This Mexican pizza is layered with seasoned taco meat, refried beans, enchilada sauce, and lots of cheese, then loaded with your favorite toppings, so good!
Mexican Pizza Recipe
Are you a fan of Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas? I grew up on them. My mother used to take us to Taco Bell® when we were kids, and they were my favorite.
I've always had a soft spot for them, the tasty Mexican pizza sauce, the layers of refried beans, the crispy shells, the cheese, just so good!
I don't eat fast food very much, but I still love my Mexican pizzas, so now I make them at home. And so can you!
These are pretty easy to make with crispy corn tortillas layered up with simple ingredients. If you know how to make tacos, you can make these. It's basically a Taco Bell copycat recipe, though easily customizable.
Let's talk about how to make Mexican pizzas, shall we?
Mexican Pizza Ingredients
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- FOR THE TORTILLAS
- Corn Tortillas. You can use flour tortillas as well.
- Oil. For frying.
- FOR THE MEXICAN PIZZAS
- Refried Beans. Try my homemade refried beans recipe, or use your favorite brand.
- Vegetable Oil.
- Ground Beef. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter version.
- Taco Seasoning.
- Enchilada Sauce. Try my homemade enchilada sauce recipe, or this taco sauce recipe, or use your favorite brand.
- Cheddar Cheese. Or use your favorite 3-cheese blend of melty cheeses, like pepper jack, Monterrey jack, Colby, mozzarella, or others.
- Toppings. Diced tomato, sliced black olives, green onion, hot sauce
- Salt to taste
How to Make Mexican Pizzas - the Recipe Method
First, lightly fry the corn tortillas in oil over medium heat a couple minutes per side, until they turn golden and crispy.
Hit them with some salt and drain them of excess oil in paper towels.
You can also use store bought tostada shells.
Next, cook the ground beef and simmer it with taco seasonings.
To assembly the Mexican pizzas, spread enchilada sauce, refried beans, and seasoned ground beef over 8 tortillas. Then, top the with the remaining tortillas, extra enchilada sauce, and shredded cheese.
Bake them until the cheese is melted, then add your favorite Mexican pizza toppings. These are more like Mexican pizzas from Taco Bell, topped with chopped tomato, though I enjoy black olives and green onions, too.
Don't forget the hot sauce! Use a bit of sour cream to quell any spiciness.
Boom! Done! Your Mexican pizzas are ready to serve. These are so good! A lot like the Taco Bell version. Nice and cheesy, with lots of taco meat and refried beans. I can eat these any day of the week.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- If you prefer to avoid frying, you can air fry the tortillas in an air fryer with a light coating of spray oil for 6-8 minutes.
- All of the ingredient amounts are adjustable, so if you want more taco meat or cheese, go for it. This recipe is very forgiving.
Storage
Leftover Mexican pizzas will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They are much better fresh out of the oven, but can be reheated gently in the oven.
It is better to store leftover ingredients individually so you can assemble more Mexican pizzas later in the week.
I do not recommend freezing them.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this Mexican pizza recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Have fun!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy spicy cooking, I hope you'll check out my cookbook! 75 easy recipes with big, bold flavor.
- The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Mexican Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE TORTILLAS
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 16 corn tortillas (6-inch)
FOR THE MEXICAN PIZZAS
- 2 cups refried beans warmed (16 ounce can)
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 cups enchilada sauce (or use taco sauce)
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
- Toppings: Diced tomato, sliced black olives, green onion, hot sauce
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- To make the crispy tortillas, heat the vegetable oil in a pan to medium heat. Add the tortillas, 1-2 at a time, and lightly fry each side 2-3 minutes, or until the corn tortillas turn golden brown and begin to crisp up.
- Set onto paper towels to drain excess oil. Season lightly with salt.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
- Next, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan to medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, 6-7 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Stir in the taco seasoning along with 1/4 cup water. Simmer 10 minutes to let the flavors develop.
- Assemble your Mexican pizzas by setting 8 tortilla shells on a baking sheet.
- Top each with enchilada sauce, refried beans, and taco meat.
- Layer them with the remaining crispy tortillas, then add more enchilada sauce and shredded cheese
- Bake the pizzas for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Top with your favorite toppings and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Sharon says
made them one night when I had left o er taco meat, the best tasting mexican pizza ever! better than tacobell!!! my husband loves them also. easy to make and quick weekday dinner. I didn't change a thing.
Mike Hultquist says
I love it! Perfect with leftover taco meat! Glad you both liked it, Sharon!
Gina de la Cruz says
I can hardly wait to try this recipe. Removing the olives killed the pizza as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for this one!
Mike H. says
I can't imagine it without olives, Gina. Enjoy!
Christopher Daniel Maxwell says
mike, I worked at Taco Bell in the '90's before they deleted the sliced olives... it is my opinion you may be WRONG about freezing them! sometimes, like spaghetti and lasagna and pizza, things are better frozen and thawed... this allows the flavours to marinate into the shells!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Christopher. I may have to try that then! Cheers!
Mark says
Mike, I don't know how you did it in 10 minutes, but it was delicious. Instead of frying, I just bought a box of tostadas. I used white queso and sliced jalapeño. Nice alternative to TACOs. Much better than Taco Bell over the past couple years.
Mike H. says
I am glad you've enjoyed it, Mark. Thank you!
Rick Goin says
Thanks so much for the great recipe Mile. I fixed the Mexican Pizza tonight for dinner. A few very slight changes to it as I put chopped jalapeños and onion in the meat and shredded Mexican cheese on the inside, also topped it with sour cream. It was awesome. Keep the great recipes coming
Mike H. says
Appreciate it, Rick. Glad you've customized it to your liking. Enjoy!
Sherie says
you gotta have sour cream
Mike H. says
Go for it! Enjoy!
Lynn says
I'm so glad you posted this recipe . Taco Bells Mexican pizza is one of my favorites. Followed the recipe, but I used store bought tostada shells instead of making them, and it turned out absolutely amazing.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Lynn! Super tasty!
Peg says
Recipe looks delicious, Mike. I’m putting this on the menu. I so appreciate that you have your recipes with an option to scale them down, being as there are only 2 of us. Love your recipes and your YouTube videos, too!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Peg! I appreciate it! Glad to be helpful. Happy cooking!
Boo says
Yum-Yum, were very easy and fast to make yet had a lot of crispy flavor. Used black beans & shredded Queso blanco (it's what I had and wanted to make them right away) had some guests over. They ate them all up, nice, had pickled jalapenos, cilantro, used your homemade taco seasoning & enchilada sauce. We like hot & spicy. Love it when and easy but packed with flavor recipes comes together. Thanks for sharing.
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Perfect for guests! Glad you enjoyed them, Boo. Thanks!
Rachel says
Perfect!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Rachel!
Vickie Contreras says
Mike, on step 5, do you mean taco seasoning rather than taco meat?
Mike Hultquist says
That is correct, Vickie! Thanks!
Don says
This looks so much better than Taco Bell! And they discontinued them again.This recipe is so easy. Thanks Mike.
Mike H. says
You are very welcome, Don. Enjoy!
GSusie says
Our local Taco Bell still has Mexican Pizza and they are absolutely awful. I swore I’d never buy one again! So glad you shared this recipe, now I can make my own
Mike Hultquist says
Yes! I love this homemade version. So good! Enjoy!
Ramya says
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use tofu i love pizza sooooooooo much i never had mexican pizza before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Mike Hultquist says
Enjoy, Ramya.