Craving that iconic crunchy, cheesy, saucy goodness without the drive-thru wait? This Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat recipe delivers the beloved layered delight right to your kitchen, proving that authentic fast-food flavor is surprisingly easy to achieve at home.
Key Ingredients for Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat
- For the Refried Beans Layers:
- 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans (vegetarian if preferred)
- 1/4 cup water (or milk, for smoother consistency)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Meat Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended for flavor)
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
- For the “Sauce” Layer:
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon mild green chilies, chopped (optional, for a little kick)
- For the Crispy Shells:
- 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral cooking oil)
- For the Toppings:
- 1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or a Mexican blend)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for serving)
- Salsa (for serving)
- Sliced jalapeños (optional, for serving)
How to Make Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat
This Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat is a symphony of textures and flavors, bringing together crispy tortilla shells, savory seasoned beef, creamy refried beans, and a tangy tomato sauce. It’s wonderfully simple to assemble, and the result is a deeply satisfying and incredibly delicious meal that will have everyone asking for seconds. With a preparation time of approximately 30 minutes, you can indulge in this fast-food favorite even on a weeknight.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Refried Beans: In a medium saucepan, combine the refried beans, water (or milk), chili powder, and cumin. Stir well to combine and heat over medium heat until warmed through and smooth, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the beans are too thick, add a little more water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Set aside.
Cook the Meat Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 7-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Stir in the taco seasoning packet and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
Prepare the “Sauce” Layer: In a small bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and chopped green chilies (if using). Set aside.
Crisp the Tortillas: This is a crucial step for achieving that signature crunch! Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place one flour tortilla into the hot oil. Cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, until lightly golden brown and puffed up. You’re looking for a crisp, taco-shell-like texture, not a soft tortilla. Remove from the skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, adding more oil if needed. Alternatively, you can bake the tortillas until crisp: lightly brush both sides with oil, place on a baking sheet, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.
Assemble the Mexican Pizzas: Lay out two of the crispy tortillas on a clean work surface. These will be the bottoms of your pizzas.
- Spread a generous layer of the prepared refried beans evenly over each of these two tortillas, going almost to the edges.
- Spoon half of the seasoned ground beef mixture over the refried beans on each pizza.
- Spoon half of the tomato sauce mixture over the beef layer on each pizza.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded Monterey Jack cheese (and cheddar blend) over the sauce.
- Carefully place another crispy tortilla on top of the cheese layer to create the middle layer.
- Spread another layer of refried beans onto this middle tortilla.
- Add the remaining seasoned ground beef mixture over the beans.
- Spoon the remaining tomato sauce mixture over the beef.
- Top generously with the remaining shredded cheeses.
- Place the final two crispy tortillas on top as the “lids.” You can optionally spread a thin layer of refried beans or tomato sauce on these top tortillas and sprinkle with a little cheese if you desire extra layering.
Bake the Mexican Pizzas: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the assembled Mexican pizzas on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are heated through. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
Serve: Carefully remove the Mexican pizzas from the oven. Cut them into wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Garnish generously with diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream (or Greek yogurt), salsa, and sliced jalapeños, if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat
This Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat is an absolute winner, boasting a craveable combination of crispy textures and savory, cheesy layers that’s remarkably close to the original. Best of all, you’ll save a significant amount of money by recreating this fast-food favorite at home, making it an economically smart choice for a fun family meal or a quick weeknight dinner. The customizable toppings allow you to personalize every bite, from the creamy refried beans to the zesty tomato sauce and the rich cheese blend, making each mouthful an explosion of flavor that rivals any fast-food joint.
Forget the impulse drive-thru stop; this copycat recipe makes achieving satisfyingly authentic flavors incredibly easy and budget-friendly. It’s perfect for those moments when only that specific, nostalgic taste will do, but you want to control the ingredients and save a few bucks. Get ready to impress yourself and your loved ones with this delightful homemade version that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Dive in and savor every delicious bite!
Storing and Reheating Tips
- Refrigeration: Allow any leftover Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat to cool completely before storing. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in an airtight container. They should stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat individual slices in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes per side, until heated through and the tortilla crisps up again. Alternatively, you can reheat them in a toaster oven or a regular oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes, keeping an eye on them to prevent drying out. Microwaving may result in a less crispy texture.
- Freezing: This dish can be frozen for future meals. It’s best to freeze individual slices wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then placed in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can remain in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Final Thoughts
This Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat is a delightful journey into replicating a beloved fast-food classic with delicious results. Making it at home is incredibly rewarding, offering both flavor and savings. Give it a try and enjoy this fun, customizable, and satisfying meal!
try also :
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Mexican Pizza Taco Bell Copycat
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium saucepan, combine the refried beans, water (or milk), chili powder, and cumin. Stir well to combine and heat over medium heat until warmed through and smooth, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the beans are too thick, add a little more water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Set aside.1 (16 ounce) can refried beans, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, to taste salt and pepper
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 7-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Stir in the taco seasoning packet and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally. Set aside.1 pound ground beef, 1/2 medium yellow onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning, 1/2 cup water
- In a small bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and chopped green chilies (if using). Set aside.1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon mild green chilies
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place one flour tortilla into the hot oil. Cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, until lightly golden brown and puffed up. Remove from the skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, adding more oil if needed. *Alternatively, you can bake the tortillas until crisp: lightly brush both sides with oil, place on a baking sheet, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.*8 (6-inch) flour tortillas, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Lay out two of the crispy tortillas on a clean work surface. These will be the bottoms of your pizzas. Spread a generous layer of the prepared refried beans evenly over each of these two tortillas, going almost to the edges. Spoon half of the seasoned ground beef mixture over the refried beans on each pizza. Spoon half of the tomato sauce mixture over the beef layer on each pizza. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded Monterey Jack cheese (and cheddar blend) over the sauce. Carefully place another crispy tortilla on top of the cheese layer to create the middle layer. Spread another layer of refried beans onto this middle tortilla. Add the remaining seasoned ground beef mixture over the beans. Spoon the remaining tomato sauce mixture over the beef. Top generously with the remaining shredded cheeses. Place the final two crispy tortillas on top as the “lids.” You can optionally spread a thin layer of refried beans or tomato sauce on these top tortillas and sprinkle with a little cheese if you desire extra layering.1 (16 ounce) can refried beans, 1 pound ground beef, 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, 1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the assembled Mexican pizzas on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are heated through. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Carefully remove the Mexican pizzas from the oven. Cut them into wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Garnish generously with diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream (or Greek yogurt), salsa, and sliced jalapeños, if desired.1/4 cup diced tomatoes, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream or Greek yogurt, salsa, sliced jalapeños