When I was in high school, I used to love going to Taco Bell after work and ordering the Mexican Pizza. I don’t know what it was about it…maybe the crunch of the tortillas and the mix of cheese and enchilada sauce? Whatever it was, it got me every time. Then, one night after work I went to the drive-thru, ordered my pizza, and drove off….without my change! When I got home I realized my mistake, so I called and asked to talk to the manager. They said they would count out the register drawer when they closed, and would refund my change. Sure enough, I never heard back so I called the next day. The manager told me the register was not ‘over’ meaning there was no extra cash there. I came to the conclusion that the drive through person must have pocketed my change (I paid with a $20, and that’s a lot to a 16 year old…well, in 2001 it was!), and I vowed never to eat at Taco Bell again! Well my vow lasted a long time, and by the time I found myself stuck at Taco Bell again, I was a vegetarian and there are super limited options. My favorite? A Crispy Potato Soft Taco, but these bad boys definitely are not healthy.
Okay, flash forward to the present where I actually know how to cook. I saw a couple pins on Pinterest one day for DIY Mexican Pizza’s and it brought back all the memories of TB Mexican Pizzas. The only difference is that now that I am a vegetarian, I obviously don’t want beef on my pizza (and no one should want TB’s ground beef…considering it might only be like 30% beef or some crazy gross stat like that). I came up with a healthier version that just uses refried beans (check out this awesome refried bean recipe), and let me tell you, it’s delicious, and JUST like Taco Bells Mexican Pizza (probably better actually). If you aren’t a vegetarian, it would be easy for you to brown up some ground beef or ground turkey and throw it in there. This is delicious, it’s quick, it’s healthy (only 400 calories per pizza, which is great for how filling it is), and you will love it. I use La Banderita Tortillas
I like using my homemade chipotle enchilada sauce on these too, because it gives them a smokey kick! But, it definitely takes the flavor to a different place than TB’s pizzas…which isn’t a bad thing if you like some smokey heat! Get the recipe here.
[yumprint-recipe id=’87’]Things you might need for this recipe (aff. links)
Cutting Board
Baking Sheet
Parchment paper
Santoku Knife
Like Mexican food as much as I do? Check out some of these other Mexican inspired recipes from Domestic Superhero:
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Thanks for visiting!
– Allyson
I haven’t eaten at Taco Bell in more years than I can count… but this makes me hunger for a mexican pizza like none other – because that was my favorite as well! Thank you!
It’s hard to get rid of those old memories! Thanks for coming by!
It’s hard to get rid of those old memories! Thanks for coming by!
This sounds yummy! Might have to try this. Looks better than the Taco Bell version!!
Thanks, Erin!
I am not a huge TB fan, but I ended up there on a road trip once and I had this Mexican Pizza and I loved it. I’ve been dying to try it at home, but now I’m doing WW. The point value is 14 which is kind of high. Any way I can bring down the fat? I’m not vegetarian. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hmmm, How about using thr recipe to make your own ‘refried’ beans? That may cut it down a lot? What item has the most points? Maybe using whole wheat tortillas? You could easily reduce the cheese to 1/4 cup or even just sprinkle on a few TBS’s. I think all those things would help a lot!
Thanks! I’m pretty sure it’s a little bit of everything, but I love the idea to use their recipe. I wonder if there’s a fat-free canned version out there. Thanks for the ideas!
I have seen ton’s of fat free refried beans out there! You can also use part skim cheese and maybe lowfat/low carb tortillas!
It’s lunch and I’m starving! I’d love nothing more than one of these!!! Thanks for the recipe and the yummy photos!
xo
You know, when I was writing this post at 10am I was wondering why I was so hungry….duh! Thanks for stopping by Robin!
These sound great and are probably WAY better for you than their version! Pinning 🙂
Yes! for sure! Thanks for coming by, Meredith!
Now I am craving these!!
This looks AMAZING! Definitely going on next weeks’ menu. Trying so hard not to drool right now.
Let me know how you like them! Thanks for stopping by!
First, I was a Mexican Pizza girl in high school too…still love them, and they are my daughter’s favorite. Unfortunately, she is now gluten free, so I can’t wait to make her one using a corn tortilla…THANKS for the recipe!!
