This Mexican Pizza is pure flavor-packed comfort food: crispy layers of golden tortillas, melty cheese, zesty taco-seasoned beef, creamy beans, and tangy enchilada sauce, all baked to gooey perfection in just 30 minutes. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that never fails to win over family and friends—think classic takeout, but so much better when made at home!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy & Cheesy Layers: Every bite delivers a heavenly contrast of crunchy tortillas, creamy beans, and gooey cheese.
- Easy Weeknight Win: Ready in just 30 minutes, this Mexican Pizza fits right into your busiest evenings, with minimal fuss.
- Totally Customizable: You can swap in your favorite toppings, sauces, proteins, or even make it vegetarian—perfect for everyone at your table.
- A Takeout Favorite—Homemade! Recreate that crave-worthy restaurant experience at home with fresh, simple ingredients and no mystery fillers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts about this Mexican Pizza is how straightforward the ingredients are, yet each one truly brings its own magic in terms of flavor, texture, and color to the final dish. These basics are pantry and fridge staples, making it even easier to whip up whenever the craving strikes.
- Ground beef: The flavor foundation—well-seasoned and juicy, it gives every bite that unmistakable savory kick.
- Taco seasoning: A blend of spices that adds vibrant Mexican flair; using a store-bought packet keeps things easy, but homemade is always welcome!
- Water: Helps the taco seasoning infuse the meat evenly and keeps everything moist and tender.
- Refried beans: Creamy and hearty, these beans help “glue” the layers together while adding wonderful flavor and richness.
- Enchilada sauce: Adds a tangy, slightly spicy punch that keeps everything from feeling heavy—choose mild or spicy depending on your mood.
- Diced tomatoes: Their juiciness brightens up the rich layers with bursts of freshness and color.
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese: Melts beautifully and boasts that signature stretchy, golden look—substitute cheddar or Monterey Jack if you like.
- Flour tortillas (taco size): These form the irresistible crispy “crust” and stack easily for the classic double-decker experience.
- Vegetable oil: A little goes a long way in making those tortillas crisp up golden and delightful without greasy mess.
Variations
The beauty of homemade Mexican Pizza is that you can totally make it your own! Whether you’re catering to special diets, picky eaters, or simply using up what you have, these variations let you play, experiment, and fall in love with a new version every time.
- Vegetarian Mexican Pizza: Skip the beef and double up on the beans, or use sautéed veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for a hearty meatless option.
- Spicy Supreme: Add chopped pickled jalapeños or a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce to the top for heat-lovers who crave an extra kick.
- Chicken Swap: Use shredded rotisserie chicken, seasoned with a little taco spice, instead of ground beef for a lighter (but just as satisfying) spin.
- Gluten-Free: Simply swap in your favorite gluten-free tortillas and double-check your seasonings and sauces for a version everyone can dig into.
How to Make Mexican Pizza
Step 1: Brown and Season the Beef
Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. As it cooks, break the meat up with a spatula into small pieces—think classic taco filling. Once no longer pink, sprinkle in the taco seasoning and pour in the water. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it bubble gently until most of the liquid is absorbed and the flavors come together. This tasty taco meat is going to set the stage for your delicious Mexican Pizza layers.
Step 2: Crisp Up the Tortillas
While your beef does its thing, grab a second skillet or a griddle and heat half the vegetable oil over medium-high. Add the flour tortillas (working in batches) and cook, flipping frequently, until they’re golden brown and crisp—about 4-5 minutes each. Repeat with the remaining oil and tortillas. This step gives your pizza that irresistible crunch that everyone loves, so don’t skip it!
Step 3: Assemble the Layers
On each crispy tortilla, spread about 1/4 cup of refried beans in an even layer. Top with a generous scoop of your flavorful taco meat, spreading it all the way to the edges. Place another crisp tortilla on top to create a sandwich, and gently press it down—it’s your double-decker moment!
Step 4: Sauce and Top
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of enchilada sauce over the top tortilla on each pizza, then sprinkle evenly with diced tomatoes. Give each pizza a loving blanket of shredded Colby Jack cheese—don’t be shy here; cheesy is the way to go!
Step 5: Bake to Melty Perfection
Carefully transfer each assembled Mexican Pizza onto a baking sheet (you can fit a few at a time) and bake in your preheated 400°F oven for 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for bubbling, melted cheese and piping hot goodness throughout. Slice, serve, and get ready for happy smiles around the table!
