Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes

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Remember when Taco Bell took their Mexican Pizza off the menu? Well, it’s back (for now) because its cult following refuse to let it go away forever. I’m taking away all risk and creating my own copycat version that I think is even better than the original.

Do you love pizza as much as we do at my house? Check out my Margherita Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza Rolls and all of my other pizza recipes while you’re at it! And yes, these are ACTUAL pizzas. 🙂

mexican pizza cut in 4 pieces on a plate

Copycat Mexican Pizza

This copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe is made up of two crunchy flour tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and melted cheese, with a layer of zesty Mexican pizza sauce and topped with diced tomatoes. I am pleased to say that I have recreated their recipe and think it’s even better than the original! Plus you can add your own toppings to make it to your liking. This is an easy meal the whole family will love!

Mexican pizza ingredients

Mexican Pizza Ingredients

  • corn + flour blend tortillas– taco size. Taco Bell technically uses wheat + corn tortillas (or flour + corn flour) blend for their tortillas, but those are extremely difficult to find in the grocery store, so I used flour tortillas instead. Feel free to use corn or flour or a blend.  
  • mild red enchilada sauce– you only need 1/2 cup, so not even a whole can. Use a can of store-bought enchilada sauce or use my homemade enchilada sauce recipe and quarter the recipe.
  • diced green chilies– for flavor
  • diced canned tomatoes– be sure to save the juice from the can for the meat
  • ground beef– use 80/20 for maximum flavor or whatever you prefer
  • packet of taco seasoning– or make your own homemade taco seasoning 
  • tomato juice– saved from the can of tomatoes.
  • refried beans– feel free to add black or pinto refried beans. Whatever kind you like.
  • Pantry Staples– milk, avocado oil

Toppings (all optional, feel free to add or omit anything on the list)

  • shredded cheese– Any Mexican cheese blend, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Sharp Cheddar – any good melting cheese will work here
  • fresh diced tomatoes
  • diced green onions
  • sliced black olives 
  • sour cream 
  • taco sauce or hot sauce
  • salsa 

How to Make Mexican Pizza

For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here are step by step directions on what to expect when making this Mexican Pizza:

Preheat Oven + Heat Oil

Preheat oven to 425° F. Over medium high heat, in a large skillet heat oil until hot and just starting to bubble. You’ll know it’s ready if you drop a couple water droplets in and they dance. 

Fry the Tortillas

One by one, fry the tortillas in the oil, flipping once with tongs until both sides are lightly golden brown and the tortilla is crispy. Place on a paper towel lined tray and set aside. 

Make the Sauce

Make the enchilada sauce according to my homemade recipe or if using a store-bought can, open the can and place in small bowl. Add drained tomatoes and green chilies, stirring to evenly distribute. Set aside. 

Brown Ground Beef + Drain Grease

In a large frying pan or skillet, over medium-high heat, brown ground beef until cooked through, stirring and chopping into small pieces as you go.

Once completely cooked, use a meat chopper or flat wooden spoon to make beef as tiny as possible (think Taco Bell meat!). Tip pan to one side to allow grease to gather and dab a paper towel to remove “most” of the grease. 

Add Taco Seasoning + Tomato Juice

Turn heat down to medium-low heat and add taco seasoning along with the juice from tomato can (should be exactly 2/3 cup). Stir and simmer for a few minutes while you prepare other ingredients. 

Heat Refried Beans + Milk Together

Combine refried beans and milk (or water) in a small bowl and microwave for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally to combine. Beans should be thin and spreadable. Set aside. 

Now let’s put it all together! 

For the first layer, take one of the crispy tortillas and spread an even layer of refried beans almost to the edge. Spread an even layer of the ground beef mixture over top the beans.

Place a second tortilla on top of ground beef. Add a good layer of red sauce over top the tortilla. Sprinkle cheese all over the top of red sauce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Bake

Place all Mexican Pizzas on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for a couple minutes, just until the cheese is melted. 

Add Your Favorite Taco Toppings!

Remove from oven and top with fresh tomatoes and/or any favorite toppings. 

Cut each pizza into 4 even triangles and serve hot!

