Easy Mexican Pizza Recipe (Way Better Than Taco Bell)
If you love bold flavors, crispy textures, and easy comfort food, this Mexican Pizza recipe is a must try.
It’s saucy, cheesy, crunchy, and for me, just a little nostalgic—when I was young (way before I became a chef), I ordered more than one from a particular fast-food menu.
The best part of this make-at-home crowd-pleaser? You can make it fresher, tastier, healthier, and totally customizable in the comfort of your own kitchen. And it’s so easy, you can make it in about 30 minutes!
What Is Mexican Pizza?
Despite the name, Mexican Pizza isn’t actually a traditional Mexican dish—it’s more of a Tex-Mex American creation.
Sometimes the popular Oaxacan street food known as tlayuda is called a “Mexican pizza,” but the local sensation is quite different from the Tex-Mex version and the one popularized by Taco Bell.
I think of this Mexican Pizza recipe as a cross between Mexican mulitas and one of my favorite famous foods of New Mexico, stacked enchiladas.
Its crispy tortillas are layered with seasoned meat, refried beans, sauce, cheese, and toppings, and then baked until everything is mouth-wateringly melty.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This Mexican Pizza recipe uses readily available ingredients. You may even have them all in your pantry. Here are a few tips for choosing the best ingredients and for making substitutions if needed.
Flour Tortillas
Look for soft, fresh, 8-inch tortillas that will crisp up nicely without cracking. If you want to make individual pizzas, use smaller tortillas.
You can also use corn tortillas for smaller pizzas, though they’ll have a different flavor and texture.
If you don’t want to deal with fried tortillas, use a pre-made pizza dough for a more traditional type of pizza.
Refried Beans
I like using low-fat, smooth pinto beans for a classic creamy layer. Black refried beans are a great option if you want a slightly earthier taste. If you’re feeling ambitious, homemade refried beans elevate the dish even more. But for me, I like to keep this an easy recipe.
Ground Meat
Ground beef gives the richest flavor, but most often I use ground turkey as a healthier option. Ground chicken or even shredded chicken are other good alternatives.
Taco Seasoning
Use your favorite store-bought blend or make your own to control the salt and spice level. If you go with the pre-made blend, feel free to add onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, or oregano to customize the flavor to your liking.
Enchilada Sauce
I think enchilada sauce is the best Mexican pizza sauce. It adds that signature tangy, slightly smoky flavor. Go with a good-quality canned sauce or homemade. If needed, you can substitute with a mild salsa or even taco sauce in a pinch.
Cheese
I typically use a shredded cheese blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar, queso quesadilla, and asadero.
If you can’t find this blend shredded, any Mexican blend will work. Or you can easily mix your own at home with the cheeses you have on hand. If you want to add a little heat, add some pepper jack.
Fresh toppings
I like diced tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro for color and flavor. If cilantro isn’t your thing, just leave it out or swap in a little parsley.
Some other great topping alternatives are mild chopped green chiles, sliced or diced jalapeño chile peppers, black olives, and chopped red onion—or try any of your personal favorite taco toppings.
Mexican Pizza Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 flour tortillas (8-inch)
1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken)
½ cup water
3 tablespoons taco seasoning (or 1 packet)
1 cup refried beans
1 cup enchilada sauce
½ cup Mexican cheese blend
¼ cup diced tomato
1 tablespoon green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Instructions
1. Prepare oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with foil or parchment paper. If using foil, a little non-stick cooking spray is recommended even though the tortillas are fried.
2. Fry tortillas: In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Gently poke the tortillas a few times with a fork. Lightly fry each tortilla one at a time until golden brown and crisp, about 1–2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to drain.
3. Cook the meat: In the same skillet, cook the ground meat over medium heat until fully browned, breaking the meat up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if needed. Add the water and taco seasoning, and stir well. Simmer for a few minutes until the mixture is thickened and not watery.
4. Spread the beans: Place two of the crispy tortillas on the baking sheet. Using a spoon or silicon spatula, spread a layer of refried beans over each. It’s like icing a cake, but don’t worry about precision.
5. Finish bottom layer: Add a layer of the seasoned meat on top of the beans. Leave about a ¼-inch of an edge around the tortillas.
6. Prepare top layer: Place a second tortilla over the taco meat to create a “sandwich.” Spread enchilada sauce over the top tortillas and sprinkle with the cheese.
7. Melt cheese: Bake for about 8–10 minutes, until your pizza is heated through and the cheese is melted.
8. Garnish: Remove from the oven and sprinkle tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro on top of the melted cheese. Serve immediately.
How to Serve Mexican Pizza
Mexican Pizza is best served hot and fresh, right out of the oven when the tortillas are still crisp. Sometimes I get a little fancy and add a drizzle of sour cream on top.
Portioning
Cut your creation into four wedges like a pizza for easy serving. A typical serving portion is half a pizza.
Serve With . . .
For a fun spread, serve some dipping sauces like salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and/or your favorite hot sauce so everyone can customize their slice. Try these easy recipes for reliably delicious accompaniments:
Super Simple Guacamole
Mango Corn Salsa
Pico de Gallo
Side Dishes
Mexican Pizza pairs perfectly with classic sides like Mexican rice, cilantro-lime corn salad, Mexican street corn, a simple green salad, or chips and guacamole.
Make it a Party
Although this dish works perfectly as a quick weeknight dinner when you want something satisfying without a lot of fuss, it’s also great for casual gatherings, game days, or Cinco de Mayo. For that fiesta feeling, try your pizza with these Mexican party foods:
Refried Bean Dip
Cheese Quesadilla
Blackened Fish Tacos
FAQs
Can I make Mexican Pizza ahead of time?
You can prepare the components ahead—cook the meat and have the beans and toppings ready. However, it’s best to assemble and bake just before serving to keep the tortillas crispy.
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep in mind the tortillas will soften in the fridge, but they will still taste yummy.
How do I reheat Mexican Pizza?
For best results, reheat in the oven or an air fryer at 350°F until everything is warmed through and re-crisped. The microwave works, but the tortillas will be softer.
Can I freeze Mexican Pizza?
It’s not ideal to freeze fully assembled Mexican Pizza because the tortillas can become soggy. However, the cooked meat mixture freezes very well for up to 2 months.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Absolutely. Swap the ground meat for seasoned lentils, black beans, or a plant-based meat alternative. The rest of the recipe stays the same.
This Mexican Pizza recipe makes an easy meal the whole family will enjoy. Once you try it homemade, you may never go back to takeout.