Please let me know if you try them, and if you sub out for the corn tortillas. I’d like to know and I could add a side note to the recipe! Thanks!
use a homemade gluten free pizza dough rolled thin and partially bake them and store them in the freezer for when you need one for her.
Oh, yes. These look AMAZING. I want to eat one right now. Pinning this for later reference 😉
Thanks for coming by!
These look very yummy! I’m gluten-intolerant so I’d have to substitute corn tortillas, but I definitely need to give these a try! 🙂
Please let me know if you try them, and if you sub out for the corn tortillas. I’d like to know and I could add a side note to the recipe! Thanks!
Hi! This looks very appealing but I’m flour-free now for 3-weeks (not gluten free). I made a simular mexican pizza but used quinoa as the basis with a salsa sauce, some beans, tomatoes, onions & handful of mexican cheese. When it had all melted I ate it with a dolp of greek yogurt! I just wanted to let you know that I had made it without tortillas. YUM. 🙂
You could just use corn tortillas as a substitute as well.
My family will cry ‘ole for this!
Hi! From its looks, I can already sense that it is really delicious. Definitely will give this a try this coming weekend. Thanks for sharing! I am really a pizza lover!
Oh my goodness! This looks fantastic – can’t wait to make these for my family. Thanks for posting 🙂
Let me know how you like them! Thanks for stopping by!
Do you think I could use corn tortillas instead of wheat to make this gluten free?
I think you could try! A couple other people commented that they were going to try the same thing! If you do, please let me know how it is!
Yummm!!! I’m going to have to try this soon. Looks fabulous.
Thanks for coming by Domestic Superhero, Lucy!!
My kids would love this. Taco bell is one of their favorite fast food restaurants. Thank you for sharing at Fluster’s Creative Muster.
Robin
Fluster Buster
This looks great!
I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party. The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday’s at midnight.
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy
Thanks! Done and done!
Oh I have great memories of TB! My kiddos would love this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for coming by, Bonnie!
Pinned! from the Pin Me party 🙂 I do like the layer of beans in between !
Linda
With A Blast
Thank you for coming by, Linda!
Visiting from the PIN ME Linky Party. My family loves mexican, but I am always looking for new ideas instead of just having tacos. These look delicious. I pinned!
Thanks for your pin and coming by! I hope y’all like them!
Taco Bell is my guilty pleasure and this looks great!!! Found you at Peek Into My Paradise linky
Thanks for coming to check it out!! Come back again!
I live in London and miss Taco Bell so much from my time in the US….will have to try this recipe out sometime soon!
You won’t be sorry…you will totally forget there is no TB there!
Suddenly I’m starving! 🙂 dropping in from GA DIY! 🙂
Thanks for coming by, Lindsey!
I love those pizzas! I’m definitely pinning this. Thanks so much for joining us at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs
How unjust! What goes around, comes around and I hope something nice came around for you back then. At least now you have your great taco pizza!
Very true…Thanks for stopping by!
These look delicious! I love Mexican pizzas too! Pinning!
Yum! I love mexican pizzas! I’m pinning this and sharing it on my Facebook page this week! Thanks so much for linking it up to my party!
Thanks Jessi! I am going to keep my eye out 🙂
Just made this and I had to comment because it was DELISH! Also wanted to add that I used corn tortillas (though I cheated a bit and bought the tostadas that are already crispy) and they were perfect. I know several people asked about them but I didn’t see where anyone said if they worked out. Thanks a ton!
I am so happy they turned out well for you, Darcie! And also happy that now we can say they can be made with corn tortillas! Thanks so much for coming back to share!
These look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing.
Blessings,
Nici
Anything that says Taco Bell is a winner in my book 😉
Thanks for linking these up at Super Sunday! Can’t wait to see what you bring us next week!
http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/06/super-sunday-party-1/
This is my FAVORITE menu item at Taco Bell! I often order it without meat. But man oh man I am going to have to try your recipe one day. Pinned!
Thanks, Julia!!!
I’m shocked at how good these are! I’ve never ordered this at Taco Bell, but the recipe looked good on Pinterest. Seriously, these are yummy!
