This Air Fryer Mexican Pizza is easy to make and sure to satisfy your craving. It tastes almost exactly like the one Taco Bell used to sell.
I admit to plenty of drive-thru trips to Taco Bell over the course of my life so far. Usually late night. A lot during my college years. Their pizza was a favorite, as I know it was for a lot of others. They took it off the menu recently. But it’s really easy to recreate at home, especially with an air fryer. Taco Bell sells their sauce and taco seasoning in major grocery stores. Just add some beef, beans, cheese and tostada shells and you’re in business. Air Fryer Mexican Pizza is sure to hit the spot when that late-night (and maybe slightly drunken) craving hits.
Ingredients needed for Air Fryer Mexican Pizza
- Tostada Shells
- Ground Beef
- Taco Bell Taco Seasoning
- Refried Beans
- Mexican Shredded Cheese
- Taco Bell Mild Sauce
- Fresh Tomatoes
- Salt
How to make Air Fryer Mexican Pizza
Brown the ground beef in a non-stick skillet on the stovetop and add the taco seasoning and water according to package directions. Once it has simmered, remove the taco meat from the heat. Mix the refried beans together with some of the taco sauce and a little bit of salt.
To assemble, spread a thin layer of the beans on one side each of two tostada shells. Top one side with taco meat and a little shredded cheese. Sandwich the two tostada shells together. Spread the top of the Mexican Pizza generously with taco sauce and top with more shredded cheese and some chopped tomatoes.
Carefully place the pizza in the basket of your air fryer. Air fry the pizza at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Remove the pizza from the air fryer, slice it and serve.
Kitchen Tips
- I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all of my recipes.
- Click to find all my Best Air Fryer Recipes.
- You can use any brand of taco seasoning in this recipe, but the Taco Bell mild sauce really helps make this pizza taste like the original.
- I tried making this pizza with soft corn tortillas. The soft tortillas did not get crispy in my air fryer for me. I had to fry them in a little vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet first, to get them crispy before proceeding with this recipe. So, it can be done. But using tostada shells that are already crispy is easier.
- This recipe is perfect for when you have leftover taco meat!
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Air Fryer Mexican Pizza
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 envelope Taco Bell taco seasoning
- 1 cup refried beans
- 1/2 cup Taco Bell mild taco sauce
- 2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 16 tostada shells
- 1/2 cup diced tomato
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning according to package directions. Set the taco meat aside to cool a bit.
- Mix together the refried beans with 1/4 cup of the taco sauce and the 1/2 teaspoon of salt until well blended.
- At this point you can store both the beef and beans in air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days... if you are only going to be making one or two Mexican pizzas at a time.
- When ready to make a pizza, spread a full tablespoon of the refried bean mixture on each of two tostada shells.
- Top one shell with 3-4 tablespoons of taco meat and a couple of tablespoons of shredded cheese.
- Sandwich the two shells together. Spread a generous tablespoon of taco sauce on top of the Mexican pizza.
- Top the pizza with another two tablespoons of shredded cheese and add a few chopped tomatoes.
- Carefully place the Mexican pizza into the basket of your air fryer.
- Cook the pizza at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
- Cut the pizza into quarters and serve.
Amy Desrosiers says
As funny as it sounds, my husband was devastated when Taco Bell took this off the menu. I am so glad I can now recreate this at home! Thank you
foodtasticmom says
Not funny at all. Lots of people were devastated. But it’s so easy to make at home, so no more devastation! You’re welcome!
Alisa Infanti says
I love how you used crispy tostada shells for the base. This is a quick lunch even the kids can make.
foodtasticmom says
Exactly! Very kid friendly, both in taste and ease of putting it together.
Toni says
Everyone at my house loved it! So good and so delish! Thanks for the recipe!
foodtasticmom says
Yay! You’re welcome!
Beth says
I was sad when Taco Bell took their Mexican pizza off their menu, so I’m beyond happy I came across this recipe! So much better than Taco Bell and my teens are going to love this recipe! Can’t wait to make this!
foodtasticmom says
You are in good company. So many folks were sad about that pizza! I’m glad to help make you happy again! 🙂
Katherine Hackworthy says
I love this layered pizza! And such a genius idea to make it in the air fryer.
foodtasticmom says
The air fryer is so good at so many types of food!
Anthony says
Oh wow I used to love this when I was younger! Cool to see an air fryer version of it
foodtasticmom says
Glad you like it!