This Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe is the answer to every pizza night in our house — same bold flavors as the original made fresh at home with real ingredients for about $4 per serving. My family of 8 thinks it tastes better than the drive-through and honestly I have stopped arguing with them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This is one of those recipes my kids can actually make themselves — and they do. I set out all the toppings, fry the tortillas, and they build their own exactly the way they like it. In a house with 8 kids and 8 different opinions about toppings that kind of flexibility is everything.
- About $4 per serving with fresh real ingredients and no upcharges for toppings — same price as the restaurant with none of the limitations
- Ready in under 30 minutes with ingredients from any regular grocery store
- Crispy fried tortilla crust that holds everything together without getting soggy
- Completely customizable — everyone builds their own with their favorite toppings
- Kids can assemble their own pizzas — great for a fun family pizza night
- Tastes better than the original according to my very honest family of 8
If you love copycat Taco Bell recipes you will also love our Taco Bell Nacho Fries Recipe, Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme, and Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists. They are all made with simple grocery store ingredients and taste just as good as the restaurant version — made fresh at home in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef — the base of the taco meat. Ground turkey works as a lighter substitute and is often cheaper per pound
- Taco seasoning — use your favorite store-bought packet or our Taco Seasoning Recipe for even better flavor
- Taco-size flour tortillas — fried until crispy these become the pizza crust. Corn tortillas also work if that is what you have on hand
- Refried beans — spread on the first tortilla layer to hold everything together. Use vegetarian refried beans to make this meatless
- Red enchilada sauce — replaces traditional pizza sauce and gives it that authentic Taco Bell flavor. Use mild, medium, or hot depending on your family’s heat preference
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend — melts beautifully over the top. Pepper jack adds heat, Monterey Jack keeps it mild
- Vegetable oil — for frying the tortillas until crispy. Do not skip this step — the crispy shell is what makes this recipe
How to Make Taco Bell Mexican Pizza at Home
The secret to getting this right is the crispy tortilla. Frying them in oil for 3–4 minutes per side gives you that signature crunchy shell that holds the toppings without going soggy. Here is how it all comes together:
Step 1 – Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 – Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Drain the excess grease from the pan.
Step 3 – Next, stir in the taco seasoning and water. Allow to simmer for 4-6 until the water is cooked off and flavors are combined.
Step 4 – In a separate large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Cook the tortillas in the oil one at a time for 3-4 minutes until they are crispy. You will need to the flip tortillas regularly.
Step 5 – Follow this process with the rest of the flour tortillas. Heat up the refried beans in the microwave. Then lay 4 of the tortillas on a baking sheet.
Step 6 – Top with a layer of the refried beans and then the taco meat.
Step 7 – Then place the other tortilla on top.
Step 8 – Place some of the red enchilada sauce on top of the 2nd tortilla.
Step 9 – Place shredded cheddar cheese blend on top. Assemble all the pizzas.
Step 10 – Then bake for 8-10 minutes until they are heated through and the cheese is melted on top.
Step 11 – Top with your favorite taco toppings. My favorite is to top with tomatoes and green onions.
Tips for Success
- Fry the tortillas until they are truly crispy. A lightly golden tortilla will go soft under the toppings. You want deep golden brown and crispy — that is what holds everything together and gives you the authentic Taco Bell texture
- Do not skip the refried beans layer. The beans act as the glue between the two tortilla layers and keep the pizza from sliding apart when you pick it up
- Use hot enchilada sauce if your family likes heat. We use a mix of medium and hot in our house — the spicier the sauce the closer it tastes to the original
- Add cheese in the middle too. Some of my kids layer cheese between the two tortillas as well as on top — it melts into the beans and beef and holds everything together even better
- Set up a toppings bar. Put out small bowls of sour cream, jalapeños, tomatoes, green onions, and guacamole and let everyone finish their own pizza. My kids love being in charge of their own toppings
Variations and Substitutions
As with any pizza that you make, the options are endless when making this Mexican Pizza. Try these variations the next time you make this pizza:
- Swap ground beef for shredded chicken or ground turkey for a lighter version
- Use corn tortillas instead of flour for a more authentic crispy base
- Skip the refried beans for a lighter pizza or substitute with black beans
- Use pizza sauce instead of enchilada sauce for a fun fusion twist
- Make it vegetarian — load with black beans, corn, bell peppers, and skip the meat entirely.
