Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell combines two classic dishes - tacos and pizza! What more could you ask for?! As if a taco wasn't already good enough now it's in the form of a pizza.
Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat Recipe)
If you, like so many around the world, were disappointed when Taco Bell took their famous Mexican pizza off the menu... fear no more! No matter what happens in the future now you can always make it at home, and even better with my easy 15 minute recipe.
I love everything about tacos and I also love everything about pizza! So when I first heard about Mexican pizza I knew it was quickly going to become a favorite meal of mine.
When it comes to Taco night I like having a few different go to recipes and Mexican pizza is a fun way to change up your Taco night. We make everything from Fish Tacos to Street Corn Tacos and even Buffalo Chicken Fajitas!
What is Mexican Pizza?
Mexican Pizza is a cross between a quesadilla and a pizza. The first layer is a tortilla that is topped with refried beans, taco seasoned ground beef and shredded cheese. The cheese acts as the binder sticking the bottom and top layers together.
The pizza is then topped with another tortilla, a layer of enchilada or taco sauce and more shredded cheese. Air fried, baked or pan fried until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crispy.
Mexican Pizza can be topped with any of your favorite taco toppings. The classics are diced tomato, red onion, sour cream, olives and green onions!
What is in Mexican Pizza?
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Filling
- Refried Beans - I always have a few cans in the pantry for quick weeknight dinners! They are a great addition to any taco and a great way to sneak some extra nutrients into your taco night. You can also use homemade.
- Ground Beef - my preference is to use lean ground beef so that the taco meat is not overly greasy, but medium or extra lean works well also.
- Taco Seasoning - store bought or homemade taco seasoning can be used in this recipe.
- Water - a splash of water is added into the ground beef to make it saucy!!
- Enchilada Sauce - store bought or homemade enchilada sauce or taco sauce can be used and is added to the ground beef for added flavor and makes it extra saucy! I like using store bought and then freezing the remainder for a future recipe.
- Pro Tip: freeze leftover sauce in an ice cube tray so you can grab a few cubes when you want to make a small batch of Mexican pizza!
- Cheese - cheddar, mozzarella, marble, Mexican blend, spicy havarti, or really any cheese you love works great! I like shredding my cheese at home and I use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella for my Mexican pizza
Mexican Pizza Crust
- Tortillas, Flour or Corn - I personally prefer flour tortillas for my Mexican pizza. Finding good quality store-bought corn tortillas is sometimes a bit tricky and the tortillas can crumble so I prefer to use flour tortillas.
- Enchilada Sauce - the 'pizza' sauce layer of the Mexican pizza is enchilada sauce (or taco sauce)
- Cheese - possibly the best part of any pizza is the cheese!
Mexican Pizza Toppings
- Tomatoes
- Red Onion
- Sour Cream
- Black Olives
- Green Onion
- Cilantro or Parsley
- Any additional taco topping you like (ex. salsa, corn, pickled onions, etc.)
How to Make Mexican Pizza
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of Page
Prepare the Taco Meat
1 In a large frying pan or skillet on medium heat add the ground beef. Use a spatula or spoon to break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté for about 5-8 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Remove grease from the pan.
2 Add in the taco seasoning, water and enchilada sauce. Stir until evenly combined. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Assemble the First Layer
1 To assemble the pizzas, spread a layer of refried beans on one tortilla. Then top with ground beef. Add a layer of cheese and top with another tortilla.
Assemble Second Layer
1 Spread 1 tablespoon of enchilada sauce on top of the tortilla and top with shredded cheese to evenly cover the top.
2 Repeat with remaining tortillas to assemble all the pizzas.
Cook the Mexican Pizza
AIR FRYER COOKING METHOD
Preheat Air Fryer to 400°F. Working in batches (my air fryer fits one pizza at a time) carefully place the pizza in the air fryer and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crispy. Repeat with remaining pizzas.
OVEN BAKING METHOD
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with tin foil or parchment paper for easier clean up (optional). Arrange the pizzas on the sheet pan leaving a space between them. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
PAN FRYING METHOD
In a large frying pan with a lid, on medium heat add a splash of oil to coat the pan. Add one pizza at a time and cover with the lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese melts and the bottom tortilla is crispy.
