and more cheese.
13. Repeat for the second gordita.
14. Enjoy!