Taco Pizza is the best of both delicious food worlds in one flavorful, hearty dish!
Love tacos? Love pizza? Wish you could have them both at the same time? You absolutely can and it is DELICIOUS!!
This Taco Pizza recipe is one of my personal favorite homemade pizza recipes. It’s perfect for Taco Tuesday or for Family Pizza Night. Heck, enjoy it twice in one week if you’re feelin’ it!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this taco pizza recipe!
If you follow this blog, you know that I love using taco meat for SO many different types of recipes. I love to cook taco meat once (try my Instant Pot Taco Meat from Frozen recipe!), and then use leftovers for a completely different type of dish.
From Taco Mac & Cheese to Taco Breakfast Scrambles to Taco Pasta, I love the versatility of taco meat. And now, my latest obsession: Taco Pizza!
Here’s why you’ll love this recipe for taco pizza:
- it uses ingredients you most likely have at home already
- this dish is full of flavor and fun to customize
- it’s great to make with kids
- this pizza comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight dinners
🍕 Ingredients for homemade taco pizza
The ingredients list for this taco pizza is fairly flexible. Like most of my recipes, I’ll offer some suggested substitutions for ingredients that might offer a similar flavor and texture but might suit different tastes.
Pizza dough – I use the same homemade pizza dough recipe for our pizzas every time. It’s dependable and so easy. You can certainly use store-bought pizza dough instead.
Ground beef – Make sure it’s not too lean, otherwise it could turn out dry and lacking in flavor.
Refried beans and salsa – Instead of a classic red pizza sauce, the refried beans and salsa act as the sauce for this taco pizza. Sometimes, I will mix the two together and spread the mix onto the crust; other times, I spread the refried beans first and then top with salsa. It’s up to you!
Shredded cheddar cheese – For my dairy-free pizza, I like to use a package of dairy-free cheddar-style shreds. They melt beautifully for pizza! If you’re not dairy-free, go ahead and shred your fave cheddar cheese for this recipe.
Chopped tomatoes – I love the juiciness and big flavors that you get with Roma tomatoes. But you could also use chopped beefsteak tomatoes or hothouse on-the-vine tomatoes.
Sliced romaine lettuce – iI you want to be super traditional about your taco pizza toppings, go with iceberg lettuce. I prefer the subtle added flavor and richness of romaine lettuce. It still gives you a nice crunch when you bite into it.
Sliced black olives – These are great for adding color and some salt flavor
Taco seasoning – To bring some more taco flavor.
Optional: cilantro and sour cream – I like to sprinkle some freshly chopped cilantro after this pizza has baked. Then I serve it with a side of sour cream and dip my slices into it.
Step-by-step instructions
- Bake your homemade pizza dough at 400°F for 7-8 minutes, or according to the package instructions if using store-bought.
- Sauté the ground beef, garlic, onions, and taco seasoning for 4-5 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove the pizza crust from the oven and brush the top with some olive oil. Then evenly spread refried beans and salsa over the top of the crust. Top with ground beef mixture and shredded cheese.
- Bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Remove from oven and top with sliced lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and sliced black olives.
Marlynn’s Tip
Recipe Tip
For some added herbiness, chop up some cilantro and sprinkle it over the top of the pizza after it’s done baking.
Recipe FAQs
Pre-baking the crust for a few minutes before adding the sauce and toppings will help keep it crispy.
Ground beef, ground turkey, and even ground chicken can all be used to mimic the meat you’d find in a typical taco. But if you prefer vegetarian taco pizza, you can skip the meat and add your favorite veggie toppings. Diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, olives, onions, and jalapeños are all great options. A dollop of sour cream can also add a bit of tangy freshness. As for cheese, use a Mexican blend or mozzarella.
Use a gluten-free pizza crust and check the labels of any taco seasoning or sauces you use to ensure they are certified GF.
Serving suggestions
Serve this taco with some fresh veggie-based side dishes like charred corn salad, carrot cucumber salad, or an easy pico de gallo.
It’s also great alongside Mexican-inspired dips like restaurant-style salsa, creamy dairy-free queso, and fresh avocado pesto.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
Tacos traditionally pair very well with beer, cider, or margaritas. They love hanging out with refreshing, lively drinks with citrus and acidity.
So when it comes to a wine pairing for taco pizza, look for the same. Go for a dry Riesling or a Grüner Veltliner.
If you’re really feeling like a red wine instead, I’ve enjoyed this taco pizza with a California Pinot Noir before and it’s delicious. Generally, California Pinot Noirs have more body than Oregon Pinot Noirs, so they can stand up to the heft of this hearty dinner recipe and bigger flavors.
More pizza recipes
Dinner Recipes
Inexpensive Meal Ideas
Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast Flatbread
Appetizer Recipes
Crostini Pizza
Christmas
Candy Cane Pizza
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Taco Pizza
Ingredients
- homemade pizza dough , or store-bought pizza crust
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning
- 1 can refried beans
- 3/4 cup salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or a pizza blend
- 2-3 Roma tomatoes, de-seeded and finely chopped
- black olives
- 1 cup iceberg or romaine lettuce, thinkly sliced or shredded
- optional: cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
- If using a homemade pizza dough recipe, roll out the pizza dough to a 14" round crust. Bake at 400°F for 7-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, garlic, onions, taco seasoning, and sauté together, stirring constantly, until the meat is cooked through. This takes about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove pizza crust from the oven and brush the top with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Then use a spoon to evenly spread refried beans and salsa over the top of the crust, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Top with ground beef mixture and shredded cheese.
- Return to oven and bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Remove from oven, then top evenly with sliced lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and sliced black olives. Optional: sprinkle with cilantro and serve with a side of sour cream.
Notes
- Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey
- Instead of shredded cheddar cheese, use a dairy-free cheddar alternative, or shredded mozzarella or pepper jack
- If you don’t have Roma tomatoes, you can substitute almost any type of tomato, including cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
