Tacos and pizza aren’t exactly most people’s idea of an ideal pairing, but when you take taco toppings and put them on a pizza, then you get something truly magical- taco pizza! If you’ve never tried taco pizza, then you definitely should. It’s a wonderfully new and delicious way to combine two of your favorite foods. That being said, what exactly is in taco pizza?
Taco pizza is just like a regular pizza but has different toppings, such as cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, ground beef, and taco seasoning. When you bake all of these together on a large pizza crust, you get a delicious pizza that all of your friends will love!
Depending on how you like your tacos, there are a number of different ways to make a taco pizza. You may also be able to find it at certain restaurants and other pizza delivery chains. If you’ve never had it before, then keep on reading, because today I’m going to show you exactly where you can buy it and how to make your own!
Taco Pizza: What’s In It
Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish while pizza is a traditional Italian dish. Both involve using a thin, round piece of bread topped with meat, cheese, sauce/salsa, and other veggies and herbs. That’s where the similarities end, though. For the most part, I consider tacos and pizza to be two totally different foods.
Then again, pizza exists to push the limits and boundaries of what’s possible (just look at Hawaiian pizza). The first time that I ever had a taco pizza was during my recent trip to Asheville, North Carolina. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was blown away.
Taco pizza typically includes a mixture of some of (or all of) the ingredients listed below:
- Pizza crust (obviously).
- Tomato sauce or chipotle sauce base.
- Mozzarella cheese.
- Cheddar cheese.
- Four-cheese/Mexican cheese blend.
- Onions.
- Cilantro.
- Ground beef, steak, or chicken.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Lettuce.
What’s The Difference Between Taco Pizza and Supreme Pizza?
Now, you may be thinking that this all looks somewhat familiar to a supreme pizza (which I wrote about here). While both types of pizza are known for having lots of toppings, there are a few key differences between taco pizza:
- Supreme pizza typically has pepperoni and sausage instead of ground beef or chicken.
- Supreme pizza uses mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar or mixed cheese.
- Supreme pizza almost always has green bell peppers and black olives.
I would argue that supreme pizza has a more European flavor to it while taco pizza has a more Texican (Southwestern Texas/Mexican) flavor to it.
Where Can I Buy Taco Pizza?
I remember that Taco Bell and Pizza Hut both used to offer their own versions of taco pizza. Pizza Hut’s was especially famous, as you could get an extra-large taco pizza with a cheese-stuffed crust. However, both restaurant chains have since discontinued it. So, if you want to try a taco pizza, you’ll either need to find a local pizzeria near you that offers it or make your own.
How To Make Your Own Taco Pizza
Unfortunately, since taco pizza has become a bit hard to find, I’ve had to resort to making my own at home. But, seeing as I have all of the equipment and skills, it hasn’t been a problem! Here’s a step-by-step guide for making your very own taco pizza.
Step 1: Prepare Your Dough
Your first step is the dough. You can either find a good recipe and make your own pizza dough or buy your own pizza dough. Once you have your dough, you’ll need to roll it and flatten it out into a circle (or your own desired shape).
Step 2: Spread Out Your Tomato Sauce
Next, get your tomato (or chipotle) sauce and spread a thin layer over the center of your pizza, making sure to cover all of the dough. Make sure to leave a 2 to 3-inch ring for the crust.
Step 3: Sprinkle The Cheese
Then, take whatever cheese you’re using (I recommend cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend) and cover all of the tomato sauce. If you like extra cheese, feel free to add as much as you please.
Step 4: Layer Your Toppings
Finally, gather the toppings you want to use (see above for inspiration) and layer them all, making sure to layer them properly and spread them out across the pizza’s surface.
Step 5: Bake and Eat!
Once you have your raw pizza ready to go, it’s time to cook it! I always recommend using a nice wood-fired oven like this one for the best taste and consistency. However, you can also cook it in your conventional home oven if you have a good pizza ston].
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! Even if you can’t find a local pizzeria that’s selling taco pizzas, I definitely recommend that you go home and try to bake one in your free time. I promise that your entire family will love it!