Use these secret tips to create a copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe that tastes just like the restaurant – but homemade and BETTER!
The first of all is that by making it yourself you know exactly what goes into your family’s food. And while Taco Bell is already pretty inexpensive, you really can’t beat making your own at home.
A standard Taco Bell menu item that is easy to make at home is this copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe.
There are a few secrets to make your homemade creations taste similar to what you get in the restaurant.
The first is the type of seasoning you use. Luckily, Taco Bell sells their own brand of Taco Bell seasoning mix which you can get in your local store or on Amazon.
(If you prefer you can also use this easy taco seasoning recipe to make your own.)
Not only can you buy Taco Bell brand Taco Seasoning, but you can also buy Taco Bell Original Refried Beans.
While you can actually use any type of refried beans, basically whatever your favorite is, you’ll of course get the closest copycat results with the Taco Bell Beans.
Another secret for making your final recipe taste like a true Taco Bell copycat is that they chop their beef very finely.
To replicate that, I recommend running the beef through a food processor. This will chop the hamburger meat into very small pieces, just like they do at Taco Bell.
Since this step of running the ground beef through the food processor adds some time to creating your recipe, I find it helpful to cook enough beef for 2, 3 or 4 batches of this recipe and freezing the extra prepared meat.
Put all the extra chopped meat in the freezer in 1/2 pound packages. Then, next time you’re ready to make your homemade Mexican pizza you can just defrost, heat and continue with the recipe.
This seasoned beef is also perfect for taco night, so you can get multiple uses out of it!
Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 package Taco Seasoning Mix (I recommend Taco Bell brand seasoning)
2 tbsp Water
8 White Corn Tortillas
16 oz Refried Beans (Taco Bell Brand recommended)
1/3 cup Enchilada Sauce
1/3 cup Thick and Chunky Salsa
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1/4 cup diced Tomatoes
1/4 cup slice Green Onion (green parts only)
1/4 cup Sliced Black Olives
Vegetable Oil for Frying
How to Make Taco Bell Mexican Pizza:
Brown ground beef in a skillet. (Side note: This is my favorite pan for browning ground beef and I use it almost every day (not just for browning beef, of course!)
Drain excess fat.
Add water and taco seasoning. Mix well.
Allow to simmer for 10 minutes on low.
Remove from heat.
Transfer taco meat to food processor and run until it is a fine consistency.
Heat oil to 375 degrees on stovetop.
Fry each tortilla for 30-45 seconds on each side and set on paper towels or clean paper bag to drain.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spread 1-2 tablespoons of beans on 4 tortillas.
Top beans with the seasoned ground beef mixture.
Top each of these with the remaining tortillas.
Top these tortillas with a blend of enchilada sauce and salsa.
Next add both types of shredded cheese.
Then top with tomatoes and olives.
Add green onion slices.
Bake in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
How to Make Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza in the Air Fryer:
Check out this tasty alternative if you prefer an Air Fryer Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe.
What to Serve with Taco Bell Mexican Pizza:
To be honest, we like to eat these Mexican pizzas just all by themselves, but they are also great served with a side of Mexican rice or with a green salad. Slices of avocado on the side are also a great option.
How to Store Mexican Pizza:
To be honest, these aren’t great reheated later because it’s almost impossible to keep the tortillas crispy. BUT, there’s another option for leftovers!
The better option is to only assemble as many pizzas as you’ll be eating at once. Then, save the extra meat, cheese, etc. and when you’re ready for leftovers, just assemble the layers and cook so you’ll have a brand new fresh Taco Bell pizza!
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Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Use these secret tips to create a copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipe that tastes just like the restaurant – but homemade and BETTER!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Ground Beef
- 1/2 package Taco Seasoning Mix (I recommend Taco Bell brand seasoning)
- 2 tbsp Water
- 8 White Corn Tortillas
- 16 oz Refried Beans (Taco Bell Brand recommended)
- 1/3 cup Enchilada Sauce
- 1/3 cup Thick and Chunky Salsa
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1/4 cup diced Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup slice Green Onion (green end)
- 1/4 cup Sliced Black Olives
- Vegetable Oil for Frying
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet.
- Drain excess fat.
- Add water and taco seasoning. Mix well.
- Allow to simmer for 10 minutes on low.
- Remove from heat.
- Transfer taco meat to food processor and run until it is a fine consistency.
- Heat Oil to 375 on stovetop.
- Fry each tortilla for 30-45 seconds on each side and set on paper towels or paper bag to drain.
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Spread 1-2 tablespoons of beans on 4 tortillas.
- Top beans with the meat mixture.
- Top each of these with the remaining tortillas.
- Top these tortillas with a blend of enchilada sauce and salsa.
- Next add a mixture of the cheeses.
- Then top with tomatoes and olives.
- Optionally add green onion slices.
- Bake in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 654Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1612mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 10gSugar: 6gProtein: 39g
Nutrition is calculated automatically and may not be accurate.
Henry says
Definitely will have to try this at some point this week!
Ellen Christian says
Oh yum! This would be a huge hit at our house!
Jennifer says
AHHH! Taco Bell is my favorite Mexican food ever! It’s so exciting that they have their own line of make at home taco ingredients now. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Audrey McClelland says
Taco night with Taco Bell? WITHOUT having to hit the drive through? Winner!
susan says
Oh I love Taco Bell Mexican pizza! This looks just like it, and I am sure it tastes amazing, I will have to try this at home!
Dandi D says
My family loves Mexican food, so I’m going to have to try these!
Janet W. says
We love to eat Mexican food. This looks so delicious and it will quickly become a new family favorite!
Sherri says
I just had the real thing for supper. I love mexican pizza
Jerry Marquardt says
I would most definitely love to make this recipe, but I would throw in the original missing link of the recipe that Taco Bell eliminated when they had a green onions incident happen about a decade ago–The Scallions!
Beth says
I do crave Taco Bell but also love home made versions of take out foods! This looks perfect!
wilhelmina says
Taco pizza night is now on regular rotation at our house!
Lee McCloud-Lazarick says
OMG that looks delish!! printed to make tonite!
Trina says
The recipe calls for white corn tortillas but in the picture it looks like super soft flour tortillas.
Rob says
I thought the exact same thing. I think corn tortillas would be to hard. Taco Bells is crisp and light. I’m going to try the flour tortillas that are pictured first. By the time you fry the corn tortillas then stick it in the oven to bake it will be hard as a rock. Trying it tonight!
Amanda says
these were good but i will definitely use white corn tortillas next time. flour is too chewy.