Mexican Pizza
Spring is almost here, though it is being a bit of a tease here in North Carolina. For a lot of families, Spring brings busier schedules with sports and other activities, along with the need for quick and easy dinner options.
I shared Huevos Rancheros with you a few weeks ago as one of these quick and easy meals. Corn tostadas were the base of this meal and after using only a few, there are still a lot left in the package.
Trying to think of something else to make that would use up more tostadas, I decided to make a version of Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza. They are incredibly easy, yummy and use things you likely already have on hand – perfect for a busy weeknight.
All you need is some good ground beef, tostadas and some basic taco toppings and you can throw together a wild and crazy Mexican pizza.
Start by browning up the ground beef and mixing in the taco seasoning. I like to add a little salsa to liven up my taco meat and keep it moist. I add about 1/4 cup to a 1/2 cup of whatever kind I have on hand.
Next, you spread some refried beans on top of the tostadas. I like refried black beans, but you can use refried pinto beans instead, if you prefer. I also like to add a little squeeze of lime juice to the beans.
Add a little meat to each tostada, top with another tostada, then add a bit more beans, a layer of enchilada sauce and some cheese.
Heat them up and melt the cheese by popping them under the broiler for just a few minutes. Top with additional taco style toppings and ¡Qué delicioso!
It is an extremely adaptable meal. You can use leftover taco meat if you already have some made, or you can leave out the meat for a vegetarian meal. You can choose to use spicy enchilada sauce for more of a kick, or taco sauce instead. And of course you can add any and all toppings you can dream up.
AuthorMelissa JoyDifficultyBeginnerSlice the tomatoes, green onions and black olives and set them aside.
Brown the ground beef and drain off the excess fat.
Add the taco seasoning to the ground beef and combine well.
Add about 1/4 cup of salsa to the meat mixture and stir again.
Take 4 tostadas and spread a layer of refried beans on each one.
Spread some ground beef mixture on each tostada. (You will have meat left after this step, unless you want super meaty pizzas. Save the leftovers for tacos, nachos or a taco salad.)
Stack a second tostada on each one. Spread another thin layer of refried black beans on the tops of the second tostadas.
Add a thin layer of enchilada sauce to each Mexican pizza and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Place the stacks on a baking pan and pop them in the broiler and watch them carefully. Remove them as soon as the cheese is melted.
Add tomatoes, green onions and black olives. Top with sour cream and enjoy!
Ingredients
Directions
Slice the tomatoes, green onions and black olives and set them aside.
Brown the ground beef and drain off the excess fat.
Add the taco seasoning to the ground beef and combine well.
Add about 1/4 cup of salsa to the meat mixture and stir again.
Take 4 tostadas and spread a layer of refried beans on each one.
Spread some ground beef mixture on each tostada. (You will have meat left after this step, unless you want super meaty pizzas. Save the leftovers for tacos, nachos or a taco salad.)
Stack a second tostada on each one. Spread another thin layer of refried black beans on the tops of the second tostadas.
Add a thin layer of enchilada sauce to each Mexican pizza and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Place the stacks on a baking pan and pop them in the broiler and watch them carefully. Remove them as soon as the cheese is melted.
Add tomatoes, green onions and black olives. Top with sour cream and enjoy!
If you have something else that you make with your leftover tostadas, I would love to hear about it.
2 Comments
Sandy Jones
Look forward to giving this a try. This looks right up our ally.
KELLY WILLIAMS
I made these for tonight’s dinner. It was a hit! Thanks for sharing it and inspiring a new meal for my lineup. Jerron says it’s in his “top ten.” Awesome yumminess.