Garnish
Transfer the cooked pizzas to a serving plate and top with the optional garnishes – tomatoes, red onion, olives, sour cream, and green onion. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Mexican Pizza
- Tortillas - when selecting tortilla be sure not to use burrito sized. They are too big for the pizzas and they will be very difficult to pickup when eating. Medium size or taco sized tortillas are best. Corn tortillas or flour can be used for the recipe.
- Ground Beef - break the ground beef up into small crumbles. If the pieces are too big the pizza will not stay closed when trying to pick it up and will fall apart. Don't make the ground beef too saucy or else the pizza will get soggy.
- Toppings - I love making these pizzas after a taco dinner! You can really use any toppings you like for the pizzas:
- Guacamole, sliced avocado, pico de gallo, salsa, onions, tomato, corn salsa, pickled onions, etc., the possibilities are endless!
Mexican Pizza Flavor Variations
- Chicken Mexican Pizza
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken instead of ground beef
- Dice chicken breast or chicken thighs into small pieces and pan fry with taco seasoning
- Steak/Carne Asada
- Use leftover cooked steak sliced into small pieces or carne asada
- Grill or pan fry steak and season with taco seasoning
- Shrimp Mexican Pizza
- Instead of ground beef used leftover cooked shrimp
- Pan fry shrimp with taco seasoning water and enchilada sauce
- Vegetarian/Vegan Mexican Pizza
- For the filling use refried beans, vegan cheese and a combination of the below sautéed with taco seasoning, water and enchilada sauce as per the recipe:
- Crumbled tofu
- Mushrooms
- Chickpeas
- Corn
- Vegetarian meat crumbles
- Vegetarian crumbled sausage
- For the filling use refried beans, vegan cheese and a combination of the below sautéed with taco seasoning, water and enchilada sauce as per the recipe:
- Gluten Free Mexican Pizza
- Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas!
Looking for More Easy Mexican Inspired Recipes?
- Mexican Street Corn Dip - all the classic flavors of elotes. The dip is packed with flavor from green chilies, cotija cheese, green onions and lime juice!
- Pork Carnitas Tacos - the easiest pork carnitas you will ever make in a slow cooker, cooked low and slow for the most amazing fall-apart tender goodness! Every tortilla dreams of being filled with Carnitas.
- Tex Mex Egg Rolls - with a creamy avocado dip are a flavor packed appetizer! This Copycat Cheesecake Factory recipe tastes even better made at home!
Enjoy!
- Sab
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission.
Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas (or corn tortillas)
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- 4 tablespoon enchilada sauce
- 8 ounce refried beans (½ can)
- ½ cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella or Mexican cheese blend)
Topping
- 4 tablespoon enchilada sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella or Mexican cheese blend)
Garnishes (optional)
- 1 tomato (roma or beefsteak, seeds removed and diced)
- 1 small red onion (diced)
- ¼ cup black olives
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 green onions (finely diced)
Instructions
- In a large frying pan or skillet on medium heat add the ground beef. Use a spatula or spoon to break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté for about 5-8 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Remove grease from the pan.
- Add in the taco seasoning, water and enchilada sauce. Stir until evenly combined. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- To assemble the pizzas, spread a layer of refried beans on one tortilla. Then top with ground beef. Add a layer of cheese and top with another tortilla.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of enchilada sauce on top of the tortilla and top with shredded cheese to evenly cover the top.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas to assemble all the pizzas.
- AIR FRYER COOKING METHODPreheat Air Fryer to 400°F. Working in batches (my air fryer fits one pizza at a time) carefully place the pizza in the air fryer and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crispy. Repeat with remaining pizzas.OVEN BAKING METHODPreheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with tin foil or parchment paper for easier clean up (optional). Arrange the pizzas on the sheet pan leaving a space between them. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.PAN FRYING METHODIn a large frying pan with a lid, on medium heat add a splash of oil to coat the pan. Add one pizza at a time and cover with the lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese melts and the bottom tortilla is crispy.
- Transfer the cooked pizzas to a serving plate and top with the optional garnishes – tomatoes, red onion, olives, sour cream, and green onion. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Debra S says
My husband loves taco bell Mexican pizza so when I saw your recipe I knew I wanted to try it. Made it tonight and it was fantastic, my husband loved. Thank you for sharing this recipe.