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Skip the questionable drive-through line for dinner and make these Better Than Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas at home tonight instead!
Okay, I know many of us are NOT eating at Taco Bell these days, especially staying gluten-free. I mean, I haven't looked lately, but is there anything gluten-free at Taco Bell?
This will age me totally, but when I was in high school, we used to leave campus and drive over to Taco Bell for lunch, way more often than I probably should admit. I mean, I'm pretty sure we ended up there more than we did anywhere else. I mean, hello, it's cheap and fast, and it tasted good? Plus, it was close to my school, so we knew we could get there and back during our lunch period.
When we went, I ALWAYS got one of two things, the seven-layer burrito or the Mexican pizza. There was never anything else. Of course, I stopped going over the years, and then I went gluten-free with my celiac diagnosis. Well, my husband (who is not totally gluten-free) will occasionally get Taco Bell. Not often, but it made me think there had to be a way to get my favorite Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Again every now and then. I mean, I make Mexican food all the time. Okay, Taco Bell is more tex-mex than actual Mexican food, but I still wanted that silly Mexican pizza, haha.
Because of that, silly craving is how I realized they are super simple to make, and I'm one hundred percent this version tastes better than Taco Bell. Plus, it's one hundred percent gluten-free!
Ingredients in Mexican Pizza
-
- Tortillas (I use Siete Brand grain-free tortillas)
- Seasoned Ground Beef
- Refried Beans
- Enchilada Sauce
- Cheese
- Tomatoes
- Green Onion
- Olives
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A Note on Ingredients
I always use the Siete Brand grain-free tortillas. I like to lightly toast them before I assemble and bake the Mexican pizzas, so they have that classic crunch.
I always use my Best Ground Taco Meat when I make these. I will leave the vegetables out and put the good taco seasoning on the meat.
Also, Taco Bell uses a very fine chop on their ground beef. To get that real nostalgia, I will pulse the meat in the food processor a few times once cooked. Feel free to skip this step; it will still be delicious.
Watch your ingredients as gluten and grains can hide easily in store-bought refried beans. I always look for ones that are simply beans, lard, and salt and avoid ones that say vinegar or any other ingredient since most are not often labeled gluten-free.
It's an enchilada sauce on top. If you can get a gluten-free one you love, feel free to use it. Siete recently released their grain-free version that I recommend. Otherwise, you can make a super simple but delicious one yourself.
Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Skip the canned stuff and make this super simple sauce yourself. It's quick and easy to make and a million times better than the ordinary canned stuff you find at the grocery store.
Ingredients:
- 2 TBS Avocado Oil
- 2 TBS Potato Starch
- 4 TBS Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 6 OZ Tomato Paste
- 2 C Chicken Stock
- 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
- For more heat, add a ¼ teaspoon Cayenne.
- For a more smokey flavor, add 1 TBS Chipotle Powder.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the potato starch and whisk until combined.
- Add in the spices and tomato paste and whisk till combined.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and chicken stock while whisking to remove any clumps.
- Once it's combined, reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer about 10 minutes until it's thickened.
- Use the sauce immediately or allow it to cook, and then store it in an air-tight container for about a week. I will also freeze the sauce if I make more than I need for a recipe, so I always have some on hand.
How to Make a Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Prepare the meat, sauce (if making), tortillas, warm the beans, shred the cheese and chop the vegetables.
Assemble the Mexican Pizzas:
- Toast the tortillas if you want them crunchy.
- Place a tortilla on the baking sheet.
- Add a layer of refried beans.
- Add a thin layer of taco meat (see note above about the meat).
- Top it with another tortilla.
- Spread a layer of sauce on the top tortilla.
- Sprinkle with cheese
- Bake until cheese is melted.
- Add chopped tomatoes, olives and green onions, and enjoy!
Can you make these ahead of time?
These really are best made and served warm. The tortillas will lose their crunch after a while and even with reheating them, they do not go back to how they were freshly done.
More Taco Tuesday Fun
Classic Guacamole
Grain-free Taquitos
Tequila Lime Chicken
Better Than Restaurant Salsa
Better Than Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Batch Best Ground Taco Meat (recipe on stie) or 1 lb ground beef and choice of spices
- 2 C Enchilada Sauce see above for my recipe
- 1 16 oz Refried Beans
- 8 Tortillas I use Siete brand
- 2 C Shredded Cheese
- 1 Medium Tomates diced
- ½ C Olives sliced
- ¼ C Green Onions sliced
Instructions
- Make the ground beef. (See notes above on the ground beef.)
- Make the enchilada sauce (if you are making it).
- Toast the tortillas. I use the Siete ones that come frozen, so I toast them in a dry pan over medium heat until they are slightly crispy. (I let them go a little longer than if I was using them for tacos.)
- Warm the beans.
- Shred the cheese and chop the vegetables.
Assemble the Mexican Pizza
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place a tortilla on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spread a thin layer of refried beans.
- Add some of the ground beef on top of the beans.
- Top with another tortilla.
- Spoon some of the enchilada sauce over the top tortilla.
- Sprinkle with cheese, tomatoes, and olives.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted. This should be about 10 minutes.
- Remove the Mexican pizzas from the oven, top with green onions, slice, and enjoy!
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