This Mexican pizza recipe recreates what Taco Bell stopped making - and improves on it. Two crispy flour tortillas sandwich seasoned ground beef, refried beans, melted cheese, and whatever toppings you want. The whole thing takes 30 minutes, costs less than ordering out, and you control what goes in it.
Why You'll Love This Mexican Pizza Recipe
This recipe solves two problems soggy tortillas and bland filling. Crisping the tortillas before you add toppings stops them from getting mushy. Seasoning the beef right means you taste more than just melted cheese.
It fits different schedules. Make it start to finish in 30 minutes on a weeknight. Or cook the meat and beans on Sunday, then just assemble and bake when you need dinner. Kids can handle the toppings while you work the stove. Make one per person or double it for leftovers that reheat fine in the oven.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Ingredients for Mexican Pizza Recipe
- How To Make Mexican Pizza Recipe Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Tasty Twists on Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Equipement for Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Storing Your Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Why This Mexican Pizza Recipe Works
- Top Tip
- FAQ
- Make This Mexican Pizza Tonight!
- Related
- Pairing
- Mexican Pizza Recipe
Ingredients for Mexican Pizza Recipe
The Protein:
- Ground beef
- Taco seasoning
- Water
The Base:
- Flour tortillas
- Refried beans
- Vegetable oil for frying
The Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded Monterey Jack
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped green onions
- Sour cream
- Salsa or taco sauce
Optional Additions:
- Jalapeños
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced bell peppers
- Mexican hot sauce
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Mexican Pizza Recipe Step By Step
Cook the Meat:
- Brown ground beef in skillet over medium-high heat
- Break it up with spoon as it cooks
- Drain excess fat
- Stir in taco seasoning and water
- Simmer 5 minutes until thickened
Crisp the Tortillas:
- Heat oil in skillet over medium heat
- Fry each tortilla 30-45 seconds per side
- Look for light golden color and crispy edges
- Drain on paper towels
- Or skip frying: brush with oil, bake at 400°F for 5-7 minutes
Build the Pizza:
- Place one crispy tortilla on baking sheet
- Spread thin layer of refried beans
- Add seasoned beef
- Sprinkle both cheeses
- Top with second crispy tortilla
- Add more cheese on top
Finish It:
- Bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes
- Cheese should melt and bubble
- Let cool 2 minutes before cutting
- Add cold toppings: tomatoes, olives, green onions, sour cream
Smart Swaps for Mexican Pizza Recipe
Protein Options:
- Ground beef → ground turkey, ground chicken
- Seasoned meat → rotisserie chicken (shredded)
- Regular → plant-based crumbles for vegetarian
Tortilla Swaps:
- Flour tortillas → corn tortillas (smaller, crispier)
- Regular → low-carb wraps
- Store-bought → homemade if you have time
Bean Alternatives:
- Refried beans → black beans (mashed)
- Canned → homemade refried beans
- Traditional → fat-free version
Cheese Changes:
- Cheddar/Monterey Jack → Mexican blend, pepper jack
- Regular → reduced-fat cheese
- Dairy → vegan cheese shreds
Topping Switches:
- Sour cream → Greek yogurt
- Fresh tomatoes → pico de gallo, salsa
- Black olives → green olives, jalapeños
Tasty Twists on Mexican Pizza Recipe
Breakfast Style:
- Scrambled eggs instead of beef
- Breakfast sausage
- Hash browns layer
- Top with salsa and avocado
Veggie Loaded:
- Skip the meat entirely
- Double the beans
- Add sautéed peppers and onions
- Corn and black beans mix
- Extra cheese to compensate
Spicy Version:
- Pepper jack cheese only
- Pickled jalapeños throughout
- Hot taco sauce
- Chipotle in the beans
- Fresh jalapeños on top
Taco Bell Copycat:
- Use their seasoning packet
- Mild taco sauce between layers
- Three cheese blend
- Tomatoes and green onions only
- Keep it simple like the original
BBQ Twist:
- BBQ sauce mixed with beef
- Cheddar and smoked gouda
- Red onions
- Cilantro finish
- Ranch drizzle instead of sour cream
Equipement for Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Large skillet (10-12 inch)
- Baking sheet
- Spatula
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Mixing spoon
Storing Your Mexican Pizza Recipe
Refrigerator (2-3 days):
- Let cool completely first
- Wrap individual pizzas in foil
- Store in airtight container
- Keep toppings separate if possible
- Reheat at 375°F for 10 minutes
Freezer (1-2 months):
- Freeze before adding fresh toppings
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil
- Label with date
- Thaw in fridge overnight
- Reheat from frozen: 400°F for 15-20 minutes
Reheating Tips:
- Oven beats microwave every time
- Microwave makes tortillas rubbery
- Add fresh toppings after reheating
- Crisp up in skillet if edges get soft
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Cook meat and beans ahead
- Store in separate containers
- Fry tortillas day-of for best crunch
- Assemble right before baking
Why This Mexican Pizza Recipe Works
This recipe succeeds because it addresses the main failure point - moisture control. Most homemade versions end up with soggy tortillas because people skip the pre-crisping step or pile on wet ingredients before baking. Frying or baking the tortillas separately creates a moisture barrier that holds up under beans and meat. The layering order matters for structural reasons. Beans go directly on the bottom tortilla first because they create a seal that prevents meat juices from soaking through. If you put meat directly on the tortilla, the grease seeps in during baking and turns everything limp.
The bean layer acts as a buffer between liquid and bread. Using two tortillas instead of one gives you textural contrast you can't get any other way. The bottom stays somewhat softer from absorbing flavors, while the top maintains crunch. This double-layer setup also distributes weight better - a single tortilla can't support all that filling without breaking when you pick it up. Baking at 400°F hits the sweet spot for melting cheese without over-crisping already-fried tortillas. Lower temps mean longer baking time, which dries out the filling. Higher temps burn the edges before the center heats through. The 8-10 minute window gives you melted cheese and warm filling while the tortillas stay crispy but not charred.
Top Tip
- Getting the tortillas crispy enough matters more than anything else. If they're even slightly soft when you start assembly, they'll turn soggy under the beans and meat. When frying, you want them stiff enough that they don't bend when you pick them up. Too dark and they taste burnt, too light and they absorb moisture like a sponge.
- The bean layer needs to be thin - about 2-3 tablespoons spread edge to edge. Thick beans make the whole thing heavy and mask the other flavors. Warm the beans in a pan first so they spread easier. Cold beans from the can clump up and tear the tortilla when you try to spread them.
- Drain your cooked meat well, then let it sit in the colander for an extra minute. That standing time lets more fat drip out than you'd think. Even after draining, ground beef holds onto grease that will seep into your tortillas during baking. Pat it with paper towels if it still looks shiny. Don't put wet toppings on before baking. Tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce - anything with moisture goes on after it comes out of the oven. Only cheese and dry ingredients can handle the heat without making everything underneath soggy.
FAQ
What does a Mexican Pizza Recipe have on it?
Mexican Pizza Recipe has refried beans and seasoned ground beef between two crispy tortillas, topped with melted cheese. After baking, add diced tomatoes, black olives, green onions, sour cream, and salsa. Toppings vary - some add lettuce, jalapeños, or hot sauce depending on preference.
How to make Mexican Pizza Recipe?
Start by frying or baking flour tortillas until crispy. Spread refried beans on one tortilla, add seasoned taco meat and cheese, then top with a second crispy tortilla. Add more cheese on top and bake at 400°F until melted. Finish with fresh toppings after baking.
Is Mexican Pizza Recipe flour or corn?
Mexican pizza traditionally uses flour tortillas, not corn. Flour tortillas get crispier when fried and hold up better under the weight of toppings. Corn tortillas work but they're smaller and more fragile - they break easier during assembly and eating.
What is the secret ingredient for pizza?
There's no single secret ingredient - the key is crisping the tortillas properly before assembly. Soggy tortillas ruin Mexican pizza faster than any missing ingredient. The second trick is draining the meat well so excess grease doesn't soak into the base during baking.
Make This Mexican Pizza Tonight!
Now you have everything you need to make Mexican Pizza Recipe at home crispy tortillas, seasoned filling, and all the toppings that make it worth skipping the drive-through.
Want more quick meals? Try our Healthy Japanese Pancake Recipe for fluffy breakfast or dinner. Craving appetizers? Our Delicious Rangoon Crab Bombs Recipe disappears fast at parties. Need another complete meal in one dish? The Best Taco Rice Bowl Recipe uses similar flavors with even less work.
Make this Mexican pizza recipe and see how it turns out! Share your version with toppings you added.
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Pairing
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Mexican Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Brown the beef and add seasoning with water.
- Fry or bake tortillas until golden and crunchy.
- Spread beans and beef on bottom tortilla layer.
- Add top tortilla, more cheese, and bake until melted.
- Add tomatoes, olives, and fresh toppings after baking.
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