Some kids have a special blanket or stuffed animal they turn to on really hard days. But that’s apparently frowned upon once you become an adult, so we have to get creative. For me, that has meant grabbing Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza when I can’t seem to adult anymore. It’s my stuffed animal, my blanket that’s worn to threads, my pacifier. So when I heard that Taco Bell was removing it from their menu line up, my world shattered just a little. What’s a girl to do? So many of you suggested that I replicate it in a recipe. I happily obliged with four trips to Taco Bell for market research. Dare I say, the result may even be better than the original.
Mexican Pizza Ingredients
The first requirement was obvious: it had to be super quick and easy, because that’s the exact reason we resort to fast food in the first place. So this recipe is as simple as they come. There’s not even set quantities to measure!
- Ground Beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Refried Beans
- Milk (optional)
- Tostadas
- Mild Enchilada Sauce
- Mexican Cheese Blend
- Toppings of Your Choice (I like lettuce, tomato, green onion, olives, and sour cream)
Cooking
Begin by preheating the oven to 375 F. Then, brown some ground beef. I chose to do half a pound, but feel free to cook for an army and save the rest for later!
While the beef is cooking, heat up the refried beans. If they are a little too thick, stir in a splash of milk to make them more spreadable.
When the beef is brown, add taco seasoning. Use 1 packet for every pound of meat.
I like using store bought tostadas, which are basically like big chips. You can fry up your own, but I feel like they never get quite crispy enough. Plus, buying them at the store eliminates the step of needing to fry something.
Spread a layer of the refried beans and top with ground beef. You could even make it vegetarian by omitting the beef, and it would still be delicious.
Top with another tostada shell.
Spoon the enchilada sauce on top, then sprinkle the Mexican cheese. (I even managed to find the Taco Bell brand to make it even more authentic! It seemed like a match made in heaven.)
Repeat the process to assemble the rest of the pizzas. Then it’s into the oven! They only need two or three minutes for the cheese to melt since everything is already cooked through.
Assembly
Once they are out of the oven, you can completely customize the toppings. This is what makes the homemade mexican pizza even better than the original. The traditional mexican pizzas from Taco Bell have lettuce and tomatoes, but we also added sliced olives, green onions and sour cream. Avocado would also be really good! (Note to self: add guacamole next time).
The most difficult part of this recipe is deciding whether to eat it with a fork or your hands! I typically choose the best-of-both worlds and eat the top with a fork and the bottom with my hands.
What is your go-to comfort food as an adult? Think about it. Take your time. I’ll just be sitting here eating mine while I wait.
Mexican Pizza
- Ground Beef<br />
- Taco Seasoning
- Refried Beans
- Milk (optional)
- Tostadas
- Mild Enchilada Sauce
- Mexican Cheese Blend (shredded)
- Toppings of Choice ((I like lettuce, tomato, green onion, olives, and sour cream)<br />)
Preheat oven to 375 °F.
Brown ground beef.
Warm refried beans and thin with a splash of milk if needed.
When the beef is brown, add taco seasoning. Use 1 packet for every pound of meat.
Spread a layer of the refried beans on a tostada, then top with ground beef and a second tostada. You could even make it vegetarian by omitting the beef, and it would still be delicious.
Spoon the enchilada sauce on top, then sprinkle the Mexican cheese.
Repeat the process to assemble the rest of the pizzas.
Cook for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese.
Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
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