Taco Pizza

Busy nights call for easy, fast, filling meals that the whole family will like. Taco pizza checks every box. The hearty, protein-packed pizza will sate even ravenous teenage appetites, and picky eaters can adjust their toppings to suit their particular tastes. Best of all, the pizza assembles and bakes in under an hour, making it one of our favorite quick and easy dinners. Here’s how to make it at home.

Ingredients for Taco Pizza

• Ground beef: Well-seasoned ground beef is the star of this pizza. It adds heft, making for a truly filling meal, and lends moisture and flavor to the pie. (If you don’t eat beef, find a few ideas for variations below.)
• Taco seasoning: You can use the taco seasoning packet from a box of taco shells, or make your own homemade taco seasoning. Here are the results of our Test Kitchen’s taste test for the best taco seasoning brands.
• Store-bought pizza crusts: The secret to quick homemade pizza? Use a trusted premade pizza crust. You can certainly make homemade pizza dough if you like!
• Salsa: Salsa takes the place of tomato sauce in this pizza. You can use any salsa you like: green or red, mild or spicy, store-bought (our Test Kitchen says these are the best salsa brands) or a from-scratch salsa recipe.
• Tortilla chips: To mimic the flavor and texture of crunchy tacos, crush up your favorite tortilla chips, and toss on top of the pizza, along with lettuce and chopped tomatoes. You could even use crispy baked taco shells! Of course you can completely omit this layer, but it does add some enjoyable crunch.
• Cheese: This being a taco pizza, cheddar cheese stands in for mozzarella. You could also use Monterey Jack, pepper jack or your favorite melting cheese.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the beef

Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink. Drain. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, until the beef is cooked. Set aside.

Step 2: Top the pizzas

Taste of Home

Place the pizza crusts on ungreased pizza pans or baking sheets. In a bowl, stir together the beans and salsa. Spread evenly over the crusts. Sprinkle the beef mixture over the top, then the chips and cheese.

Taste of Home

Step 3: Bake

Bake the pizzas until they are heated through and the cheese is melted, 13 to 16 minutes.

Step 4: Finish with fresh toppings

Taste of Home

Before serving, add any cool, fresh toppings you like, such as lettuce and tomatoes.

Taste of Home

Taco Pizza Variations

• Switch up the ground beef: This recipe is flexible, so feel free to change up the toppings. You can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef, or go meatless with your favorite plant-based meat, or even use chorizo.
• DIY seasonings: Add extra flavor with a sprinkle of cilantro (fresh or dried), a shake of smoked paprika for smoky heat or a dash of hot sauce.
• Swap the beans: Choose any refried beans you like, whether pinto or black beans. Or completely omit them if you don’t like beans.
• Try an alternate cheese: Swap the cheddar for another cheese, or use a mix of cheeses. Think melty cheeses like mozzarella and Chihuahua, or flavorful cheeses like pepper jack and Monterey Jack. A dusting of queso fresco after baking would also taste great.
• Add a sprinkle of cornmeal to the crust: For an extra dose of corn flavor and a pleasant crunch, dust the pizza pans with fine-ground cornmeal before baking the crust.
• More toppings: Garnish your taco pizza just like your favorite tacos. Add sliced olives, pickled red onions, fresh or pickled jalapeno rings, sour cream or more salsa.

How to Store Taco Pizza

Leftover taco pizza should be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to four days. It’s best to store without fresh toppings like lettuce and tomatoes. To reheat pizza, try baking in a low oven or heating in a skillet rather than microwaving, which can make the crust soggy.

How to Freeze Taco Pizza

It’s best to freeze taco pizza before baking it. Simply assemble the pizzas through Step 2, then tightly wrap each pie. Freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer pizzas to freezer-safe storage bags. Store in the freezer for up to one month, after which the texture will deteriorate a bit. To bake frozen taco pizza, simply place the frozen pizza directly into the 350° oven (no need to defrost). Bake until the cheese melts and crust browns. You may need to increase the bake time by a few minutes.

Taco Pizza Tips

Taste of Home

Can you use fresh pizza dough for taco pizza?

You can definitely use fresh pizza dough for taco pizza, whether homemade or store-bought, but you’ll want to bake it first. Then layer it with all the toppings, and bake until the cheese is melted.

What’s the best way to serve taco pizza?

Serve taco pizza with a spread of additional toppings, just like in this fab taco board. Try extra salsa, a big bowl of guacamole and a dish of shredded cabbage or lettuce. A pitcher of margaritas wouldn’t be out of place, either!