Description
These Easy Mexican Pizzas are a flavorful and fun twist on traditional pizza, featuring a crispy fried tortilla base layered with refried beans, seasoned ground beef, melty Colby Jack cheese, and topped with fresh tomatoes and green onions. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering, this recipe serves 8 and can be on your table in just 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 chopped onion
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1 TBSP minced garlic
Tortillas and Assembly
- 16 small Fajita-size flour tortillas
- 1 can refried beans
- Taco sauce, amount as desired
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Diced tomatoes, for topping
- Chopped green onions, for topping
- Vegetable oil, for frying the tortillas
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease from the skillet to keep the mixture from being too oily.
- Season the Beef: To the cooked beef, add salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, dried cilantro, cayenne, and minced garlic. Stir thoroughly to combine all the seasonings evenly with the meat. Let it cook together for another 1-2 minutes to enhance the flavors.
- Fry the Tortillas: Heat vegetable oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Fry each flour tortilla one at a time until they become golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Assemble the Pizzas: On one fried tortilla, spread a generous layer of refried beans. Top with a portion of the seasoned ground beef and sprinkle with shredded Colby Jack cheese. Place another fried tortilla on top, then add taco sauce and additional cheese as desired.
- Bake the Assembled Pizzas: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Place the assembled pizzas on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the Mexican pizzas from the oven and top with fresh diced tomatoes and chopped green onions. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the crispy, cheesy, and flavorful experience.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper to make the pizzas more or less spicy according to your taste.
- Using small fajita-size tortillas keeps the pizzas manageable and perfect for serving as a main course or snack.
- Drain the cooked ground beef well to prevent soggy tortillas during baking.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked, seasoned beans or a plant-based protein.
- These pizzas are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in an oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying and Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