Thanks for coming by, Rebecca! You did yourself a favor by never checking out Taco Bell! I am so happy you stopped by, made the recipe, and let me know that you liked them! I hope you’ll come over and join me on Facebook! Lots of great recipes to come! Cheers!
Oh my goodness! I just made these for dinner and they were DELICIOUS! It’s been forever since I ate at TB and I forgot how much I loved these. Thanks for the healthier version. I used corn tortillas because that’s what I had. Yum!
I am so happy you loved them! They are tasty and super popular in this house, too! I will have to try them sometime with corn tortillas as we always have tons of those on hand! Thanks for coming by!
Our family is 4 generations of Taco Bell freaks and this recipe will work nicely with a little modification. I will pre chop and shred all the tomatoes, onions, lettuce cheeses and peppers for side dishes along with the sour cream and enchilada sauce. Everyone can put their own smear of beans and cooked ground beef and ground chicken on their pre baked tortillas. This will be a fun time for all and definitely will go well with our usual “remember when” thing we always get into at family gatherings.
I really thought this would be a fun idea for a party. So I featured it on my Friday Five – Mexican addition over @Feed Your Soul Too – http://www.feedyoursoul2.com/2014/06/friday-five-mexican-addition-3.html
I just made these tonight and they were awesome!! I took used to LOVE the Taco Bell version, but I have not been to one in years, for multiple reasons. I made these with the Beyond Meat beef crumbles and they were fabulous!! Thanks for the great recipe!
The beyond meat crumbles sound like a great option to add! I am so happy you liked them, they are seriously on rotation every couple of weeks at our house!
Oh, this sounds delicious and like a fun variation from the usual pizza! I’m pretty sure my kids would love it. Pinning it to add to our menu soon!
They are SO good!
Okay, so I’ve never even had these from Taco Bell, but I wanted to try a homemade version. Holy moly! How can something so simple be so delicious?? I used salsa instead of enchilada sauce because I had some that needed to be used. Fantastic!!! Straight into my favorites file!
Yay! I am so happy you loved them! We seriously eat them ALL the time around here, they are so great and easy! Thanks for commenting 🙂
This is one of my favorite things at Taco Bell! I love their Pizza shells though. These look so darn yummy!
When you crisp up some tortillas, you can barely tell a difference! They are SO delicious!
I am also Gluten Free. You can buy gluten free tortillas and they are actually good. I think it would be better than the corn ones. I’m not sure they could taste the same with the corn tortillas.
That is a great idea! I actually had someone comment on my facebook page today, and post a photo that they used corn tortillas and they really enjoyed them – so it seems like a good option! I do think if the GF tortillas are more of the consistency of a flour tortilla, they would be better though 🙂
Looks good but I would add black olives and sour cream!!
Those would be great additions! Let me know how it turns out! Feel free to post a picture on my facebook page!
What kind of enchilada sauce do you use?
Hi Karen – I typically use the enchilada sauce found on my blog, which is homemade, recipe here. If you don’t want to make your own, I recommend Old El Paso Red Enchilada sauce or really any store brand works!
To make taste even more like Taco Bells When I do make them I get sides of the pizza sauce & red sauce from taco bell, U can get a good amount for a couple of dollars.
Great tip! I think they even sell Taco Bell sauce in grocery stores!
I had a similar experience at Taco Bell – I paid with cash and the guy told me some weird excuse like he closed the drawer without getting my change, and couldn’t get it back open until someone else ordered – he told me to go drive around to the end of the drive through line and he’d have my change when I got back. It was obviously not true, but I was too chicken to stand up for myself, so I did it, and he looked so surprised when I actually came back. I remember he gave me some change, but I’m pretty sure not all of it. I’ve never tried their Mexican pizzas, but it sounds yummy, I’ll have to try it!
Total scam!! So sorry that happened to you, too! Well, try this recipe..you won’t be missing ANYTHING from TB!
This may have been said by now, but there’s tons for a vegetarian to eat at Taco Bell. It was my favorite fast food when I was. You can sub any meat for beans and honestly, that makes it ten times tastier.
Yes! They are good about subbing things out! I love their spicy potato soft taco, have you tried that?
This sounds so yum! Thank you for posting this. The work day is over and I’m going to go home and make it!
I hope you like it as much as we do!