If you love tacos and pizza, you are in the right place! My Vegetarian Taco Pizza with Crispy Black Beans is hearty, filling, and the perfect mix between the two. This cheesy pizza is packed with almost 30 grams of protein per serving and is perfect when loaded with fresh veggies.
I’ve been making this Vegetarian Taco Pizza with Crispy Black Beans for many years now, and summertime feels like the perfect time to finally share the recipe. It’s loaded with fresh crisp veggies, melty cheese, and zesty taco flavor. Serve this unique pizza with a side of tortilla chips and enjoy for your next pizza night.
What Is Taco Pizza?
Taco pizza is exactly as it sounds, a fusion between tacos and pizza, or a taco-flavored pizza. You don’t often see taco pizza on pizzeria menus, but we always make sure to order it when we do. Here are a few things that make this Vegetarian Taco Pizza recipe so delicious:
- The sauce – Rather than using marinara sauce, I make my own sauce by mixing together refried beans and taco sauce. It’s thick, flavorful, and adds the perfect taco bite to this vegetarian pizza.
- The black beans – I’ve made versions of this pizza using pinto beans and garbanzo beans, but I enjoy black beans the best. They’re seasoned with a few spices, and then they get nice and crispy in the oven, on top of the pizza.
- The toppings – You definitely don’t want to skip the toppings for this taco pizza. The pizza base itself is delicious, but the fresh toppings like lettuce, onion, and cilantro really give this pizza its unique taco flavor. Use your favorites and don’t skimp!
Why You’ll Love This Vegetarian Taco Pizza Recipe
- It’s a combination of pizza and tacos – I’m probably not alone when I say that pizza and tacos are two of my favorite foods. They’re both popular for a reason, so it’s no surprise that combining them turns into a delicious creation. If you also love tacos and pizza, this recipe is for you.
- Easy to make – I usually buy the pre-made pizza dough from Trader Joe’s, and then these taco pizzas come together in about 30 minutes. The toppings can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Fresh and filling – I love this taco pizza because the beans and cheese make it hearty and filling, but the fresh toppings make it feel nice and light. This pizza is perfect for enjoying in the summertime, especially on an outdoor pizza night.
Vegetarian Taco Pizza Recipe Ingredients
- Pizza Dough – You can make your own pizza dough from scratch, buy pre-made dough and roll it out yourself, or use a pre-made pizza crust. If you prefer not to make a full-sized pizza, you can use pita bread, naan, or thicker flour tortillas to create these taco pizzas.
- Taco Sauce – You should be able to find bottled taco sauce at most grocery stores, in the Mexican food aisle. If you can’t find taco sauce, you can substitute it with enchilada sauce or salsa. I prefer to use mild taco sauce, but you can use spicy if you’d like to add some extra heat.
- Refried Beans – The refried beans are mixed with the taco sauce to create a thicker, more flavorful sauce that serves as the base for the taco pizza. I used refried beans made with pinto beans, but you can also use black refried beans.
- Black Beans – I like to season the black beans with smoked paprika, cumin, and garlic, then cook them in a frying pan for a few minutes. The black beans are added to the top and become nice and crunchy when the pizza is baked at 500°F. They add texture and remind me of ground beef that would be on a non-vegetarian taco pizza.
- Cheese – I like to use grated Colby Jack on this pizza. It melts well, and it’s a nice mix of yellow and white cheeses. Any cheese can be used, though. Pepperjack would be great if you want some extra heat.
- Toppings – This vegetarian pizza can be topped with all the things you would normally top a taco with. I like to use lettuce, tomato, onion, black olives, avocado, and jalapeno. Occasionally, we also like to add crunched-up tortilla chips or nacho cheese Doritos to the top.
How To Make The Best Vegetarian Taco Pizza
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees F, or according to pizza dough directions. Grease a large pizza pan or sheet and set it aside. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the black beans and mix until they are coated with the oil. Add the spices and salt, then mix well. Cook the black beans until they start to become slightly crispy, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally while cooking.
- Add the refried beans and taco sauce to a medium-sized bowl and mix until completely combined. Roll out your pizza dough into the desired shape and size. Place the dough onto the greased baking sheet and use a fork to prick a few holes into the top of the dough to prevent bubbling.
- Spread the refried bean taco sauce evenly onto the dough in a thin layer. You don’t have to use all of it, depending on how large your pizza is or how saucy you like it. Evenly top with the shredded cheese and then dizzle on a few tablespoons of regular, plain taco sauce. Spoon the black beans on top of the cheese and place the pizza in the preheated oven.
- Bake the pizza until the dough is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Prepare the toppings while the pizza is baking. Thinly slice all the vegetables so that they can easily be evenly distributed over the top of the pizza. Allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes before adding all your favorite toppings. Drizzle some extra taco sauce on top and enjoy!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pizza crust.
- Make this pizza vegan by using your favorite meltable vegan cheese.
- Is this taco pizza spicy? You can make this pizza as spicy as you like. I used a mild taco sauce, and mine was not spicy.
- What pizza crust should be used? You can use any pizza dough or crust you prefer. I usually use a 16-oz pre-made ball of pizza dough that I buy at Trader Joe’s. I’ve seen them at other grocery stores, too.
- How long does leftover pizza last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, it should stay fresh for 4-5 days. Reheat leftover pizza in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section, and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Easy Vegetarian Pizza Recipes?
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza
Summer Squash and Tomato Pizza
Tortilla Pizzas with Roasted Vegetables
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Vegetarian Taco Pizza Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 Slices 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
If you love tacos and pizza, you are in the right place! My Vegetarian Taco Pizza with Crispy Black Beans is hearty, filling and the perfect mix between the two. This cheesy pizza is packed with almost 30 grams of protein per serving and is perfect loaded with fresh veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16 oz) ball pre-made pizza dough
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons red taco sauce, divided
- 1/4 cup refried beans
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, plus more if desired
- Optional pizza toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, black olives, peppers, avocado, ranch dressing, extra taco sauce
Black Beans
- 1 cup cooked black beans
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees F, or according to pizza dough directions. Grease a large pizza sheet and set aside. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons olive oil. Once oil is hot, add in the black beans and mix until beans are coated with the oil. Pour in the spices and salt and mix well. Cook black beans until starting to get a little crispy, about 5 minutes, stirring a few times while cooking.
- Add the refried beans and 1/3 cup of the taco sauce to a medium sized bowl and mix until completely combined. Roll out your pizza dough into desired shape and size. Place dough onto the greased baking sheet and use a fork to prick a few holes into the top of the dough, to prevent bubbling.
- Evenly spread the refried bean taco sauce onto the dough into a thin layer. You don’t have to use all of it, depending on how large your pizza is, or how saucy you like it. Evenly top with the shredded cheese and then dizzle on the two remaining tablespoons of regular, plain taco sauce. Spoon the black beans on top of the cheese and place pizza in the pre-heated oven.
- Bake pizza until dough is cooked through and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Prepare the toppings while the pizza is baking. Thinly slice all the vegetables so that they can easily be evenly distributed over the top of the pizza. Allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes before adding on all your favorite toppings. Drizzle some extra taco sauce on top and enjoy!
Notes
If you don’t have all the spices on hand for the black beans, you can use about 2 teaspoons of a store-bought taco, fajita or chili seasoning.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
- Method: Oven, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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