Thanks to Old El Paso Cheese for sponsoring this post.
Bring the family together with an easy dinner recipe that combines two of your kids' favorite meals -- tacos and pizza! This Mexican-inspired Taco Pizza is topped with zesty ground beef, perfectly spiced refried beans, and plenty of creamy, melty cheese for a flavorful fiesta any night of the week.
The ideal family-friendly dinner is one that everyone at the table can agree on -- and that comes together quickly! Most of us don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen each night, so a simple 30-minute Taco Pizza recipe is a great way to nourish your loved ones without too much effort. Old El Paso's Mexican meal components like taco seasoning, refried beans and the new line of shredded cheeses make flavorful dinners easy to assemble, no matter how hectic your schedule might be.
How to make Taco Pizza:
This Mexican pizza is exactly what it sounds like -- a golden, crispy pizza crust topped with all of your favorite taco ingredients. Best of all, it's completely customizable, so feel free to let each person garnish with her favorite toppings. Here's what you'll need:
- Pizza dough
- Old El Paso refried beans
- Ground beef
- Old El Paso taco seasoning
- Salsa
- Old El Paso shredded cheese
First, unroll a can of refrigerated pizza dough on a greased baking sheet. Bake the dough in a 400 degree F oven for about 8 minutes -- just so that it has a chance to get slightly golden brown before you add the rest of the toppings.
While the crust bakes, prepare the taco meat. Stir ½ cup of your favorite salsa into the cooked meat for added flavor and moisture.
Spread the refried beans on the warm pizza crust...
...and then finish with a layer of taco meat and a sprinkling of your favorite Old El Paso shredded cheese.
The best cheese for Taco Pizza:
Old El Paso's beans, taco seasoning, taco sauce, tortillas and taco shells have been a staple in our kitchen for years, so I was thrilled when I learned that the company now has a complete line of shredded cheeses to complement the other offerings. It only makes sense, because what's a taco (or a pizza) without the cheese?!
The Old El Paso cheeses can be found in retailers nationwide, and are available in the following varieties:
- Shredded Monterey Jack: a delicate, buttery, slightly tart cheese that melts easily;
- Shredded 3-Pepper Cheese: for those who like it hot!
- Finely Shredded Mexican Style Taco Cheese Blend: my pick for this pizza recipe, the blend of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses with taco seasonings is the perfect way to add depth of flavor to tacos and other dishes that include taco meat;
- Shredded Mexican Style 4-Cheese Blend: another great option for this pizza recipe, the blend of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla and Asadero cheeses works well in just about any Mexican-inspired dish;
- Shredded Quesadilla Cheese: rich, creamy, and oh-so-melty!
- Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese: always and forever my boys' favorite!
With a thick layer of cheese on top, the pizza goes back in the oven for about 6-10 minutes. The cheese will melt, the crust will turn a darker golden brown, and the taco meat will be nice and warm. Then just slice and serve!
What to serve with Taco Pizza:
Set out a variety of toppings and let your family members customize their pizza slices! Here are some good options:
- Sliced olives
- Diced avocado or guacamole
- Sour cream
- Chopped lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced green onions or finely diced red onion
- Fresh cilantro
On the side, pair the Mexican pizza with any of these easy dishes:
- A simple green salad dressed in a cool Buttermilk Dressing
- Healthy and Easy Corn Salad
- Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
Storage and Preparation Tips:
- Prepare the taco meat in advance and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you're ready to bake your pizza, half of the work is already done!
- Leftover taco pizza will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be aware that the crust may get a bit soggy as it sits, so this recipe is best when served fresh.
- Wrap the baked, cooled pizza tightly with heavy aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- To reheat Taco Pizza: Place the cold slices on a rimmed baking sheet, cover the sheet tightly with aluminum foil, and place it on the lowest rack of a cold oven. Set the oven temperature to 275 degrees F and warm the pizza for 25-30 minutes. If you're in a hurry, the microwave will work too -- the crust just doesn't get crispy.
Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:
- I prefer the Old El Paso Mexican Style Taco Cheese Blend for this recipe, because it's a perfect complement to taco meat. You can substitute with any of the other Old El Paso shredded cheeses. The Mexican Style 4-Cheese Blend and the Finely Shredded Cheddar are both favorites around here as well.
- Any pizza dough will work for this recipe. I like the can of refrigerated dough because it's convenient, but you can certainly prepare your own dough from scratch, buy a ball of fresh dough from the store, or use a prepared, baked pizza crust and just add the toppings.
- No matter which type of pizza dough you use, I recommend pre-baking the crust before adding the toppings. This helps the crust stay crisp and firm, even when it's piled high with beans, beef and cheese.
- Prepare your Taco Pizzas on flour or corn tortillas instead of a traditional pizza crust. I recommend pre-baking the tortillas (just like you would pre-bake the pizza dough) in order to prevent the tortillas from getting soggy.
- Substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken instead of the beef.
America's Cheesiest Family Contest:
Contest Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. Ends 11:59 p.m. CT 5/5/20 25+. Details and Rules: cheesiestfamily.com.
Before you go, I've got a fun, quick announcement to share! From February 27 through Cinco de Mayo, Old El Paso will be searching for #AmericasCheesiestFamily. To enter, submit a family photo that creatively incorporates cheese at www.CheesiestFamily.com for the chance to win weekly prizes such as tablets, a television, sporting tickets and more.
The grand prize winner will receive a four-day/three-night trip for four to Yellowstone National Park, which includes round-trip economy class air transportation, an SUV car rental, accommodations at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins and a private tour of the area.
I hope that you'll join in the fun! Here's a snapshot of my cheesy crew with their favorite cheeses...
More Mexican-inspired dinners that would be perfect with #OldElPasoCheese:
- Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- 5-Ingredient Taco Casserole
- Doritos Taco Salad
- The Easiest Burritos
- Baked Taquitos
Taco Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 (13.8 ounce) can refrigerated pizza dough
- 1 (16 ounce) can Old El Paso refried beans
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 (1 ounce) packet Old El Paso taco seasoning
- ½ cup salsa
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Old El Paso Mexican Style Taco Cheese Blend or Old El Paso Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Optional toppings: sliced olives, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado or guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, diced red onion or sliced green onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Spray a 15 x 10-inch baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Unroll dough and press into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a crust. Bake crust for 8 minutes, or just until lightly browned.
- While the crust bakes, cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet. Stir in taco seasoning mix and ⅔ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 3-4 minutes (stirring often), until thickened. Stir in salsa.
- Spread refried beans onto the baked crust. Spoon beef mixture over the refried beans. Sprinkle with cheese.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 6-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Cut into squares, garnish with optional toppings, and serve.
Notes
- I prefer the Old El Paso Mexican Style Taco Cheese Blend for this recipe, because it's a perfect complement to taco meat. You can substitute with any of the other Old El Paso shredded cheeses. The Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend and the Finely Shredded Cheddar are both favorites around here as well.
- Any pizza dough will work for this recipe. I like the can of refrigerated dough because it's convenient, but you can certainly prepare your own dough from scratch, buy a ball of fresh dough from the store, or use a prepared, baked pizza crust and just add the toppings.
- No matter which type of pizza dough you use, I recommend pre-baking the crust before adding the toppings. This helps the crust stay crisp and firm (and avoids a soggy, mushy mess), even when it's piled high with beans, beef and cheese.
- Use the same ingredients to prepare your Taco Pizzas on flour or corn tortillas instead of a traditional pizza crust. I recommend pre-baking the tortillas (just like you would pre-bake the pizza dough) in order to prevent the tortillas from getting soggy.
- Substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken instead of the beef.
Deb Leonard
I've made this many times over the years and have a tip for spreading the refried beans (I always use the Traditional kind) . Add a small amount of Old El Paso enchilada sauce to to make them more spreadable. An added bonus is that it adds some flavor to them.
Blair
I love that tip! Thank you, Deb! I'm making it again this week, so I'll give that a try. 🙂