Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos Recipe (Copycat)

If you’ve visited Applebee’s recently, you’ve likely seen their hot new appetizer creation taking social media by storm: the Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos. Combining savory bacon cheeseburger flavors with crunchy Asian wonton shells, this copycat recipe delivers all the cheesy, bacon-packed goodness right in your home kitchen in under 30 minutes.

What Is Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos?

Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos are a viral fusion appetizer introduced to expand Applebee’s famous wonton taco line. Built on a foundation of crispy, golden-baked wonton wrappers shaped like mini taco shells, each taco is packed with seasoned ground beef, melted sharp cheddar cheese, and smoky crumbled bacon. They are finished with tangy diced dill pickles and a signature drizzle of spicy honey mustard sauce.

Similar to our popular A&W Chili Dogs Recipe, this copycat recipe captures iconic restaurant comfort food in an easy homemade format that is perfect for game nights, parties, or quick weeknight dinners.

Why This Copycat Recipe Tastes Like the Original

Recreating restaurant appetizers at home can be tricky, but this recipe nails the exact flavor profile of Applebee’s menu addition for several key reasons:

• Ultra-Crispy Wonton Shells: Oven-baking wonton wrappers over a wire rack or baking dish rim reproduces that unmistakable light, shattered-crisp crunch without deep frying in grease.
• Savory Seasoned Beef Blend: Searing ground beef with smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder delivers a deep, flame-grilled burger taste.
• Real Applewood Bacon: Crumbled thick-cut bacon provides genuine smoky bite in every single taco.
• Signature Spicy Honey Mustard: The custom mayo, yellow mustard, raw honey, and hot sauce glaze recreates Applebee’s exact zesty sauce element that ties the sweet, savory, and spicy notes together. Like our Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce, balance is key!

Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos Ingredients

Here is everything you will need to prepare these loaded wonton tacos:

• Wonton Wrappers: 12 fresh rectangular or square wonton wrappers (found in the produce/refrigerated section of most supermarkets).
• Ground Beef: 1 pound lean ground beef (80/20 or 85/15 recommended for optimal flavor).
• Beef Seasoning: Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
• Bacon: 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until extra crispy and crumbled.
• Cheddar Cheese: 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese for maximum meltability.
• Dill Pickles: 1/2 cup finely diced kosher dill pickles to add a crisp, vinegary bite.
• Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce: Mayonnaise, classic yellow mustard, pure honey, and a dash of hot sauce or sriracha.
• Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil for brushing the wonton skins before baking.

Kitchen Equipment Needed

• Baking Sheet & Wire Rack (or oven-safe baking dish for draping wonton wrappers)
• Pastry Brush (for applying olive oil to wonton skins)
• Large Skillet (cast iron or non-stick for browning beef)
• Mixing Bowls & Whisk
• Chef’s Knife & Cutting Board

How To Make Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos at Home

Follow these step-by-step instructions for perfect, restaurant-quality results every time:

Step 1 | Shape and Bake the Wonton Taco Shells

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly brush both sides of 12 wonton wrappers with olive oil. Carefully drape each wrapper over the edge of an oven-safe baking dish rim or upside-down muffin tin wells to create a V-shaped taco shell. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Set aside on a wire rack to cool.

Step 2 | Cook the Seasoned Beef Filling

Place a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until thoroughly browned and no pink remains. Drain excess grease from the pan.

Step 3 | Whisk the Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce until completely smooth and emulsified. Taste and adjust heat or sweetness to your liking.

Step 4 | Assemble and Serve

Spoon warm seasoned ground beef generously into each crispy wonton shell. Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese, crispy crumbled bacon, and finely diced dill pickles. Drizzle generously with spicy honey mustard sauce and serve immediately while hot!

Expert Tips for the Best Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos

• Watch the Wonton Shells Closely: Wonton wrappers transition from golden crispy to burnt very fast in the oven. Keep a close eye on them during the final 2 minutes of baking.
• Melt the Cheese: For extra melty goodness, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese onto the warm ground beef in the skillet right before filling the shells.
• Air Fryer Alternative: You can also air fry the shaped wonton wrappers at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp.
• Crispy Bacon Tip: Bake your bacon on a foil-lined sheet pan at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes for perfectly flat, shatter-crisp crumbles. Paired with crispy proteins like in our Jollibee Chickenjoy Recipe, texture makes all the difference!

6 Ways to Serve Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos

Try these creative serving variations to suit your taste:

1. Party Platter Style: Arrange 12 assembled wonton tacos on a large tray garnished with chopped green onions and extra sauce bowls for dipping.

2. Deluxe Burger Style: Add shredded iceberg lettuce and diced tomatoes alongside the pickles for a fresh garden crunch.

3. Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Swap dill pickles for pickled jalapeño slices and add a dash of cayenne to the beef seasoning.

4. Bacon BBQ Fusion: Drizzle a smoky honey BBQ sauce alongside the spicy honey mustard for a sweet BBQ bacon cheeseburger twist.

5. Low-Carb Bowl Option: Skip the wonton shell and layer the beef, bacon, cheddar, pickles, and sauce over a bowl of crisp romaine lettuce.

6. Slider Night Pairing: Serve alongside mini slider buns or french fries for a full tavern-style meal at home.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

1. Storage: Store leftover beef filling, bacon, cheese, and sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store baked unfilled wonton shells at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 2 days.

2. Reheating: Reheat the ground beef in a skillet or microwave until hot. Re-crisp the baked wonton shells in a 350°F oven for 2 minutes. Assemble just before eating to prevent soggy shells.

3. Make-Ahead Prep: You can bake the wonton taco shells and whisk the spicy honey mustard sauce 1 to 2 days in advance for instant party assembly.

Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos FAQs

Making this Applebee’s Bacon & Cheese Wonton Tacos Recipe at home is an easy, rewarding way to enjoy a restaurant-favorite appetizer with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Enjoy the satisfying crunch, cheesy bacon filling, and zesty sauce with family and friends!