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:

Now that we have all our ingredients ready let’s move on to the preparation steps.

Instructions:

Preparing the Ingredients

1. 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.
2. Heating the Refried Beans:
   • Heat the refried beans in a pot or microwave until they are warm and easy to spread.
3. 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

4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Toppings:
   • Sprinkle the diced tomatoes and onions across the top of the casserole.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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!