Homemade Tex-Mex Mexican pizza with fried tortillas, mince and melted cheese.
About this recipe
A homemade version of the Tex-Mex Mexican pizza: two crispy fried flour tortillas stacked with spiced minced beef, refried beans, spicy pizza sauce, Cheddar cheese and jalapeños. Taco Bell style.
History & Origin
The Mexican Pizza is one of the most curious and endearing dishes in the history of Tex-Mex food: it was born in the culinary laboratories of Taco Bell as a cultural fusion experiment and ended up becoming a cult icon with millions of passionate followers worldwide. The story begins in 1985, when Taco Bell introduced the "Pizzazz Pizza" - later renamed the Mexican Pizza - in response to the pizza craze sweeping the United States. The idea was simple but brilliant: replace the pizza dough base with two crispy fried flour tortillas, use the familiar Tex-Mex flavours as toppings, and add a tomato sauce spiced with Mexican seasonings reminiscent of enchilada sauce. The result was a dish that was neither Italian pizza nor Mexican taco, but something completely new and delicious that could only exist on the creative frontier between two cultures. Taco Bell removed the Mexican Pizza from its menu in 2020 for environmental reasons - the foam packaging generated excessive waste - unleashing a storm of protest on social media. The Change.org petition to bring it back gathered over 170,000 signatures, making it one of the most striking cases of gastronomic nostalgia in recent years. The homemade version, which you can make with simple ingredients, is infinitely superior to any fast-food chain version in terms of flavour and freshness, and allows you to personalise every element to your own taste.
Estimated cost
£10.40
Total cost
£2.60
Per serving
* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets
Nutritional information per serving
580
Calories
30g
Protein
52g
Carbohydrates
30g
Fat
7g
Fibre
920mg
Sodium
* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.
Method
- 1
Calienta el aceite vegetal en una sartén grande a 180°C. Fríe las tortillas de harina una a una, 1-2 minutos por lado, hasta que estén doradas y muy crujientes. Escurre sobre papel absorbente y reserva.
💡 Las tortillas deben quedar muy crujientes - serán la base de la "pizza", así que necesitan estructura.
- 2
En una sartén seca, cocina la carne de res picada a fuego medio-alto hasta que esté bien dorada, unos 8 minutos. Sazona con comino, chile en polvo y sal. Escurre el exceso de grasa.
- 3
Precalienta el horno a 200°C (función grill si disponible). Coloca 4 tortillas fritas en una bandeja de horno. Unta cada una con una capa de frijoles refritos calientes.
- 4
Distribuye la carne condimentada sobre los frijoles. Coloca encima la segunda tortilla frita para crear el "sándwich de tortilla".
- 5
Extiende la salsa de enchilada sobre la tortilla superior como si fuera salsa de pizza. Cubre generosamente con queso Cheddar rallado.
- 6
Hornea o gratina 5-7 minutos hasta que el queso esté completamente fundido y ligeramente dorado en los bordes. Vigila para que no se queme.
- 7
Retira del horno y cubre con jalapeños en escabeche en rodajas, cebolla morada picada fina y cebolleta. Sirve con crema agria al lado. Come inmediatamente mientras las tortillas están crujientes.
💡 Añade los toppings frescos JUSTO antes de servir para que la tortilla no se ablande.
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Founder, Recetas Mexas
Mexican from Puebla, IT professional and foodie. Author of 736+ authentic Mexican recipes adapted for European kitchens. Based in Madrid since 2018.
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