Quick and Easy Taco Pizza

 

My family loves pizza and we love Mexican food. So we combined our two favorite foods together to make a Mexican Pizza. 

You can skip the take-out, waiting in line, and delivery charges by making your own pizza. This is a recipe and easy recipe. No dough to mess with or wait for it to rise. You can use tortillas or burrito wraps instead. It is one recipe that the whole family will be able to enjoy as they make their own personal pizza.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbs. taco seasoning *see below
salt and pepper to taste
4 9-inch tortillas
oil for frying
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. vinegar
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
2 tbs. butter
2 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning
1 1/2 c. cheese, shredded or sliced We use sharp cheddar and pepper jack
1 bell pepper, chopped
olives, sliced thin
mushrooms, sliced
2 or more Jalapeños, sliced thin
Roma tomatoes, chopped
sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Set out 1 large baking sheet. If your tortillas are too big to sit side by side on the baking sheet, you will need to use 2 baking sheets.

In a heavy cast iron skillet over medium heat, add ground beef and onion.  Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Season with 3 teaspoons taco seasoning. You can use more or less depending on your taste.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

In a large cast iron skillet, pour in 1/2 inch oil.  Heat the oil to 350° over medium-high heat.

Fry the tortillas until they begin to puff up and there are some golden brown spots underneath. This does not take very long, so do not walk away. Turn the tortilla over to fry the other side.  Place on a wire rack to cool. Repeat the frying process for the remaining tortillas. 

In a small saucepan, add tomato sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a simmer. You can let the sauce simmer over very low heat while you prepare the refried beans.

In another small sauce pan, add refried beans, butter and 2 teaspoons taco seasoning.   Mix well.  Cook over medium heat until heated through. 

Place a tortilla on a baking sheet. Spread a layer of beans on one side of the tortilla.  Add half the meat over the top of the refried beans. Pour a fourth of the sauce over the top of the meat. Add some bell peppers, mushrooms, olives or the foods that you enjoy on a pizza. Add cheese. Place a tortilla on top of the cheese. Spread an even layer over the top and then place cheese over the top. Repeat with the process with the remaining tortillas.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and they are heated through. 

Remove from the oven. Serve with sour cream, tomatoes and jalapeños over the top as desired. 

Notes

You can open up a packet of Taco Seasoning that you buy at the store, or you can make your own blend of Taco Seasoning. Our recipe for Taco Seasoning blend can be found here.

Also, do not buy the pre-shredded cheeses. I know they are more convenient, especially if you are in a hurry. However, that convenience may come at a price to your health.  Pre-shredded cheese contains Natamycin which is a macrolide antifungal.  This is an ingredient used to treat some types of fungal infections of the eye. However, this ingredient is by prescription only. It is only available to you if a doctor prescribes it to you.  

You can still buy the brick cheese. They do not add this ingredient to the brick cheese.