Mexican Pizza Copycat

This DIY Taco Bell Mexican Pizza brings all the fast-food magic right into your home - layering tasty ground beef, smooth refried beans, and gooey cheese between crunchy corn tortillas. You'll get that classic taste you're after with the enchilada sauce, signature Taco Bell sauce, and chopped tomatoes, but made with better stuff and bigger portions than what you'd get at the drive-thru.

I whipped up this dish when Taco Bell pulled the Mexican Pizza from their menu for a while and my kids were totally bummed. These days they actually like mine better since I don't skimp on the meat and pile the cheese way higher.

Ingredients

• Ground beef: Makes a richer, meatier base than what you'll get from the restaurant
• Onion and garlic: Kick up the savoriness and aroma in the beef mixture
• Taco seasoning: Creates that unmistakable Taco Bell taste everyone craves
• Refried beans: Makes a rich layer that binds everything nicely
• Sharp cheddar cheese: Gets all gooey and adds bold flavor throughout
• Red enchilada sauce: Adds authentic Mexican flair with subtle heat
• Taco Bell mild hot sauce: Brings that true copycat flavor you can't get any other way
• Fresh diced tomatoes: Give a pop of color and freshness on top
• Corn tortillas: Form the crispy base and top that hold your tasty fillings
• Vegetable oil: Turns your tortillas golden and perfectly crispy

Simple Cooking Steps

Cook Your Beef Mix:

Toss ground beef and chopped onions in a big skillet over medium high heat till there's no pink left, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Toss in the minced garlic for the last couple minutes so it won't burn. Drain off all that extra grease or you'll end up with floppy tortillas.

Add Flavor to the Meat:

Put that drained meat back in the pan with taco seasoning and some water. Let it bubble until most liquid disappears, roughly 5-7 minutes. You want it moist but not swimming in liquid. This step nails that classic taco meat taste.

Get the Beans Ready:

Warm up those refried beans in another pot until they're nice and soft. If they seem too thick, splash in a bit of water and stir till smooth. These beans work as the sticky base that keeps everything from sliding around.

Crisp Up the Tortillas:

Heat your oil in a shallow pan to around 350°F. Drop corn tortillas in one at a time, cooking about 30 seconds per side till they're golden and crunchy without burning. Lay them on paper towels to soak up extra oil. You need them firm enough to hold stuff without snapping.

Blend Your Sauces:

In a small bowl, mix half the enchilada sauce with half the Taco Bell mild sauce. Stir them together really well. This combo is what gives you that exact Taco Bell flavor that makes their Mexican Pizza so special.

Build Your Pizzas:

Smear warm beans onto a fried tortilla, then pile on plenty of seasoned beef. Sprinkle cheese over that and top with a second fried tortilla. Getting this order right makes all the difference in taste and texture.

Top It Off:

Pour your sauce mix over the top tortilla, spreading it all the way to the edges. Add more shredded cheese and finish with fresh chopped tomatoes. Make sure sauce covers everything so each bite has maximum flavor.

Dig In:

Cut each pizza into four pieces with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Eat them right away while they're warm and the cheese is all melty. These taste way better freshly made.

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That enchilada sauce really is the magic touch here. I tried making these once with just the Taco Bell sauce by itself, but something was definitely missing. When you mix both sauces together, that's when you get that spot-on flavor that tricks your taste buds into thinking you're eating the real deal.

Prep Ahead Tricks

This dish works great for planning ahead. You can cook the beef mix and beans up to two days early and keep them in the fridge in sealed containers. When you're ready to eat, just warm everything up, fry your tortillas, and put it all together. You could fry the tortillas ahead too, but they're so much better fresh since they get softer when stored.

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What To Serve With It

These Mexican Pizzas go great with other Mexican sides like Spanish rice, a quick salad with cilantro lime dressing, or chips and fresh guac. For the full Taco Bell experience, make some fake Cinnamon Twists by frying wheat duros and rolling them in cinnamon sugar. Add a cold Mexican beer or slushy margarita and you've got the perfect meal.

Make It Your Way

The best part about cooking these at home is you can change them however you want. Don't eat meat? Swap the beef for veggie crumbles or just add more beans. Like it hot? Throw in some diced jalapeños, sprinkle cayenne in the meat, or grab hot enchilada sauce instead. For extra freshness, add shredded lettuce, green onions, or a blob of sour cream on top after cooking. Some folks even slip a layer of guacamole between the tortillas.

Keeping Leftovers

Any extra pizzas will stay good in the fridge for about three days in a sealed container. To warm them back up, stick them in a 350°F oven for around 10 minutes until they're hot and crispy again. Try not to use the microwave since it makes the tortillas all soggy. For best results, keep all parts separate and build fresh pizzas when you're hungry. The meat and beans freeze really well for up to three months, making your next Mexican Pizza night super easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Is it okay to use flour tortillas instead of corn?

Yep! Flour tortillas work too, but they won’t crisp up quite the same way. For the best crunch and flavor, stick with corn tortillas.

→ Can I skip the meat and make it vegetarian?

Sure thing! Swap the ground beef for extra beans or a plant-based alternative. Check that any sauces you use are veggie-friendly too.

→ What cheese works best for this dish?

Sharp cheddar is a great pick, but a Mexican cheese blend brings a bit more variety if you feel adventurous.

→ How should I store leftovers?

Keep unused portions in the fridge, sealed tightly, and use them within 3 days. Heat them up in the oven to bring back some crispiness.

→ Is there a way to bake the tortillas instead of frying?

You bet! Pop them in a 400°F oven until they’re crisp. They’ll feel different from fried ones, but still delicious.