Description
Craving bold flavors? This homemade Mexican pizza delivers zesty layers of spiced ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy tortilla crusts that dance with authentic Mexican culinary spirit. Savor each bite of this quick, easy meal that brings restaurant-style deliciousness straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Protein:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
Sauces and Cheese:
- 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
- 1 can (10 ounces) red enchilada sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded pepper-jack cheese
Toppings:
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 1 small can sliced black olives
Optional Additional Toppings:
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Jalapenos, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare two baking sheets with non-stick spray. Arrange tortillas in a single layer across the sheets.
- Crisp the tortillas for 3-5 minutes, then flip and bake an additional 2-5 minutes until edges turn golden and crisp. Remove and set aside while maintaining oven temperature.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking into crumbles until fully browned. Drain excess grease thoroughly.
- Mix taco seasoning and water into the beef. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until liquid reduces significantly. Remove from heat.
- Microwave refried beans for 1-2 minutes, stirring to create a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Position three crisped tortillas on a clean baking sheet. Spread a thin, even layer of warmed refried beans across each tortilla.
- Evenly distribute seasoned ground beef over the bean layer on each tortilla.
- Top the meat layer with another crisped tortilla, creating a layered pizza-like structure.
- Drizzle enchilada sauce over the top tortilla. Generously sprinkle a blend of cheddar and pepper-jack cheeses across each pizza.
- Garnish with diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, and black olive pieces distributed evenly.
- Return pizzas to the oven and bake for approximately 5 minutes until cheese melts completely and becomes bubbly.
- Allow pizzas to cool for 2-3 minutes after removing from oven. Slice into quarters and serve with optional accompaniments like sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, or jalapeños.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu or black beans for a vegetarian version that maintains the hearty texture and protein content.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising the crispy base of the pizza.
- Opt for low-fat cheese or dairy-free cheese alternatives to reduce calories and make the recipe more heart-healthy while keeping the delicious melted topping.
- Enhance nutrition by adding extra vegetables like bell peppers, spinach, or corn to boost the pizza’s vitamin and mineral content without changing the authentic Mexican flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg