Taco Pizza: Pizza and Taco Night Combined into One Easy, Cheesy Meal

# What this recipe is

Taco Pizza puts classic taco ingredients on a pizza crust: a spread of refried beans, seasoned ground beef, salsa, and a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. The recipe is designed for fast weeknight cooking and can be made with homemade dough, refrigerated dough, or a ready-made crust.

# Why it works

# Key ingredients and substitutions

• Pizza dough: yeast-free homemade dough or any store-bought/refrigerated crust. For a low-carb option, a high-protein cottage cheese crust is suggested.
• Ground beef: the recipe uses 1 pound for taco meat. Ground chicken, turkey, or pork are acceptable swaps.

• Salsa: smooth or chunky, mild or spicy depending on your preference.
• Cheeses: shredded sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
• Garnishes: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), fresh or pickled jalapeños.

# Essential steps (overview)

1. 1Preheat oven to 425°F.

1. 1Add a layer of taco meat, a spoonful of salsa, and evenly sprinkle the cheeses. Optionally add diced red onion, bell pepper, and black olives before baking.
2. 2Bake until crust is crisp and cheese is melted (~18 minutes). Let cool briefly.
3. 3Add fresh toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, sour cream, and jalapeños.

• Don't overload the pizza. Too many toppings make the crust soggy and prevent proper crisping.
• Warm refried beans before spreading to avoid tearing the dough and to make an even layer.
• Drain cooked ground beef to reduce greasiness on the pizza.
• Adjust spice level by stirring chili powder into the beans, adding jalapeños, or drizzling enchilada sauce.

# Serving and meal ideas

This pizza is intended as a family-style main that pairs well with simple sides like crispy Southwest egg rolls or a street corn dip for game day. It's flexible enough to use leftover proteins like pork carnitas or chicken birria in place of the beef.

# Why make it

It combines two familiar weeknight meals—tacos and pizza—into one dish that's quick, customizable, and family-friendly. The method lets you swap proteins and toppings to match what's on hand, and the bake-then-top approach preserves fresh textures that make tacos enjoyable.