Mexican Pizza {On the Lighter Side}

When I was a teenager, my favorite thing to order off Taco Bell’s menu was a Mexican Pizza. To me this was the ultimate fast food treat! Two fried tortillas with a layer of refried beans in between, and then topped with taco meat, cheese, and taco sauce. Add to that my soft drink of choice in those days–Dr. Pepper–and oh, it was such a good meal! There have been a couple of times I’ve replicated this delicious Mexican treat at home, and while it’s pretty easy to put together, it’s not so healthy. So I’ve come up with a healthier recipe for Mexican Pizza! Rather than frying the tortillas, they are toasted, and I only use one tortilla instead of two which helps cut the carbs back a little. Each little pizza is one serving, so make as many as you need for the number of people you’re serving.

Healthier Mexican Pizza

-Whole wheat tortillas (taco size)

-Canned refried beans (regular or fat free)

-Ground beef or turkey, browned with taco seasoning

-Shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses

-Taco sauce

-Light sour cream

-Green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toast tortillas in the oven, directly on the rack, until toasted and crispy on both sides, flipping for each side to get slightly browned. While these are toasting, spoon the refried beans into a bowl and microwave for a minute to soften. Take the tortillas out of the oven and let them cool a minute. Spread beans onto the tortillas. I used a level ice cream scoop of beans on each tortilla. Sprinkle the shredded cheeses on top, followed by the taco meat. Place the pizzas back in the oven, directly on the rack, being careful not to let the toppings fall through, until the cheeses are melted. Remove the pizzas from the oven and let cool just a minute before cutting them into four pieces. Place a dollop of light sour cream in the middle and give a drizzle of taco sauce and a sprinkle of green onion all over. If I remember correctly, Taco Bell also added sliced black olives, but I didn’t have any.

My whole family thinks these little pizzas are pretty tasty! There will be times for the original version with fried shells and such, but this is a great healthy alternative!

Have a great weekend, friends!