Taco Bell Inspired Mexican Pizza

Ok for starters, I have to say, this post has been pending for oh, 6 months or so. ;) I guess I've been busy? I think I forgot about it too. Well this was a delicious recipe so even through I'd have to tweak this recipe even more to fit my dairy AND gluten free diet (when I made it, I was just doing dairy free), many of you may be able to get in on this tastiness. 

When I was younger, my mom and I would go to Taco Bell and I would get my favorite almost every time. Mexican pizza. It was always so good and I haven't had one in YEARS. Maybe a decade, I don't know. When I saw this recipe claiming to be like Taco Bell's recipe, I knew I had to try it. This way, I can make it with more wholesome ingredients I trust too.

Cheese for him ; no cheese for her

The coloring is a little weird in these photos - I promise the tomatoes were red, not bright orange;)

Taco Bell Inspired Mexican Pizza (recipe adapted from Blog Chef)

Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package taco seasoning (I mixed up my own after searching which seasonings to use)
8 small flour tortillas
2 tablespoons water
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
2/3 cup mild salsa
2 cups Colby jack cheese (I'm sure we used probably half of this since I didn't use cheese on mine)
¼ cup tomato (diced)
¼ cup green onion (chopped)
oil (for frying the tortillas)

Directions: 
Step 1: With your hands, mix together ground beef, taco seasoning and water. In a large skillet brown ground beef over medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Break up the beef up into small pieces with a spatula while cooking. Set aside.

Step 2: Add oil to a medium frying pan. Heat to medium-high and fry tortillas one by one for 30 seconds (or until browned) on each side. Be sure to pop any bubbles that form while cooking. You want to keep the tortillas as flat as possible. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Nick and I did this together which I was thankful for.

Step 3: Warm refried beans and pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Stack each pizza by first spreading a layer of refried beans, then a layer of meat followed by a layer of salsa. Now stack another tortilla on top. Stack cheese on top of that followed by tomatoes and green onions. Repeat until all pizzas are stacked.

Step 4: Place on a baking sheet (I put parchment paper on the baking sheet for easier clean up) and put into the oven. Bake on 400 degrees for 8 minutes.

We both loved these! I had enough to split into two meals, which surprisingly, day two it was just as good! I think I took the tomatoes off so they didn't make the tortilla soggy though and put them on after re-heating the next day. 

Enjoy! 

Today's Pinspiration:

(source)