If you're a fan of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza, you're in for a treat! This copycat version captures all the original flavors, with layers of crispy tortillas, seasoned ground beef, refried beans, tangy taco sauce, and melted fiesta blend cheese.
1cup(4 ounces) fiesta blend shredded cheese (See Tip 1)
¼cup(2 ounces) sour cream
2Tablespoonsdiced tomatoes
2Tablespoons sliced black olives
2Tablespoonssliced green onion tops
Instructions
Brown and crumble ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Transfer to a colander; rinse with hot water to remove as much residual fat as possible. (See Tips 2 and 3)
Return cooked ground beef to the skillet. Add taco seasoning and water; stir to combine. Cook over medium-low heat until most of the water has evaporated, about 15 minutes.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the tortillas until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Drain well on paper towels.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil; set aside.
Place crispy tortilla on prepared baking sheet. Spread ¼ cup of refried beans and top with ¼ cup of cooked taco meat. Place another crispy tortilla on top. (See Tip 4)
Spread 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of taco sauce on top tortilla. Sprinkle on ¼ cup of fiesta cheese.
Cook in preheated 400°F oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Cut into wedges and garnish with a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and sliced green onion tops. (See Tip 5)
Yield: 4 Copycat Mexican Pizzas
Video
Tips/Notes
Feel free to substitute cheddar, Colby, Colby Jack, or your favorite melty cheese.
I know that there are those who would disagree with my rinsing the cooked ground beef because of the flavor loss. However, my experience suggests that the flavor really comes from the seasonings. However, skip the rinsing step if that's your preference.
I like my ground beef finely crumbled. Therefore, before returning the cooked ground beef to the skillet, I like to crumble it between the palms of my hands.
You will have some refried beans and taco meat left over. Use them for another purpose.