Storing Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Recipe Leftovers

Allow pizza to cool to room temperature. Place any leftover pizza in an airtight container or zip top bag and into the fridge. Pizza will stay fresh for 2-3 days. If you have any leftover taco meat or other ingredients, store separately in containers and use to make more Mexican pizza in the next few days. To reheat, warm in the microwave until heated through.

mexican pizza slices on a plate

More Mexican Inspired Recipes to Try!

I hope you enjoy my copycat Taco Bell recipe of a throwback menu item, Mexican Pizza! Take your basic taco night up a few notches with this homemade version! The printable recipe card is below! Have a great day! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

mexican pizza
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4.50 from 2 votes

Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Recipe

Remember when Taco Bell took their Mexican Pizza off the menu? Well, it's back (for now) because its cult following refuse to let it go away forever. I'm taking away all risk and creating my own copycat version that I think is even better than the original.
servings 4
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

for red sauce

  • 1/2 cup homemade enchilada sauce quarter of the recipe – or store-bought can of mild red enchilada sauce (will not use whole can)
  • 1 tbsp diced green chilies drained (about 1/8 of a 4 oz can, will have some left over)
  • 1/4 cup diced canned tomatoes drained (about half of a 14.5 oz can) – save juice for meat

for ground beef

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 3 1/2 tbsp homemade taco seasoning or 1 store-bought packet
  • 2/3 cup tomato juice from can

for refried beans

toppings

  • 1 cup Mexican blend cheese shredded (or Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Sharp Cheddar – any good melting cheese will work here)
  • 1/4 cup tomato fresh, petite diced
  • green onions diced, optional
  • black olives sliced, optional
  • sour cream optional
  • taco sauce optional
  • salsa optional

Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425° F.
  • Over medium high heat, in a medium skillet heat oil until hot and just starting to bubble. You'll know it's ready if you drop a couple water droplets in and they dance.
    oil in a cast iron skillet
  • One by one, fry the tortillas in the oil, flipping once with tongs until both sides are lightly browned and the tortilla is crispy. Place on a paper towel lined tray and set aside.
    tortilla in a cast iron skillet
  • Make the enchilada sauce according to my recipe or open store-bought can and place in small bowl. Add drained tomatoes and green chilies, stirring to evenly distribute. Set aside.
    whisking enchilada sauce in a bowl
  • In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown ground beef until cooked through, stirring and chopping into small pieces as you go. Once completely cooked, use a meat chopper or flat wooden spoon to make beef as tiny as possible (think Taco Bell meat!). Tip pan to one side to allow grease to gather and dab a paper towel to remove "most" of the grease.
    woman's hand blotting grease in a skillet with a paper towel
  • Turn heat down to low and add taco seasoning along with the juice from tomato can (should be exactly 2/3 cup). Stir and simmer for a few minutes while you prepare other ingredients.
    ground beef, taco seasoning and tomato sauce in a cast iron skillet
  • Combine refried beans and milk (or water) in a small bowl and microwave for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally to combine. Beans should be thin and spreadable. Set aside.
    refried beans in a bowl with a spoon

Now let's put it all together!

  • Take one tortilla and spread an even layer of refried beans almost to the edge.
    fried tortilla with refried beans on top
  • Spread an even layer of the ground beef mixture over top the beans.
    fried tortilla with refried beans and ground beef mixture on top
  • Place a second tortilla on top of ground beef.
    fried tortilla
  • Add a good layer of red sauce over top the tortilla.
    red sauce on top of mexican pizza
  • Sprinkle cheese all over the top of red sauce.
    shredded cheese sprinkled over red sauce on a fried tortilla
  • Repeat with remaining ingredients.
  • Place all Mexican Pizzas on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for a couple minutes, just until the cheese is melted.
    mexican pizzas on a baking sheet
  • Remove from oven and top with fresh tomatoes and/or any desired optional toppings.
    mexican pizza on cutting board
  • Cut each pizza into 4 even triangles and enjoy hot!
    mexican pizza cut in 4 pieces on a plate

Video

Notes

*Taco Bell technically uses a corn+wheat (or corn + flour) blend for their tortillas, but those are extremely difficult to find, so I used flour tortillas instead. Feel free to use corn or flour or a blend. You can find them on Amazon, but they are only available in bulk at the moment. 

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1806mg | Potassium: 658mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 984IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 7mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Mexican Pizza
4.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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