Description
This Mexican Taco Pizza brilliantly combines the best of taco night and pizza night into one delicious, satisfying dish. Featuring a homemade pizza dough base topped with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, salsa, and melted mozzarella cheese, this recipe delivers the familiar, kid-friendly flavors of tacos while satisfying pizza cravings. Ready in under an hour and easily customizable with your favorite taco toppings, this taco pizza is perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (King Arthur recommended)
- 1 package yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2/3 cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tbsp oil
For the Beef Filling:
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 preferred)
- 1 1/2 packages taco seasoning (Old El Paso recommended)
- 1/4 cup water
For Assembly:
- 1 cup refried beans (warmed slightly)
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Mix and Knead the Pizza Dough: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, yeast, salt, sugar, oregano, and garlic powder. Pour in the warm water (around 110°F) and oil, then stir until a shaggy dough forms. Gradually add the remaining flour, mixing until the dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Kneading by hand helps develop gluten for a better crust texture.
- Proof the Dough and Prepare Beef Filling: Place kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes until doubled in size. Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart. Drain excess fat. Stir in taco seasoning and water, simmer for 2-3 minutes until well coated. Warm refried beans slightly for easier spreading.
- Shape the Dough and Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F. Transfer risen dough to a lightly oiled pizza pan or baking sheet. Gently stretch and shape dough into a 12-inch circle, allowing it to rest if it springs back. Press dough evenly to cover pan.
- Layer Toppings and Bake: Spread warmed refried beans evenly over dough, leaving a small border around edges. Drizzle salsa over beans. Distribute seasoned ground beef evenly on top. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over all toppings. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Finish and Serve: Remove pizza from oven and let cool for 1-2 minutes. Slice and serve with fresh taco toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips, sour cream, or jalapeños as desired. Allow diners to customize their slices.
Notes
- For leaner ground meat, use ground turkey or chicken with a touch of oil added during cooking.
- You can substitute homemade pizza dough with store-bought dough, premade flatbreads, or naan bread.
- Use black or pinto beans instead of refried beans, or skip beans if preferred.
- Try different cheese blends such as Mexican cheese blend, cheddar, or Monterey Jack for varied flavor.
- Homemade taco seasoning can be made using chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne.
- Par-baking crust for 5-7 minutes before adding toppings helps prevent a soggy center.
- Drain ground beef thoroughly after browning to avoid greasy toppings.
- Do not overload with wet toppings to keep crust crispy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze slices wrapped tightly for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes for best texture; microwave if short on time, but crust will be less crispy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: taco pizza, Mexican pizza, ground beef pizza, homemade pizza dough, taco night, kid-friendly dinner, easy pizza recipe