- Use vegetarian refried beans
- Make it spicy — add diced jalapeños between the layers or use hot enchilada sauce
- Use low-carb tortillas to make a lighter version that still crisps up well
Mexican Pizza Topping Ideas
- Queso
- Sour Cream
- Onion
- Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- Tomato
- Quick Salsa Verde De Tomatillo Recipe
- Very Simple Guacamole Recipe
- The best pico de gallo recipe
- Green Onions
- Black Olives
- Jalapenos
Serving Suggestions
- Spanish Rice — the classic pairing that turns this into a full restaurant-style meal at home
- Crockpot Refried Beans — double the beans and serve a warm side bowl alongside the pizzas
- Pico de Gallo — fresh and bright as a topping or served on the side with chips
- Cilantro Lime Rice — a lighter rice option that pairs beautifully with the enchilada sauce flavors
Storage & Freezer Instructions
Refrigerator
- Store leftover pizzas in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days
- Store the tortillas and toppings separately if possible to prevent sogginess
- The taco meat stores well on its own for up to 4 days and can be used in tacos or burritos the next day
Freezer
- Freeze the cooked taco meat separately in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months
- Assembled pizzas do not freeze well — the tortillas lose their crispiness when thawed
- Make a double batch of taco meat and freeze half for the next time you make this recipe
Reheating
- Oven — reheat at 375 degrees F for 8–10 minutes to restore the crispy tortilla shell
- Air fryer — 370 degrees F for 3–4 minutes gives the best crispy result
- Microwave — works in a pinch but the tortilla will soften. Use the oven or air fryer whenever possible
Frequently Asked Questions
The original Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is made with two crispy fried flour tortillas layered with seasoned beef, refried beans, red enchilada sauce, and a three-cheese blend, topped with tomatoes and green onions. This homemade version uses the same layers and the same flavor profile — crispy tortilla, seasoned beef, refried beans, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese — made with simple grocery store ingredients and fresh real toppings you control yourself.
The key is frying them in vegetable oil over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes per side until they are deep golden brown — not just lightly golden. A properly fried tortilla will stay crispy under the toppings and hold together when you pick it up. If the tortilla goes soft it was not fried long enough. Drain on a paper towel after frying to remove excess oil.
You can make the ingredients ahead but we recommend assembling and baking just before serving for the best texture.
Yes — air fry the tortillas at 400 degrees F for 3–4 minutes per side until crispy. Lightly spray with cooking spray before air frying. The result is slightly less golden than the oil-fried version but still crispy and significantly lighter. This is a great option if you want to skip the frying oil entirely.
More Easy Tex-Mex Recipes
This Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe has become one of our most requested pizza nights in a house that already loves pizza more than almost anything else. It is fast, made with fresh real ingredients, and completely customizable — which means every single one of my 8 kids is happy at the table.
If you make it leave a star rating and a comment below — I love hearing which toppings your family chose and whether your kids declared it better than Taco Bell the way mine did!
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning or ½ of a taco seasoning packet
- ½ cup Water
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 8 Taco size Flour Tortillas
- 1 can Refried Beans 15 oz
- 1 can Red Enchilada Sauce 10 oz
- 2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
- 1 to mato diced
- 2 Green Onions Sliced
- 1 cup of Black Olives sliced
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, brown 1 pound ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease, then stir in 1 tablespoon taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Simmer for 4–6 minutes until the liquid cooks off.
- In a separate skillet, heat 1 cup vegetable oil over medium heat. Fry 8 taco-size flour tortillas one at a time for 3–4 minutes, flipping frequently until crispy. Set aside.
- Heat 1 can (15 oz) refried beans in the microwave until warm.
- Place 4 tortillas on a baking sheet. Spread a layer of refried beans evenly over each, then top with the seasoned ground beef.
- Place the remaining 4 tortillas on top to form stacks.
- Spoon 1 can (10 oz) red enchilada sauce evenly over the top tortillas, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Top with 1 diced tomato, 2 sliced green onions, and 1 cup sliced black olives.
- Slice and serve warm.
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I love this from Taco Bell! Now I can have it more often! ??
This was really good. My whole family liked it. Easy to make, few ingredients
Michelle – I’m so glad the entire family loved it. Thanks for leaving a comment!
This was really good. My family loved it. Easy to make.
Michelle – yay! Thanks for letting us know.
Five star, great and easy
This recipe is easy, yummy and budget friendly! Our kids like to customize their won.
This recipe was a total hit—everyone went back for seconds!
One of my favorites!
So fun and delicious!
I love Taco Bell, and I love thin-crust pizzas, and this is one of the best combinations for me! It’s simple to make and everyone in the family can have a pizza of their own that they can customize.
My son ate this up! Will be making it again!
Delicious! I have been missing the one from Taco Bell so I’m so glad I found this recipe. Thank you!
This was so similar to the taco bell pizza!
“Servings” says 6 but it only makes 4 pizzas. Is there enough to add 4 more tortillas and make two more?
Sorry about that! This recipe serves 4 and I have updated that information on the recipe.
My kids devoured it! I added a layer of cheese between the beans and meat, because, why not! Thanks for the recipe!
I think if I had used a different brand of tortilla, it would have been an A+! Buying Taco Bell brand before I make them again.