If you can’t get enough of Taco Bell, chances are, you’ve had their Mexican Pizza. This fun menu item allows diners to experience Italian and Tex-Mex fusion in one personal-sized package. The base recipe includes a mixture of seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, silky smooth refried beans, and a proprietary Mexican pizza sauce.
We experimented in our kitchens to give you our Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe, including a Mexican pizza sauce dupe! This recipe features the same sense of indulgence as Taco Bell’s version, and you can customize the toppings to fit your personal preference. Our Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas are the ideal family dinner, snack, or hangover cure. If you truly want to “Live Más,” make this recipe.
A History of Mexican Pizza
Taco Bell released its Mexican Pizza in the 1980s, but the concept has existed for much longer. Fast-food restaurants have always loved blending different types of food, and combining Tex-Mex with Italian pizza is a no-brainer. In fact, one of the most popular types of pizza is Taco Pizza.
This recipe is unique because it gives foodies a chance to enjoy a personal-sized Mexican Pizza that you can customize with whatever toppings they wish. Unlike larger pizzas, which use dough, this recipe uses tortillas for an authentic Tex-Mex flair. Making Mexican Pizza at home means you can customize the recipe to fit what works for your family. For example, substitute gluten and dairy-free ingredients for those that aren’t so allergy-friendly.
Though Mexican and Taco Pizzas are familiar in America, you’ll find something similar in Mexico, where they christen tostadas and sopas with similar toppings.
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Cost to Make Our Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe
If you purchased Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, it would cost you around $5.39. In contrast, you can make four of our Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas for just $12.48, which breaks down to about $3.12 per pizza!
Remember that this total may vary based on your location and ingredient availability. Here’s how that breaks down for the grocery store list:
- Ground beef: $4.00
- Salt: $0.02
- Chili powder: $0.20
- Smoked paprika: $0.40
- Garlic powder: $0.10
- Onion powder: $0.10
- Flour tortillas: $2.00
- Refried beans: $1.00
- Mexican blend cheese: $2.50
- Green onions: $0.25
- Roma tomatoes: $0.50
- Diced tomatoes and chilies: $1.00
- Sugar: $0.01
- Tomato paste: $0.10
- Taco Bell taco sauce: $0.10
- Paprika: $0.10
- Garlic powder: $0.05
- Onion powder: $0.05
Grand Total: $12.48
Now, when you tell the kids you “have Taco Bell at home,” they won’t complain! With that cost difference, you can definitely spring for the good queso!
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How to Make Homemade Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Here’s how to make enough Homemade Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas for the entire family!
Step One: Brown the Ground Beef Taco Meat
Place the canned refried beans in a small saucepan set over low heat and cook until warmed through. Remove from heat and set aside.
Set the ground beef in a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Cook until the meat is browned, then drain the extra grease.
Stir in the salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for that delicious flavor. Remove from heat.
Step Two: Make the Mexican Pizza Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the diced tomatoes and chilies, sugar, tomato paste, Taco Bell taco sauce, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder until homogenous.
Step Three: Assemble the Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Preheat the oven to 350℉ and set the tortillas on a baking sheet or large sheet pan on a wire rack. Warm the tortillas in the oven for 5 minutes. To assemble the Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe, lay down a tortilla and spread a thin layer of refried beans over the top, followed by a spoonful of seasoned ground beef and a sprinkle of Mexican cheese blend.
Place another tortilla on top and spread on a thin layer of Mexican pizza sauce. Top with more shredded cheese and bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is barely melted. Remove from the oven and top with chopped Roma tomatoes. Enjoy!
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What to Serve With Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Our Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is a great meal on its own, but you can always add a side of tortilla chips sprinkled with some taco seasoning and queso if you’re in the mood! You can also add any add-ons available at Taco Bell, like spicy salsa, sour cream, jalapeńos, and maybe some guacamole, black olives, chicken, enchilada sauce, or avocado ranch. Also feel free to substitute the ground beef for a shredded or rotissourie chicken, ground turkey, or our Chipotle steak recipe.
Storing Leftover Homemade Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
You can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to five days or freeze them for up to five months. If freezing, be sure to freeze the pizzas individually in an airtight container, or they will stick together!
The Classic Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe You Need to Make
Enjoy your favorite Taco Bell menu item AND skip the drive-thru? Sounds great to us! This fun fusion dish will be your new weeknight go-to, as it’s easy and delicious. This recipe features soft tortillas layered with flavorful beans, cheese, and ground beef. The icing on the cake is juicy, fresh Roma tomatoes, which add color and a burst of flavor. This is one fast-food copycat recipe that delivers!
- Saucepan
- Large skillet
- Small Bowl
- Large Sheet Pan
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 8 count flour tortillas (8-inch)
- 1 can refried beans (8-ounce, warmed)
- 1 bag Mexican blend cheese (8-ounce, shredded)
- 2 count Roma tomatoes (chopped)
Mexican Pizza Sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes and chilies (10-ounce, drained)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Taco Bell Taco Sauce
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Place the canned refried beans in a small saucepan set over low heat and cook until warmed through. Remove from heat and set aside.
Set the ground beef in a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Cook until the meat is browned, then drain the grease.
Stir in the salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Remove from heat.
In a small bowl, combine the diced tomatoes and chilies, sugar, tomato paste, Taco Bell taco sauce, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder until homogenous.
Preheat the oven to 350℉ and set the tortillas on a large sheet pan. Warm the tortillas in the oven for 5 minutes. To assemble the Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe, lay down a tortilla and spread a thin layer of refried beans over the top, followed by a spoonful of seasoned ground beef and a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
Place another tortilla on top and spread on a thin layer of Mexican pizza sauce.
Top with more shredded cheese and bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is barely melted. Remove from the oven and top with chopped Roma tomatoes. Enjoy!
Tillamook Mexican cheese blend really elevates the taste if you can find this at your grocery store. Just a bonus tip I discovered after another round of making these.