Healthy Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

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This vegetarian copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is a real treat, and you wouldn’t guess that it’s healthy! Low in calories, made with whole foods, and ready in less than 30 minutes: my version of this classic Taco Bell dish means you can enjoy it without the guilt!

When I was a kid, we used to eat Taco Bell every single week.

And what was our go-to order at Taco Bell (since we were vegetarian)?

“Mexican Pizza, no meat, with beans instead of the meat.”

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I always looked forward to Taco Bell night when I was a kid. I always wanted to order the same thing, Mexican Pizzas: with their crispy fried shells, and the salty well seasoned filling. It felt like a treat every time. (And, it’s everything that makes fast food addictive!)

Now I’m a little more health-conscious so Taco Bell Mexican Pizza isn’t generally on the menu. In fact, most fast food isn’t.

I still really love the concept of a Mexican Pizza – but the Taco Bell one has 540 calories for one tiny 6-7 inch pizza, with 30g fat and 990mg sodium. 

It also has minimal fresh veggies and the ingredients list is a mile long with fillers and additives (fumaric acid, calcium propionate, potassium sorbate in the shell; maltodextrin and trehalose in the beans, etc.)

The flavor of Taco Bell Mexican Pizza might be great, but it’s definitely not great for you. Or your family.

Since I love the flavors and the idea I decided to give the Mexican Pizza a makeover in my kitchen. My Taco Bell Copycat Mexican Pizza is JUST as crispy and delicious as the original, but it only has 370 calories. Plus, this recipe has at least 10g fiber (even more depending on how much veggies/beans you use), and only 14.6g of healthy Fat. And you won’t find anything even close to “trehalose” in this pizza! 

We topped ours with salsa and guac (avocados are a great source of healthy fats and other important nutrients!) for added flavor — and this has become one of our weeknight staples for dinner! The kids absolutely love it, it’s super filling, and makes you feel like you’re having delicious takeout at home. 

Not to mention it’s pretty easy to make. Your kids will love the taste and because it’s so easy to make, it’ll save you a little extra time in the evening as well.

How To Make The Best Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

The ingredients listed below makes one whole pizza, which is one serving.

• 1/3 cup refried black beans, heated through with taco seasoning (about 1 tsp) stirred in to taste
• 1/4 cup Mexican 4 cheese blend
• 1 whole wheat or sprouted wheat tortilla  
• 1/8 cup of diced red onion
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• Salsa – 2 Tbsp
• Guacamole – 2 Tbsp 

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Crisp up the whole wheat tortilla in either a toaster oven or a regular oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes (or until it’s crispy like a chip). You can crisp multiple tortillas at the same time if you need to, just make sure there’s plenty of space on the baking tray.

Step 2: Heat up your beans in a small pot on low heat, and stir in the taco seasoning. This should only take a few minutes. Keep heating until you can smell the taco seasoning clearly to make sure your Taco Bell Mexican Pizza is as flavorful as possible. 

Step 3: Spread the beans on the tortilla, and then top with veggies. Use a little more beans for a heartier or more filling version of this Taco Bell Copycat Pizza. 

Step 4: Top the pizza with the cheese. Heat in a toaster oven (on medium-low) or under a broiler (on high for 2-3 minutes) until the cheese has melted. If you want a more browned top give it another 30 seconds to a minute until the cheese is a little darker. 

Step 5: Top with your favorite salsa and guac, and enjoy!

This whole recipe takes about 20 minutes to make (max), and is a delicious, filling, and healthy dinner. It’s such an easy swap and it’s so much better for you than the original. Kid-friendly and fun for the whole family!

In fact, this meal is so easy and such a crowd pleaser that it can be a fantastic option for birthday parties and other occasions where you need a filling meal that feels special but doesn’t need a lot of prep time.

What Is A Mexican Pizza?

The base of a traditional Mexican pizza is a crispy (fried) corn tortilla, which is then topped with a mixture of toppings (tomatoes, cheese, seasonings). Beef is usually added as a filling, but this vegetarian version omits that and uses hearty, refried black beans instead. 

What Makes This Mexican Pizza Healthier Than The Taco Bell Version? 

Despite its unhealthy fast food origins, my version of the Taco Bell Mexican pizza is a really well balanced meal with whole grains, fiber, protein and fresh veggies. 

Here are the healthy swaps I made to make this Mexican pizza more nutritious, but just as delicious as the traditional version:

• Whole Grains: I used a whole wheat or sprouted wheat tortilla for the base for whole grains and added fiber. Instead of the traditional fried shell which adds unhealthy fats and tons of calories, you end up with a crispy base that is packed with nutrition.
• Fresh Veggies: This provides additional fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• Plant Protein: Replace the red meat/beef (which has unhealthy fats) with lean, hearty, refried black beans which have both protein and fiber to keep you full.
• Less Cheese: Reducing the cheese lowers the total fat and calorie content while still keeping that same cheesy goodness Mexican Pizza has.

Recipe FAQs

Topping Variations For This Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

For our pizza toppings, I used red onion, tomato and bell pepper, but you can easily use any fresh vegetables you have in your fridge. Some other options that would also work well are:

• sweet corn
• diced mushrooms
• chopped baby spinach
• diced zucchini

If you want something a little spicier, minced jalapenos are a great addition. Remember that traditional Mexican flavors are bright and zesty, so your Taco Bell Copycat Mexican Pizza should be the same. 

If you’re looking for brighter flavors after trying this recipe, consider topping your pizza with a little lime juice or cilantro just before you serve.

Top Tips For Making Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

• Make sure you get your tortilla really crispy in your oven. That’s critical to making this Mexican pizza taste great! You want the tortilla to be able to remain crispy even after it’s been topped with the veggies/beans and cheese, so over crisping it a little at the start can help. I’ve found that a level “3” setting on my toaster oven works well, or baking it at 350 degrees in a regular oven can work too. 
• Use the freshest vegetables you have – the crunchier the better!
• You want to eat these pizzas hot, fresh out of the oven. If they’ve cooled down a bit, just pop them back in the oven at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes to heat them up again before serving.
• This recipe makes 1 serving, but you can easily double/triple/quadruple it by just increasing the ingredients by that much (e.g. for 4 pizzas, use 4 tortillas, 4 tomatoes, 1 + 1/3 cup refried black beans, etc.)
• Make your own guacamole, rather than buying pre-packaged. This way you have more control over the freshness and flavor, plus you can get even more nutrients from the added vegetables. Ingredients like jalapenos, fresh lime juice, tomatoes, and green onion taste great and are good for you too!
• I like a little extra cumin in the beans along with the taco seasoning to help brighten the flavors and make it really pop!
• Because you want to heat all the ingredients without making the tortilla too soggy, I recommend baking these pizzas one at a time. Trying to bake too many at once, even in a larger oven, can make the bottoms soggy and prevent the vegetables from heating all the way through. 
• Want to get the kids more involved in the kitchen? Try getting them to help you assemble their pizzas. Fast cooking times help keep their attention and make the cooking fun.

Be Sure To Check Out These Other Healthy Pizza Recipes!

• Lightened-Up Homemade Vegetarian Pizza
• Green Pepper and Onion Pizza
• Easy, Healthy Margherita Pizza
• Barbecue Black Bean, Red Pepper, and Corn Pizza
• Sweet Potato Pizza Crust Recipe by From My Bowl

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