Mexican Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Meat Topping

• 1 (12- to 14-inch) homemade unbaked pizza crusts or frozen and thawed unbaked crusts
• 1/2 pound lean ground beef, cooked and drained
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sweet or hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons water

Additional Toppings

• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 (16-ounce) jar chunky salsa or homemade salsa
• 1 (14-ounce) can drained pinto beans or refried beans
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 8 ounces shredded Mexican Chihuahua cheese or Monterey Jack or cheddar
• 2 sliced jalapeño peppers

Optional Garnish

• Sour cream
• Black olives
• Sliced green onions

Instructions

Prepare the Oven

1. With the rack at the bottom-most position, heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven now.

Cook the Meat

1. In a skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until brown. Drain and return to the skillet. Add salt, onions, paprika, chili powder, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
2. Remove from heat and set aside.

Assemble the Pizza

1. If using a pizza stone, sprinkle a pizza peel with cornmeal and assemble the pizza on it. Otherwise, sprinkle a baking pan with cornmeal and place the pizza crust in it and assemble there.
2. Spread salsa evenly over the crust. Scatter the pinto beans or spread refried beans over the salsa followed by the meat and bell pepper.
3. Bake the pizza for 10 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and bake an additional 7 to 9 minutes or until the bottom of the crust is well baked.
4. Remove from the oven and distribute sliced jalapeños over the baked pizza. Serve with optional sour cream, black olives, and sliced green onions.

Variations

By changing the meat, seasonings, and toppings, this Mexican pizza can resemble any of your favorite dishes. For example, swap out the hamburger for shredded chicken, add fajita seasonings, and top with sliced green and red peppers and onions for a fajita-inspired pizza. Think about what goes into different dishes, like enchiladas or burritos, to put your own spin on a Mexican-inspired pizza.