Taco Bell Mexican Pizza at home and even better! This specialty item from Taco Bell was discontinued a while back and after so many fans were disappointed, they brought it back to the menu. But just in case it ever goes bye bye again, now you’ll know how to make your favorite takeaway!
This recipe was actually one of the first that I ever created two years ago when I first started making TikToks (a bit embarrassed to be linking but here you go). I remember seeing a TikTok from Doja Cat saying it was her favorite thing to order and she misses it so I thought why not make it from scratch. It’s not really pizza and it’s not really a taco but it’s somewhere in between both!
The Ground Beef
The taco meat in this recipe is what really takes this to the next level. It’s seasoned to perfection and packed with tons of fresh herbs to brighten it up! You can even prep the taco meat ahead of time so all you have to do is assemble and cook. If you have any taco meat leftover, I love adding it to a breakfast scramble the next day or in a salad.
For the ground beef, I like to use 85/15 or 80/20 but feel free to get as lean as you’d like. It’s up to you! You can even use ground turkey if you want to limit your red meat consumption.
Now for the taco seasoning, I like to make my own with the following spices:
- chili powder
- coriander
- salt
- smoked paprika
- cumin
- oregano
- black pepper
- onion powder
If you need to save time or you just don’t have all the spices above, you can use a pre-made taco seasoning blend from the store.
Now for the secret ingredients, I like to add fresh garlic, fresh cilantro, and the most important one is tomato sauce! It makes the taco meat super moist and saucy just like Taco Bell.
And for the most important tip is to make sure to use a wooden spoon as the ground beef cooks to break it apart as much as possible and that’s it!
The “Pizza” Sauce
We use the apostrophe around pizza sauce because it’s not really traditional tomato marinara sauce that Taco Bell uses. Instead, it’s enchilada sauce – specifically the red kind. You can find enchilada sauce in the international aisle of most supermarkets. Any brand works well but this is the one I usually buy. They typically come in different heat levels and my go-to is mild.
You can use the enchilada sauce as is or season it up a little extra (that’s what I like to do). I like to add a bit of onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, chili powder, and jalapeño juice. If you’d like a thicker consistency, you can combine some marinara with the enchilada sauce for a bit of fusion.
Assembling and Baking
Once the ground beef and pizza sauce is prepped, it’s time to assemble. Now you’ll have to assemble the two layers separately before stacking them on top.
Here is the order of the 1st layer:
- flour tortilla
- refried beans
- ground beef
- shredded cheese
And the order for the second layer:
- flour tortilla
- pizza enchilada sauce
- shredded cheese
- diced tomatoes
If there are any other veggies you’d like to add along with the diced tomatoes, feel free to do so. You can add red onions, black olives, or jalapeños.
Now that you have both layers assembled, it’s time to toast it. Spray the pan and toast one at a time on low heat until the bottom of the tortilla is crispy.
Another way to do this to make the process a whole lot easier is to toast the tortillas first before adding any of the filling or toppings and then proceeding with toppings and layering after the tortilla is crispy. You would just have to pop it in the oven after to get the cheese on top to melt. Either way you decide to do it, it’ll turn out amazing!
Once both tortillas are toasted, you can stack them on top. The one with the beans and ground beef goes on the bottom and the one with the pizza sauce and cheese goes on top.
Feel free to add sour cream on top, hot sauce, green onions, cilantro, or even a homemade chipotle sauce. Cut into four pieces like you would a pizza and then enjoy!
How to Make It Vegetarian
To make it vegetarian, it’s super simple! Just omit the ground beef and use more refried beans. That’s how Taco Bell does it but here are some other options. You can use soy chorizo or black beans!
Other Recipes Like This To Try
- Lomo Saltado
- Crispy Potato Tacos
- Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
- Elote Shrimp Tacos
- Chipotle Carne Asada
If you tried this recipe and loved it, drop by down below and let me know how you liked it with a rating and comment! Feel free to also leave a question there about this recipe and I’ll get right back to it.
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