Pro Tips for Making Mexican Pizza
- Ultra-Crisp Tortillas: Make sure to flip your tortillas frequently in the skillet and watch them closely—once they’re lightly golden, pull them off so they don’t get too hard or burnt.
- Even Cheese Melting: For that glorious cheese pull, grate your own Colby Jack and sprinkle it all the way across the edges, so every slice gets melty goodness.
- Quick Assembly Line: Set everything up “assembly-line” style before you start stacking, so your layers come together swiftly while the tortillas are still freshly crisp.
- Sauce Control: If you adore extra sauciness, serve extra enchilada sauce or salsa on the side for dipping—just keep the pizza layers from getting soggy!
How to Serve Mexican Pizza
Garnishes
A few fresh garnishes elevate a Mexican Pizza from tasty to truly unforgettable! Try a scatter of sliced green onions, a scoop of cool sour cream, fresh cilantro, black olives, or even jalapeño rings for zing and color. A wedge of lime on the side adds just the right pop of brightness.
Side Dishes
This dish is hearty on its own, but a simple salad with crisp romaine, sweet corn, and avocado complements the flavors beautifully. For a classic combo, serve your Mexican Pizza with chips and guacamole, Spanish rice, or a bowl of black beans. Beans and rice always feel right at home!
Creative Ways to Present
Serve the pizzas whole for a dramatic centerpiece, or slice them into wedges for a fun, snackable party platter. Try stacking mini versions with smaller tortillas for appetizers, or offer a toppings “bar” so guests can decorate their own slices—perfect for family nights or casual gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Mexican Pizza keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days! Store slices in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper if stacking. The tortillas will soften a bit, but the flavor is still incredible.
Freezing
You can freeze fully assembled and baked Mexican Pizza: wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge for best results—this is a life-saver for busy weeks or quick lunches!
Reheating
To recapture the crispy texture, reheat slices in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for 8-10 minutes until warmed through and melty. Microwaving works in a pinch, but will make the tortillas much softer—still tasty, just less crispy!
FAQs
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Can I make Mexican Pizza ahead of time?
Absolutely! Assemble the pizzas up to the baking step, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to eat, bake as directed—in fact, a little chilling gives the flavors extra time to meld together.
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What’s the best way to keep the tortillas crispy?
Getting a good golden crust in the skillet is key—make sure your oil is hot and flip often. For extra crispness, let cooked tortillas drain briefly on a cooling rack before assembling your Mexican Pizza, rather than stacking them directly.
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Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour?
You can—just know the texture and flavor will be different! Corn tortillas are smaller and will crisp a bit differently, but they can bring a beautiful toasty flavor if you enjoy more traditional Mexican-style pizzas.
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Is there a way to make this Mexican Pizza vegetarian?
Yes! Omit the ground beef and try a double layer of refried beans or your favorite sautéed vegetables (like bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini) for a satisfying meatless meal everyone will love.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been craving a classic Mexican Pizza, give this homemade version a try—it’s ridiculously easy, always satisfying, and so much fun to share. I hope you enjoy every cheesy, crunchy, flavor-packed bite as much as we do. Let me know how it turns out, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your toppings and sides—your new favorite dinner awaits!
PrintMexican Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy the flavors of Mexico in a unique way with this delicious Mexican Pizza recipe. Layers of seasoned ground beef, refried beans, enchilada sauce, and cheese sandwiched between crispy tortillas create a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Ground Beef:
- 1 pound ground beef
Taco Seasoning:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Water:
- 3/4 cup water
Refried Beans:
- 15 oz refried beans
Enchilada Sauce:
- 10 oz enchilada sauce
Diced Tomatoes:
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
Colby Jack Cheese:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
Flour Tortillas:
- 8 taco-sized flour tortillas
Vegetable Oil:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400º F.
- Brown ground beef: In a skillet, brown the ground beef, then add taco seasoning and water. Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Cook tortillas: Heat oil in a skillet, cook tortillas until crisp.
- Layer ingredients: Spread beans on tortillas, add taco meat, another tortilla, enchilada sauce, tomatoes, and cheese.
- Bake: Place pizzas on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve: Slice and serve hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizza
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg