Mexican pizza puts a zesty, spicy twist on traditional pizza. Seasoned taco meat, cheese, and refried beans are layered and baked between tortillas, leaving you with a flavor-packed and healthier alternative to the Taco Bell classic.
If you’ve been lucky enough to indulge in a Taco Bell Mexican pizza, then you know just how delicious this snack really is! Unlike traditional Italian pizza layered with melted cheese and pepperoni, it stuffs your favorite taco toppings in between tortilla shells. This copycat Mexican pizza recipe is even better than the Taco Bell creation, and healthier, too!
Think of it like a quesadilla-pizza hybrid. Refried beans and taco-seasoned ground beef are sandwiched between two flour tortillas. From there, enchilada sauce and heaps of cheese are piled on top. The taco pizzas are then baked and topped with garnishes galore.
The best Mexican pizza recipe
I am the kind of person that eats something at a restaurant or fast food restaurant and then immediately tries to recreate it! This Mexican pizza recipe is the perfect example and like my other copycat recipes (carnitas, sausage McMuffin, and pizza bowls), I never end up eating them out again!
- They are both adult and kid-approved. Mexican pizza puts a fun spin on traditional pizza. It tastes just like the tacos you know and love, but it’s in the shape of a pizza! Who wouldn’t love that?
- It’s healthier than the Taco Bell version. Generally, the homemade version is much better for you than the fast-food counterpart. You know exactly what’s going into these pizzas and you can adjust the ingredients and toppings to make them even healthier.
- So customizable! The fast food version limits the toppings you can add but that isn’t the case for the homemade version. Customize the pizzas any way you like, with different toppings, another kind of taco meat, more veggies, and more!
Ingredients needed
The ingredients in these Mexican-inspired pizzas will remind you of your favorite tacos:
For the taco meat:
- Onion and garlic – This pair of aromatics is a must for the most flavorful beef.
- Ground beef – Lean to extra lean ground beef is best. If your ground beef has more fat, you may need to brown the meat first, drain the excess fast, and then combine it with sauteed onion, garlic, and seasonings.
- Taco seasoning – Use your favorite store-bought brand or try my Keto Taco Seasoning.
- Oil – To crisp the taco meat and the tortillas.
For the pizza:
- Flour tortillas – These are best for this recipe. Corn tortillas will work but they don’t hold up as well when weighed down by the toppings. If all you have are corn tortillas at home, use a double layer for both the bottom and top.
- Refried beans – Keep it simple with store-bought refried beans or make your own.
- Enchilada sauce – Again, a can of red enchilada sauce from the store works, or you can make enchilada sauce from scratch. Green enchilada sauce is a great alternative, too!
- Cheese – I used equal parts mozzarella and Mexican-blend cheese, but any good melting cheese works. Try pepper jack, cheddar, Havarti, Colby, or Monterey jack.
- Toppings – I used diced tomato, sliced black olives, finely chopped green bell peppers, and sour cream, but you can get as creative as you want. Check out the taco topping ideas below.
How to make homemade Mexican pizza
Mexican pizzas made from scratch are foolproof and ready to eat after 4 simple steps:
Step 1: Cook the ground beef
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant. Next, add the ground beef and taco seasoning and continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink.
Step 2: Assemble the pizzas
Warm more oil in a new pan, then add one or two tortillas (depending on the size of your pan) and crisp on both sides.
To start assembling, place one crisped tortilla on a parchment-lined baking sheet and top it with refried beans and seasoned taco meat.
Top it with a second crisped tortilla. Pour enchilada sauce and sprinkle both kinds of cheese on top (leaving room around the edges for the “crust”).
Step 3: Bake
Transfer the assembled pizzas to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.
Step 4: Add the toppings and serve.
When they’re done, top the Mexican pizzas with the taco toppings of your choice. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, then enjoy!
Tips to make the best recipe
- You don’t want the cheese to ooze off the sides as the pizzas bake, so leave about a ½-inch border around the edges of the tortillas.
- Don’t crowd the pizzas on one baking sheet. You may need to use two baking sheets if your tortillas are large.
- Only craving one pizza? Cook it quickly in the air fryer! Spray the basket generously with cooking spray before cooking the pizza at 400°F for 4 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
More taco toppings
You don’t have to stick with the toppings in the recipe card! Instead, get creative with your favorites or use these suggestions:
- Shredded lettuce
- Pico de gallo
- Diced red onion
- Thinly sliced scallion
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Cilantro
- Hot sauce
- Jalapeno slices
Storage instructions
To store: I highly recommend eating the pizzas as soon as they come out of the oven. Any leftovers will keep for about two days in a sealed container in the fridge, but they tend to become soggy quickly.
If you’re anticipating leftovers, don’t add any fresh toppings. Instead, store the pizzas and toppings in separate containers, so they don’t become soggy as quickly.
To reheat: Place the leftover pizzas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and reheat in a 375°F oven until the cheese is remelted and the tortilla’s crispiness is restored.
More recipes for Mexican night
More copycat fast food recipes
Frequently asked questions
You can swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, pork, or your favorite vegan ground “meat”. Alternatively, layer carnitas, sofritas, or chopped fajita chicken between the tortillas.
Yes. To make gluten free Mexican pizzas, replace the flour tortillas with corn tortillas or your favorite gluten free brand. My naturally gluten free Keto Tortillas also work and are perfectly pliable!
I don’t see why not. Keep it simple with store-bought pizza dough, or make your own using my 2-Ingredient Pizza Dough or Cauliflower Pizza Crust recipes.
To assemble, roll the dough into a personal pizza size (7 to 10 inches in diameter), top with refried beans, beef, enchilada sauce, and cheese, and then bake. Pile on the fresh toppings as soon as it’s finished.
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Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat!)
Ingredients
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablepoons oil divided
- 12 ounces ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 15 ounces refried beans
- 1/2 cup enchilada sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Mexican shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup tomatoes diced
- 2 tablespoons black olives
- 1/2 large green bell pepper diced
Instructions
- In a non-stick pan, add the olive oil and place over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the ground beef and taco seasoning, and cook until the beef is no longer pink.
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Heat the oil in a new pan and crisp up the tortillas on both sides.
- Place a tortilla on a baking sheet. Place some refried beans on a tortilla,followed by some ground beef mixture. Place another tortilla on top, cover it with some enchilada sauce, and then 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese, 1/3 of the Mexican cheese. (Keep some room from the edge, so the cheese doesn’t fall off). Repeat the process until all three tortilla pizzas are done.
- Place the pizzas in the oven and bake until the cheese has melted.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sliced tomatoes, olives, and finely chopped bell peppers. Serve with sour cream on top.
Notes
Nutrition
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