Seasoned beef, Cheddar, bacon, pickles and spicy honey mustard turn Applebee’s crispy wonton tacos into a full-on bacon cheeseburger mashup.
Photo by SCRR
Copycat Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos
Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos fill crisp wonton shells with seasoned ground beef, onions and melted Cheddar, then add Applewood-smoked bacon, pickles and spicy honey mustard.
Shape and fry the wonton shells first, then keep them warm while cooking the beef. Add the cheese while the meat is still hot so it melts into the filling before the bacon, pickles and sauce go on.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Party appetizers, game nights and trying Applebee’s newest limited-time mashup at home
- Flavor Profile: Savory cheeseburger beef, smoky bacon, sharp pickles, melted Cheddar and sweet-spicy honey mustard
- Skill Level: Moderate
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Crispy wonton taco shells filled with onion-seasoned beef and Cheddar, then topped with bacon, pickles and spicy honey mustard
Applebee’s
Applebee’s began in 1980 when Bill and T.J. Palmer opened T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs in Decatur, Georgia. The Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar name followed in 1986, and the chain grew around familiar American food served in a casual neighborhood setting.
Over the years, appetizers became an especially recognizable part of the menu, from Boneless Wings and Spinach & Artichoke Dip to the popular Chicken Wonton Tacos.
That established crispy taco format gave Applebee’s an easy starting point for one of its more playful 2026 menu experiments: turning a bacon cheeseburger into a shareable wonton appetizer.
Applebee’s Turns a Cheeseburger into a Wonton Taco
Applebee’s introduced Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos nationwide on July 13, 2026 as a limited-time summer appetizer.
The new version takes the crispy shell format of the chain’s longtime Chicken Wonton Tacos and fills it with seasoned ground beef sautéed with onions and Cheddar cheeses. Applewood-smoked bacon, diced pickles and spicy honey mustard complete the cheeseburger effect. Applebee’s also made the appetizer part of its 2 for $25 promotion, with the limited-time release scheduled through August 16, 2026.
Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos Recipe
Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos combine crispy wonton shells with seasoned beef, sautéed onions, melted Cheddar, Applewood-smoked bacon, pickles and spicy honey mustard.
Yield: 4 Wonton Tacos
Ingredients
Spicy Honey Mustard
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Hot Sauce
- 1 pinch Cayenne Pepper
Wonton Taco Shells
- 4 large Wonton Wrappers
- Vegetable Oil for frying
Cheeseburger Filling
- 8 ounces 80/20 Ground Beef
- 1/4 cup finely diced Yellow Onion
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese Blend
Toppings
- 4 slices Applewood-Smoked Bacon cooked crisp and chopped
- 1/3 cup finely diced Dill Pickles
Instructions
Prepare the Spicy Honey Mustard
- Add mayonnaise, honey, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, hot sauce and cayenne to a small bowl.
- Stir until smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Prepare the Wonton Taco Shells
- Pour about 1 inch vegetable oil into a deep skillet or saucepan.
- Heat oil to 350°F.
- Carefully lower one wonton wrapper into the oil.
- Using tongs, gently fold the wrapper into a taco shape while keeping the center open enough for filling.
- Fry for about 30 seconds.
- Turn and continue frying until crisp and golden, about 30 seconds longer.
- Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat with the remaining wrappers.
Prepare the Cheeseburger Filling
- Add ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook, breaking the beef into small crumbles, until browned and the onion is tender.
- Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
- Cook for 1 minute.
- Remove skillet from heat.
- Add Cheddar cheese.
- Stir just until the cheese begins to melt through the beef.
Assemble the Wonton Tacos
- Divide the warm cheeseburger filling among the crispy wonton shells.
- Top evenly with chopped bacon.
- Add diced pickles.
- Drizzle generously with spicy honey mustard.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Applebee’s describes the filling as ground beef sautéed with onions and “Cheddar cheeses.” A blend of mild and sharp Cheddar gives a good home-kitchen approximation.
- For an easier shell method, lightly brush wonton wrappers with oil, drape them over the bars of an oven rack or taco mold and bake at 375°F for about 6 to 8 minutes, until crisp and golden.
- Use purchased spicy honey mustard when you want the fastest version. Add a little hot sauce if it needs more bite.
- Fry the shells shortly before serving. Once filled with hot beef and sauce, wontons gradually lose their crunch.
Related Copycat Recipes
- LongHorn Steakhouse Outlaw Ribeye Tacos – This hearty twist layers tender steak with bright accents for a rich, satisfying bite.
- Applebee’s Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip – Creamy, cheesy dip loaded with spinach and artichokes, served hot and scoopable
- Bahama Breeze Island Fish Tacos – Crispy golden fish tucked into warm tortillas with tropical slaw and a creamy island drizzle that brings serious beach energy.
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Questions People Ask
Are Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos permanent?
No. Applebee’s introduced them as a limited-time summer 2026 appetizer.
What is inside the wonton tacos?
They contain seasoned ground beef with onions and Cheddar cheeses, plus bacon, pickles and spicy honey mustard.
Are these the same shells as Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos?
Yes. The new appetizer uses Applebee’s familiar crispy wonton taco format with a cheeseburger-style filling.
Can I bake the wonton shells instead of frying them?
Yes. They will be slightly lighter and less bubbly, but baking is a convenient home alternative.
Can the filling be made ahead?
Yes. Cook and refrigerate the beef mixture for up to 2 days, then reheat before adding the cheese and assembling the tacos.
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Photo of “Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos” created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Photo of “Applebee’s” is by Mike Mozart and is used by permission under the Attribution 2.0 Generic Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode.en. Thank you, Mike. Great Picture. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is our adaption of several recipes formally widely-circulated on the internet – courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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