Here’s an easy copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizza casserole is just amazing! Cheesy layered tortillas with chunky salsa and beef, it’s my family’s favorite comfort food! If you made our Instant Pot Mexican pizza but want to bake it in the oven this time this is how.
This easy Mexican pizza casserole (I like to call it) was created kinda’ by accident. Don’t you love it when you have a few ingredients you need to use or else they will spoil so you throw them together hoping it will come out well and it comes out SO delicious?? (affiliate links present)
Table of Contents
- Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Mexican Pizza Casserole Ingredients
- Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- What is Taco Bell Mexican Pizza crust made of?
- Why did Taco Bell stop selling Mexican Pizza?
- Air Fryer Mexican Pizza
- What is on a Mexican Pizza?
- How many calories in a Mexican pizza from Taco Bell?
- Taco Bell Copycat Recipe
- Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe
Mexican Pizza Recipe
You can make it as spicy as you want, or use a milder salsa and then allow those who love a lot of spice to just add it to the top once it is served. Either way this has become one of our favorite meals that is really easy to throw together (which I love).
The biggest difference for this vs. the fast food restaurant is ours is much larger and will feed 4 or so. You could use smaller tortillas for individual portions if you preferred.
Mexican Pizza Casserole Ingredients
- Pie plate
- Large tortillas
- Pico de gallo salsa
- Ground beef and taco seasoning
- Shredded cheese
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup
- canned or homemade mushroom soup
Toppings can be green onions or sour cream! Feel like you need a side dish? Make our easy Jiffy Mexican cornbread too.
Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
This picture is what made me think of a Mexican pizza casserole more than a pie but you could go either way really. I found the large burrito style tortillas at the store right along side the small and “regular” sized ones.
- Both spicy jack and cheddar cheeses were used, but you could use either or if you prefer.
- If you like a lot of spice add some chili powder but this is perfect for all of us with the ingredients listed below.
What is Taco Bell Mexican Pizza crust made of?
Fried tortillas, which we use but don’t fry them. Baked in the oven you will still get crispy edges all the way around but a tender center with all the fillings. A healthy way to make a similar version right at home from scratch.
Here are the step by step directions and video (video shows a version without the cream of mushroom, we preferred with after comparing the two but both are fabulous)
In a skillet over medium heat, precook ground beef, onion and garlic in pan on stovetop. Add taco seasoning into your meat mixture after draining fat.
Why did Taco Bell stop selling Mexican Pizza?
Who knows? Not enough people buying them or it took too long to make and they were trying to move the line faster? Nobody knows but now you can make it yourself. Lay large burrito size tortilla inside pie pan sprayed with non stick cooking spray
- Top with 1/3 beef mixture, then 1/3 cheese (could spread a thin layer of refried beans on tortilla too if you wanted)
- Continue with this layering with top being a layer of cheese
- Put into preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Allow to sit 10-15 minutes to solidify, then slice and serve with toppings
Air Fryer Mexican Pizza
If you wanted to make a smaller version of this follow the same directions except with taco size tortillas. Use a springform pan instead of a pie plate and layer the same. Set inside a preheated machine at 380 and you just need enough time to get the cheese to melt, maybe 4-6 minutes. It would look more like below that way.
What is on a Mexican Pizza?
Well months ago I created a chicken tortilla bake casserole dish that came out great too and this came to mind when I had tortillas, salsa, and a pound of ground beef that needed to be cooked soon. Toppings you might enjoy, though you can really load this up with anything and everything that comes to mind y’all.
- Petite diced tomatoes taste great and are traditionally served on top.
- Diced or sliced green onions make it pretty and add a bit of texture too.
I remember them putting lots of sliced black olives on mine as a kid so I love those. Really I will use many of the same things when making our Instant Pot Mexican casserole which is the bomb too.
- Diced chives work too.
- Sour cream and guacamole are my favorites for sure.
This casserole is like a deconstructed taco and reminds me of that favorite fast food dish we loved back in the day. Layers of tortillas (I used flour tortillas this time), cheese, beef, and lots of creamy sauce with a kick! You can do the same thing with “pizza” in our Slow cooker pizza casserole which is a fun one my girls love.
Enchilada lasagna is fabulous seen below. A throw together dish at it’s finest.
How many calories in a Mexican pizza from Taco Bell?
Let’s start out with saying this isn’t a diet food by any means. Comfort food is what we’re going for y’all so keep that in mind. Theirs typically runs about 540 calories if you ate the entire thing yourself. Ours is just 346 calories if you at 1/4 of the whole pie! That is way better if you ask me but nobody did so there’s that. 😉
Taco Bell Copycat Recipe
Love this? You can also steam Instant Pot tamales in your cooker which is great on hot days.
- I think our carnitas are even better than theirs, and you can top them with all sorts of things in your own kitchen for dinner.
- You can make Ninja Foodi taco pasta or Instant Pot Mexican chicken and rice for a great twist.
Instead of just ground beef, we have a bunch of different Instant Pot tacos we’ve made.
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Equipment
- 1 pie pan
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, or ground sausage
- 1 c salsa
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 3 large tortillas, (burrito style, large 10 inch)
- 2 c cheddar cheese, sharp is best
- 1 c spicy jack cheese
- 1/3 onion, diced
- 1 small can diced chiles, optional
- 1 packet taco seasoning, or tbsp. of mix
- 3 tbsp beef broth, or water
Instructions
- Cook your ground beef with your diced onions until meat is no longer pink, drain fat. Add broth and packet of taco seasonings, toss to coat. Put in a bowl.
- Add your cream of mushroom soup, canned diced chiles, and salsa in with your ground beef and stir well. Shred your cheeses and mix in another bowl.
- Spray non stick spray inside your pie plate and push 1 large burrito size tortilla inside. A bit of tortilla will lay up on the sides which is good.
- Spread 1/3 of your ground beef mixture on the tortilla, followed by 1/3 of your cheeses.
- Lay another tortilla down and continue to layer, on the last tortilla add the remaining third of beef mixture and cheese on the very top.
- Put in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes just so everything can meld together. Allow to sit when done for 10 minutes to solidify a bit.
- Cut like a pie and serve topped with more salsa, salsa verde, sour cream, guacamole, avocado or anything else you like on top!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made the recipe exactly as written. It’s amazingly delicious. No kidding. The only thing I will do differently next time is to add a can of sliced black olives to the meat mixture before composing the dish. It was even better, left over, the following day. I served it with a Caesar salad but it would be great with beans and rice on the side too. Do yourself a favor and try this recipe.
We used GF corn tortillas.. great modification, this was super creamy
I added corn and black beans, sooo good!
OH yeah!!!
What size pan?
@Haley, A regular pie plate.
I would use refried beans instead of the soup and add a bit of water if needed. Can’t wait to try this!!
Good alternative!
@Grams, Try it as written. The soup is a great addition. Have the refrieds on the side. You won’t be sorry.
is this freezable?
Haven’t done that, just put in fridge and fine the next day warmed.
I would eat this right now if I could!
Such a flavorful recipe. So creative.
Looks so easy and yummy!
I love TexMex and I love pizza, so naturally I love this! 😀