Like most college students, especially my Senior year, I lived on Taco Bell. My favorite 2 AM meal? Mexican Pizza, no beans add sour cream with exactly 4 packs of mild sauce. Unfortunately, my 40+ stomach cannot handle the awesomeness that is TB. So, what do you do when you are craving something you know you have no business eating? Well, if you're me, you create a brand new recipe and share it with all your friends. You're welcome!
This recipe is super simple and super quick. It's a TB Mexican pizza meets Mexican Lasagna meets an awesome taco dip my aunt made for me years ago. Try this one out, all fresh ingredients and packed with the best elements of these favorites.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs Ground Beef
2 packages of Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce
2 tsp Garlic Pepper
2 tsp Cumin
1.5 tsp Kosher Salt
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1/4 cup cream cheese
9 small soft flour tortillas, cut in half
1.5 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1.5 cups Monterey Jack Cheese
Optional:
Diced Roma Tomatoes
Chopped Green Onions
Sour Cream
Taco Sauce
Step 1: Let’s Get Started
In a medium non-stick skillet, brown the ground meat. While the meat browns add all the dry seasonings, stirring to make sure it is evenly distributed. Once the meat has fully browned, drain any excess oil. Once drained return the meat to the skillet and place or medium low heat.
Add skillet sauce and rotel to the pan and stir until all the meat is coated. Add 1/2 cup of water and reduce heat to low.
Let simmer for 10 minutes then remove from heat and set aside.
Step 2: Prep Remaining Ingredients
While the meat simmers, place the tortilla halfs onto a baking sheet and place in a 400 degree preheated oven. Bake tortillas for 10 mins until crisp.
Shred cheeses, dice tomatoes, chop green onions.
Step 3: Build the Pizzagna
Pre-heat oven to 400°.
In a9x13 baking dish, spread the cream cheese evenly on the bottom. Top the cream cheese with half the tortillas being sure to cover the cream cheese. Next, spread half the meat mixture over the tortillas then top with half the shredded cheese. Add another layer of tortillas, meat then remaining cheese. Top with tomatoes and green onion.
Bake covered for 20 minutes until the cheese it melted and bubbling. If you prefer a browner or crispy top, you can remove the foil and broil for 5 - 7 minutes watching carefully so that it does not burn. Remove pan from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes uncovered.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Final Thoughts
My years at Louisiana Tech were so much fun! It was there that I finally found my people and felt like I fit in. We were all engineering majors so we spent a ton of late nights in the lab. I didn't have a car so I relied on my besties Alyson & Rose for late night food runs. Taco Bell was definitely our go to in the middle of the night in a small college town when everything else was closed besides Wal-Mart. This recipe was nostalgic of that time and those friendships in all the best ways.
New recipe inspiration can literally come from anywhere! All that really matters is that you and your family love it. This recipe was fun to make and would be a great one to get the whole family involved in preparing. Don't feel bound to follow my ingredients exactly, explore different textures and toppings. If you love beans, you could add a can of drained black beans to the meat mixture or a layer of refried beans on top of the cream cheese. You could even add black olives, green chiles or jalapeños in addition to the tomatoes and green onions. Point is, make it your own, have fun with it an enjoy creating your own Gourmet at home!
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