Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love the combination of crispy tortillas, creamy beans, flavorful sauce, and melted cheese. It gives me plenty of contrasting textures while keeping the preparation straightforward.
I also like that I don’t need traditional pizza dough. Flour tortillas create thin, crisp layers and make this recipe much faster to assemble than homemade pizza.
Another reason I enjoy this recipe is how easily I can customize it. I can add corn, black beans, jalapenos, peppers, onions, olives, avocado, or different cheeses without changing the basic method.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Flour tortillas
- Vegetarian refried beans
- Enchilada sauce or taco sauce
- Shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
- Black beans, drained and rinsed
- Corn
- Bell pepper, finely chopped
- Red onion, finely chopped
- Tomatoes, diced
- Black olives, sliced
- Jalapeno, sliced, optional
- Taco seasoning
- Green onions, sliced
- Fresh cilantro
- Avocado, optional
- Sour cream, optional
- Lime wedges, optional
Directions
I start by preheating my oven to 400°F (200°C) and lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
I arrange the tortillas on the baking sheet and lightly coat them with cooking spray or a small amount of oil. I bake them for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until they begin to turn crisp and lightly golden.
While the tortillas bake, I warm the vegetarian refried beans in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. I stir in a little taco seasoning for extra flavor.
I place one crisp tortilla on my baking sheet and spread a layer of seasoned refried beans over the top.
I add some black beans, corn, bell pepper, and red onion. I keep the layers fairly thin so the finished pizza remains easy to slice.
I place another crisp tortilla over the filling and gently press it into place.
I spread enchilada or taco sauce over the top tortilla, leaving a small border around the edge.
Next, I sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the sauce. I add sliced olives and jalapenos when I’m using them.
I return the Mexican pizzas to the oven and bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the edges are crisp.
I let the pizzas rest for a few minutes before adding diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, avocado, or sour cream.
I slice each Mexican pizza into wedges and serve it warm, often with lime wedges and additional sauce on the side.
Servings and Timing
I usually make enough for approximately 4 servings. The exact yield depends on the size of my tortillas and whether I serve the Mexican pizzas as a main dish or appetizer.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Tortilla crisping time: 8–10 minutes
- Final bake time: 8–10 minutes
- Total time: about 30–35 minutes
- Servings: approximately 4
Variations
For a black bean Mexican pizza, I skip the refried beans and lightly mash seasoned black beans for the filling. I can also combine both types of beans when I want a heartier layer.
When I want extra vegetables, I add cooked mushrooms, zucchini, roasted peppers, or spinach. I cook vegetables with a high water content before adding them so my tortillas stay crisp.
For a spicier version, I add fresh jalapenos, pickled jalapenos, crushed red pepper, or my favorite hot sauce.
When I want more cheese flavor, I combine cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper Jack. Pepper Jack is one of my favorite additions when I want a little extra heat.
For a fresh finish, I add avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and a squeeze of lime after baking. I always add these ingredients at the end so they stay fresh.
Storage/Reheating
I think Vegetarian Mexican Pizza tastes best shortly after baking because the tortillas are at their crispiest.
When I have leftovers, I let the pizza cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer storing fresh toppings such as avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and sour cream separately.
For reheating, I place the pizza in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 5 to 10 minutes. This warms the filling and helps the tortillas become crisp again.
I can also use an air fryer for a few minutes. I find this particularly useful for reheating individual wedges.
I avoid using the microwave when possible because it tends to soften the tortillas, although I can use it when I need a quick reheating method.
FAQs
What makes Mexican Pizza vegetarian?
I keep my Mexican pizza vegetarian by using vegetarian refried beans and leaving out ground beef or other meat. I also check packaged refried beans carefully because some traditional varieties can contain animal-based ingredients.
How do I keep Mexican Pizza crispy?
I prebake my tortillas before adding the filling and avoid using too much sauce. I also drain beans, corn, and vegetables thoroughly because excess moisture can soften the tortillas.
Can I make Vegetarian Mexican Pizza with corn tortillas?
Yes. I can use corn tortillas for a smaller, crispier variation. Because they are generally smaller and more delicate than flour tortillas, I handle them carefully and adjust the baking time as necessary.
What cheese is best for Vegetarian Mexican Pizza?
I like using a Mexican-style cheese blend because it melts easily and provides several complementary flavors. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, or a combination of these cheeses also works well.
Can I make Vegetarian Mexican Pizza ahead of time?
I prefer preparing the individual components ahead rather than assembling the entire pizza. I can chop the vegetables, prepare the beans, and shred the cheese in advance. I assemble and bake everything shortly before serving so the tortillas stay crisp.
Conclusion
This Vegetarian Mexican Pizza is one of my favorite ways to combine crispy tortillas, creamy beans, vegetables, flavorful sauce, and melted cheese in an easy meal. I get plenty of satisfying texture and bold flavor without needing traditional pizza dough or meat.
PrintVegetarian Mexican Pizza Recipe
This Vegetarian Mexican Pizza combines crispy flour tortillas with seasoned refried beans, black beans, vegetables, flavorful sauce, and melted cheese. Fresh tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and lime make it a colorful and satisfying lunch, dinner, or shareable snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 16-20 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 Mexican pizzas, about 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 8 medium flour tortillas, about 8 inches each
- 1 1/2 cups vegetarian refried beans
- 1 cup enchilada sauce or taco sauce
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup corn, drained
- 1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper
- 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup sliced black olives
- 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced, optional
- 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 medium avocado, diced, optional
- 1/2 cup sour cream, optional
- 1 lime, cut into wedges, optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray, for crisping the tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the tortillas on the baking sheet in batches if necessary. Lightly brush them with olive oil or coat them with cooking spray.
- Bake the tortillas for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until lightly golden and beginning to crisp. Remove them from the oven.
- While the tortillas crisp, warm the vegetarian refried beans in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the taco seasoning until evenly combined.
- Place 4 crisp tortillas on baking sheets. Spread approximately 6 tablespoons of seasoned refried beans over each tortilla.
- Divide the black beans, corn, bell pepper, and red onion evenly among the 4 tortillas, keeping the filling layers relatively thin.
- Place one of the remaining crisp tortillas over each filled tortilla and gently press it into place.
- Spread approximately 1/4 cup enchilada or taco sauce over the top of each pizza, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Divide the shredded Mexican-style cheese evenly among the pizzas, then top with the sliced black olives and jalapeno if using.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and the tortilla edges are crisp.
- Remove the pizzas from the oven and let them rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Top with diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, avocado, and sour cream as desired. Slice each pizza into wedges and serve warm with lime wedges and additional sauce if desired.
Notes
- Check packaged refried beans to ensure they are labeled vegetarian because some traditional versions contain animal-based ingredients.
- Drain the black beans, corn, and other vegetables thoroughly to help keep the tortillas crisp.
- Prebaking the tortillas and using a moderate amount of sauce helps prevent soggy Mexican pizza.
- For a black bean variation, replace the refried beans with lightly mashed and seasoned black beans.
- Cook moisture-rich vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach before adding them.
- For extra heat, add additional jalapenos, hot sauce, or use pepper Jack cheese.
- Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper Jack can be used instead of a packaged Mexican-style cheese blend.
- Add avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, sour cream, and lime after baking so the toppings remain fresh.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, keeping fresh toppings separate.
- Reheat at 375°F (190°C) for 5 to 10 minutes or use an air fryer for a few minutes to restore crispness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Mexican pizza
- Calories: 690 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 1580 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 78 g
- Fiber: 13 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg