Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas in Casserole Dish
In the mood for a taste of Taco Bell without leaving the comfort of your home? Look no further! I tried the copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizzas but gave them a unique twist by turning them into a mouthwatering casserole dish. The result? An irresistible Mexican-inspired meal that my family and I couldn’t get enough of. In this article, I’ll share my step-by-step guide on how to recreate this culinary masterpiece. So, let’s get started!
Ingredients:
Before diving into the recipe, it’s essential to gather all the ingredients. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
| INGREDIENT | QUANTITY |
|---|---|
| Ground beef | 1.5 lb |
| Taco Bell seasoning packet | 1 |
| Refried beans | 1 large can |
| Red enchilada sauce | 1 large can |
| Corn flour mix tortillas | 10 (fried individually) |
| Tomato (diced) | 1 large |
| Onion (diced) | 1/4 medium |
| Shredded cheese | 3+ cups |
| Chopped green onion | As desired |
Now that we have all our ingredients ready let’s move on to the preparation steps.
Instructions:
Preparing the Ingredients
- Brown the Ground Beef:
- Start by browning the 1.5 lbs of ground beef in a skillet. Once cooked, drain any excess fat.
- Return the meat to the skillet and add the Taco Bell seasoning packet along with 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water, following the packet’s instructions.
- Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, then set aside.
- Heating the Refried Beans:
- Heat the refried beans in a pot or microwave until they are warm and easy to spread.
- Frying the Tortillas:
- In a separate pan, use a slight amount of vegetable oil to fry each tortilla individually until they are golden brown and crispy. Place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Assembling the Casserole
- Layering the Casserole:
- Begin by layering the bottom of a casserole dish with the fried tortillas.
- Spread the warm refried beans evenly over the tortillas.
- Next, add the seasoned ground beef as another layer.
- Enchilada Sauce:
- Pour half of the can of red enchilada sauce evenly across the casserole.
- Add another layer of fried tortillas on top.
- Pour the remaining half of the enchilada sauce evenly.
- Toppings:
- Sprinkle the diced tomatoes and onions across the top of the casserole.
- Cheese:
- Spread a generous amount of shredded cheese over the top. You can place the tomatoes and onions either on top or bottom of this layer of cheese.
- Baking:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the casserole until the cheese is melted, and the sides start bubbling. This usually takes about 20 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve:
- After cooking, garnish your casserole with chopped green onions.
- Let it stand for 10 minutes to set, then serve and enjoy your homemade Taco Bell-inspired casserole!
