Where to Buy Beef Crispitos Like You Had in School

Beef crispitos were a popular snack or light meal served in many school cafeterias. These filled tortillas featured a savory seasoned beef filling that was different from standard tacos or burritos. While they were discontinued in many districts, you can still find similar beef crispitos from various stores and online retailers.

What are Beef Crispitos?

Crispitos featured a spiced beef filling wrapped inside a crispy corn tortilla. The tortilla was fried or baked to make it crunchy, then stuffed with the beef filling.

Common seasonings in the beef mix included:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Pepper

The folded crispy tortilla along with the highly seasoned beef filling distinguished crispitos from other Mexican-inspired items like tacos, chimichangas or burritos which use soft tortillas.

Crispitos were easy to produce in large quantities in school cafeteria settings. They were tasty and portable, making them a popular lunch item for many kids over the years.

Where to Buy Beef Crispitos

While some school districts may still offer crispitos, they have been discontinued from many school menus. However, there are still various options for purchasing similar commercial crispitos or making your own at home:

Gorditas Foldables

Gorditas Foldables are probably the closest commercial product to traditional school beef crispitos. They feature the same crispy folded tortilla exterior filled with spiced ground beef.

Gorditas Foldables come in several varieties:

• Beef – with a taco seasoned beef filling
• Chicken – with Mexican seasoned chicken
• Bean & Cheese – vegetarian option

You can find Gorditas Foldables at many major grocery chains such as Kroger, Safeway, Publix, HEB, and more. They are usually stocked in the frozen Mexican food section. A box of 12 foldables retails for around $10.

Tio Santi’s Crispy Tacos

Tio Santi’s makes a Beef Crispy Taco that mimics the crispitos of school cafeterias. They stuff spiced ground beef into a hexagonal shaped crispy corn tortilla.

Tio Santi’s crispy tacos are sold at retailers like Walmart, Target, Food Lion and more. A box of 18 tacos retails for around $5.

El Monterey Burritos

El Monterey makes frozen burritos with a similar crispy, foldable tortilla shell. The Beef & Potato with Red Sauce variety is closest to a traditional beef crispito in terms of ingredients.

You can find El Monterey burritos at Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and other grocery chains for around $1 each. The crispy tortilla shells give them a nice crunch.

Hormel Beef Crispitos

Hormel makes their own branded Beef Crispitos designed to replicate the school lunch item. They feature a seasoned beef filling in a crunchy folded tortilla.

Hormel Beef Crispitos can be hard to find in stores but you can purchase them online through sites like Walmart or Amazon for around $20 per 24-pack.

Juanita’s Beef Crispitos

Juanita’s Foods is another brand that makes crispitos specifically labeled as “school lunch favorites”. Their Beef Crispitos contain no artificial ingredients.

Juanita’s crispitos are also primarily available through online retailers like Walmart and Amazon for around $25 per 24-pack.

How to Make Homemade Beef Crispitos

You can also easily replicate beef crispitos at home with just a few simple ingredients:

For the Filling:

• 1 lb ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder

For the Tortillas:

• Corn tortillas
• Oil for frying
• Or crisp in the oven

Fold and Stuff:

• Crisp tortillas in hot oil or oven at 400°F until hardened.
• Cook ground beef with spices and taco seasoning.
• Drain excess grease from beef.
• Place filling into crisp tortilla and fold closed.

Adjust the seasonings to match your favorite school cafeteria crispitos. Serve with sides like tater tots or fries for the complete experience.

Where to Buy Crispitos for Delivery

Aside from picking up crispitos at your local supermarket, you can also get them delivered through online services:

• Amazon – Offers crispitos from Hormel and Juanita’s with free shipping on orders over $25 or with Amazon Prime.

• Walmart – Sells crispitos from Hormel and Juanita’s for delivery or in-store pickup.

• Instacart – Get crispitos from local stores delivered through Instacart same-day in many areas.

• Uber Eats – Browse local restaurants and vendors that may offer crispitos near you.

• DoorDash – DoorDash can also deliver crispitos from retailers or restaurants in your zone.

With delivery, you can get crispitos without leaving your home. Tip generously for delivery drivers going the extra mile to satisfy your crispitos craving!

Bulk Ordering Crispitos for Parties

Need a large quantity of crispitos for a school event, game day parties, or just for fun? Here are some bulk ordering options:

• Sam’s Club – Carries El Monterey burritos in bulk packs of 54.

• Restaurant Depot – Sells Gorditas Foldables in cases of 120. Business membership required.

• Gordon Food Service – Offers crispitos from Tio Santi’s and El Monterey in large packs.

• Webstaurant Store – Various crispitos available in bulk quantities.

• Sysco – Food service supplier that may offer crispitos on a commercial account.

For big events, you can order 100+ crispitos so everyone can enjoy this nostalgic school lunch snack.

Are Beef Crispitos Healthy?

Crispitos are higher in fat and calories than some other snacks. Two beef crispitos contain:

• Around 300 calories
• 15g fat
• 30g carbs
• 10g protein

While not the most nutritious choice, they can be eaten in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. Make them an occasional treat food rather than an everyday snack.

Beef Crispito Nostalgia

For many adults, beef crispitos bring back fond memories of school cafeteria meals. The crispy shells with addictive seasoned beef filling were always a favorite. While they may have disappeared from some school menus, you can still find similar options to enjoy for a snack or quick lunch.

Stock up on pre-made crispitos from your local grocery store or make your own at home. Crisp up those tortillas and stuff them with spiced beef to satisfy your crispitos craving and reminisce about the good old days.