CopycatSpices
Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Bring back the beloved Taco Bell Mexican Pizza with crispy fried tortillas, seasoned beef, refried beans, and melted cheese.
copycat · taco-bell · fast-food · mexican
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook20 min
⏱Total35 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 8 small flour tortillas (6-inch)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
- 1 cup enchilada sauce (red)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 3 tablespoons diced green onions
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- 1.Season the beef. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into fine crumbles. Drain the fat, add the taco seasoning with the amount of water specified on the packet, and simmer until thickened.
- 2.Fry the tortillas. Pour 1/2 inch of vegetable oil into a skillet and heat to 350°F. Fry the flour tortillas one at a time for about 30 seconds per side until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- 3.Build the base layer. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place 4 fried tortillas on a baking sheet. Spread a layer of refried beans on each, followed by a portion of the seasoned beef.
- 4.Add the top layer. Place a second fried tortilla on top of each stack. Spoon enchilada sauce over each pizza, then cover generously with shredded cheese.
- 5.Bake until bubbly. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
- 6.Garnish and serve. Remove from the oven and top with diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and green onions. Cut into quarters and serve immediately.
The Taco Bell Mexican Pizza has one of the most passionate fan bases in all of fast food — its temporary removal from the menu sparked actual petitions and protests. This layered creation of crispy fried tortillas, seasoned beef, refried beans, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese is part pizza, part tostada, and entirely delicious. Now you can make it at home anytime you want.
The Secret
The magic is in the fried tortilla shells. They need to be crispy enough to hold their structure but still have a slight chew. Frying small flour tortillas for just 30 seconds per side hits that sweet spot perfectly. The enchilada sauce on top is also critical — it is what separates this from a regular tostada and gives it that signature Taco Bell flavor.
Pro Tips
- Do not skip frying the tortillas. Baking them will not give you the same flaky, crispy texture.
- Warm the refried beans before spreading them on the tortillas — cold beans will not stick properly.
- For a vegetarian version, swap the ground beef for seasoned black beans or Taco Bell-style seasoned rice.
- These are best eaten within 5 minutes of coming out of the oven before the shells start to soften.
