If you are looking for a fun dinner idea that the whole family will love, you need to try out this Crescent Roll Taco Bake recipe! This dish is a unique spin on a classic Mexican pizza, using flaky, buttery crescent rolls for a crust that will blow you away.
Mexican-style pizza turns simple ingredients and minimal prep time into a result that never fails to impress. It’s filling and makes for a complete meal on its own, but you can also serve it with chips and salsa or other classic Mexican sides for a true fiesta night.
Best of all, it’s really hard to go wrong when making this recipe. You can try out a lot of different toppings, from avocado slices to jalapeños, so there is plenty of room to get creative as well.
When you combine two things as tasty as tacos and pizza, the result is bound to be delicious. So give this taco pizza recipe a try, and your family is sure to thank you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- It uses simple ingredients and is easy to make; just follow the instructions, and it’ll come out great every single time.
- It’s a fun dinner that looks just as impressive as it tastes. Kids, in particular, tend to go crazy over it, but adults love it, too!
- You can customize your Mexican-style pizza with all kinds of different toppings to mix things up.
- It stores well in the fridge and can be enjoyed later. However, I rarely have any leftovers when I make this pizza.
Ingredients Notes & Substitutions:
- Prepared pizza crust: You can make your own crust if you want to, but using a pre-baked crust will save you a lot of time.
- Ground beef: This is the classic protein choice for Mexican-style pizza, but if you want a lighter, healthier version, then ground chicken or ground turkey works as well.
- Taco seasoning: Choose your favorite taco seasoning packet to give the pizza a bold, Tex-Mex flavor.
- Refried beans: These serve the same role as tomato sauce in a classic pizza, giving each bite a creamy texture and helping the toppings stick.
- Pico de gallo or salsa: You can use either mild salsa or hot salsa, depending on how much heat you prefer.
- Shredded taco or Mexican blend cheese: Gooey, melted cheese is the crown jewel of any pizza, and Mexican pizza is no exception. If you don’t have a Mexican cheese blend, you can use a combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack.
- Assorted toppings: Jalapeños, sliced olives, green onions, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and sliced avocado are just a few of the many options you have to choose from.
Tips for Success:
- Before slicing and serving the pizza, it’s best to let it rest for a few minutes after coming out of the oven. This will allow everything to set and help ensure that it slices well.
- Use low-moisture toppings. Too much liquid from salsa or tomatoes can soften the crust, so drain them well before adding them.
- If you warm up your refried bean and salsa mixture before adding it, it will be much easier to spread on.
- Bake the pizza on your oven’s middle rack. This will help the crust cook evenly and allow the cheese to melt without burning.
Storage & Reheating:
Most of the time when I make this pizza, it all gets eaten the first night. But if you happen to have leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. Just let the pizza cool a little, then place individual slices in Tupperware or a Ziploc bag.
For reheating, the microwave works fine, but I like placing slices in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes. Using an air fryer will keep the crust crispier.
If you want to freeze your leftovers, they can be stored in the freezer for up to two months. Just be sure to place them in an airtight container first.
Serving Suggestions:
This Mexican Style Pizza recipe is a complete meal when served by itself. If you want to serve it with sides, though, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from.
I sometimes make chicken nachos or mexican rice to go along with Mexican Style Pizza. Corn chips and salsa is an easy, classic choice as well if you want to avoid having to prepare a second dish.
FAQs:
Can I make this Mexican pizza ahead of time?
You can prep the beef and toppings in advance, but it’s best assembled and baked fresh so the crust stays crisp.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Absolutely. Skip the meat and use extra refried beans, seasoned black beans, or a plant-based ground meat substitute.
How do I keep the crust from getting soggy?
The biggest keys to preventing soggy crust are to drain all the excess grease from your beef after browning it and to avoid adding too many wet toppings.
Notes:
I have a blast every time I make this taco pizza, and my family enjoys it just as much as I do. It’s a great dinner idea for busy nights, and it’s a recipe that even picky eaters tend to love.
So, the next time you are having a hard time deciding between Italian and Mexican for dinner, go with the best of both worlds and give this recipe a try!
Mexican Style Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Large prepared pizza crust
- 1 lb. Ground beef
- 1 Packet taco seasoning
- 1 Can refried beans
- ⅓ C. Pico de gallo or salsa
- 1 ½ C. Shredded taco or Mexican blend cheese
- Shredded lettuce chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions and sour cream for toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. While you are waiting for it to preheat, you can start preparing the toppings you want to add later.
- Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it is completely browned, drain all the excess grease. This will prevent your pizza from being too greasy and soggy.
- After draining the grease, add your taco seasoning packet to the ground beef and stir it in well.
- Mix the refried beans and salsa together in a bowl.
- Take your pizza crust and spread the refried bean/salsa mixture onto it evenly until the entire crust is covered and there aren’t any lumps of the mixture.
- Add the beef on top of the bean mixture, then spread it out evenly until the whole pizza is covered.
- Spread a layer of cheese on top of the pizza, then place it in the preheated oven to bake for 10-12 minutes. You want the cheese to be completely melted without burning it.
- Once the pizza is done baking, it’s time to add the toppings. Tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and sour cream are the classic choices, but you can customize your pizza with whatever toppings you desire.
