Description
This Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe recreates the beloved fast-food favorite at home with layers of seasoned ground beef, refried beans, melted cheese, and fresh toppings on crispy tortillas baked to perfection in the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¾ cup water
- 1 (1-oz) packet taco seasoning
Base and Toppings
- 12 fajita tortillas
- 1 (15-oz) can refried beans
- 1 cup taco sauce
- 1½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 1 tomato, chopped
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions and black olives
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC) to prepare for baking the tortillas and assembling the pizza layers.
- Crisp Tortillas: Arrange the flour tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes until they become lightly crisp. This helps prevent sogginess in the final pizza.
- Cook Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Add the taco seasoning and water, then simmer the mixture for 5 minutes until flavors meld. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Base Layers: Place half of the baked tortillas on a baking sheet. Spread a layer of refried beans evenly over each tortilla. Evenly distribute the cooked taco meat on top of the beans, then sprinkle with shredded Colby Jack cheese.
- Add Top Layers and Sauce: Cover the layered tortillas with the remaining tortillas. Spread taco sauce over the top layer, then sprinkle additional shredded cheese and chopped tomatoes for freshness and color.
- Bake to Finish: Bake the assembled Mexican pizzas for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbly. Remove from oven and garnish with chopped green onions and black olives to add extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using fajita-size tortillas makes the perfect pizza base, but you can substitute with regular large flour tortillas if needed.
- For a spicier version, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture or as a topping.
- Drain excess grease from cooked beef thoroughly to avoid soggy pizzas.
- If preferred, use a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese for a richer flavor.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to serve larger groups.
