Crispy Homemade Mexican Pizza with Seasoned Beef Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before you begin assembling, make sure all your ingredients are measured and ready to go. Dice the tomatoes, slice the black olives, and chop the green onions so they are ready for garnishing.

Warm up your pre-cooked seasoned ground beef so it is hot and ready to layer. Have your pre-fried tortillas laid out on a clean work surface. Preheating your broiler beforehand ensures a quick melt once the pizzas are assembled.

Instructions

Assembling the Pizza Layers

1. 1Assemble the Pizza Layers
   Place two of the golden fried tortillas on a baking sheet. Evenly spread the warm seasoned ground beef across both tortillas. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese directly over the beef layer, then place the remaining two fried tortillas on top of each to create a sandwich.
   Look for The cheese should start to melt slightly from the heat of the beef.
   Tip Press down gently on the top tortilla to help the layers stick together.

At the end of this first phase, the warm seasoned ground beef and the first layer of shredded cheese are neatly sandwiched between the crispy fried tortillas. The tortillas should remain completely rigid and dry, with no grease seeping through. This creates a sturdy, double-decker structure that is perfectly balanced and ready for its final cheesy topping before heading into the oven to melt.

Melting the Cheese and Heating the Beef

2. 2Melt the Cheese and Heat the Beef
   Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the top of the upper tortillas. Place the baking sheet under your broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and the ground beef inside reaches a safe temperature of 160°F (71°C).
   Look for The cheese should be fully melted, bubbling, and the beef heated through.
   Safe temperature 160°F (71°C) internal temperature (ground meat)
   Tip Watch the broiler closely to prevent the cheese or tortilla edges from burning.

By the end of this phase, the cheese on top of the pizza is completely melted, bubbly, and slightly golden around the edges. The heat from the broiler has warmed the entire assembly through, ensuring the seasoned beef inside reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

The tortillas should still look golden and feel incredibly crisp to the touch, ready to receive the fresh toppings that will complete the dish.

Garnishing and Slicing

3. 3Add the Fresh Toppings
   Remove the warm pizzas from the heat. Spoon a dollop of sour cream into the center of each pizza, then scatter the diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and green onions over the top.
   Look for The toppings should be evenly distributed across the melted cheese.
   Tip Wipe any excess moisture from the tomatoes before adding them.
4. 4Slice and Serve
   Transfer the towering pizzas to a wooden board. Use a large, sharp knife to slice firmly down through the stacked crispy tortillas, creating a clean, loud crunch as you cut them into quarters, and serve immediately.
   Look for A clean, loud crunch should be heard as you slice through the crispy layers.
   Tip Wipe your knife blade between cuts for the cleanest presentation.

At the final checkpoint, the fresh toppings of sour cream, vibrant red tomatoes, dark olives, and bright green onions are beautifully arranged over the melted cheese.

When you slice through the stacked layers with a sharp knife, you should hear a loud, steam-releasing crunch. This indicates that the tortillas have remained perfectly crispy throughout the entire assembly and melting process, ready for immediate serving.

Common mistakes

One common mistake is using seasoned ground beef that is too wet or greasy, which can quickly seep into the fried tortillas and make them soggy before you even serve them. Another pitfall is leaving the pizzas under the broiler for too long, which can burn the delicate edges of the pre-fried tortillas. Always keep a close eye on the oven and drain any excess liquid from your beef before assembly.

How to tell it’s done

You can tell the Mexican pizza is perfectly done when the top layer of cheese is fully melted, bubbling, and starting to brown slightly around the edges. Since the ground beef is heated to a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), the main goal is achieving that gooey, melted cheese texture.

The final test of doneness is the sound: slicing through the assembled pizza with a sharp knife should produce a loud, distinct crunch, indicating the tortillas are perfectly crisp.

• Ground meat: 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part