Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

Meat lovers pizza tacos are baked flour tortilla shells filled with pizza sauce, browned ground beef, crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni, sliced black olives, diced bell peppers, red onion and a mix of melted mozzarella and cheddar. The tortillas crisp in the oven so each taco can be picked up in one hand. For more taco and pizza dinners, try these crispy chipotle beef tacos and these pepperoni pizza quesadillas.

Why You’ll Love These Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

• Three meats in every shell: ground beef, Italian sausage and pepperoni give the filling the same hearty mix as a meat-lovers pizza.
• Crispy baked tortillas: small flour tortillas are baked until they hold a taco form, then filled and returned to the oven so the cheese melts.
• Weeknight or game-day food: the active work is mostly browning the meat and assembling the shells, and a pan of tacos is easy to share.
• Familiar pizza flavor: pizza sauce, Italian seasoning and two cheeses tie the meats and vegetables together.

What Are Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos?

Meat lovers pizza tacos are a simple hybrid of a taco and a pizza. Small flour tortillas are baked until they are crisp enough to stand open, then spread with pizza sauce and filled with a browned mix of ground beef and Italian sausage, plus pepperoni, black olives, diced peppers and red onion. Mozzarella and cheddar go on top, and the tacos go back into the oven until the cheese melts and the tortilla edges turn golden. Cook the ground beef thoroughly; see this USDA guide to ground beef and food safety.

Ingredients for Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 1/2 lb pepperoni slices
• 120 ml (1/2 cup) sliced black olives, drained
• 120 g (about 1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 120 g (about 1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 small flour tortillas (about 6 inches)
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup diced bell peppers (red and green)
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon oil, for brushing the tortillas
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Ingredient Notes

The meats, olives and cheeses come from the original list. Pizza sauce, small flour tortillas, diced bell peppers, red onion and Italian seasoning are added here so the method matches a classic baked pizza taco and the finished look of the photo.

• Ground beef: 1 lb of regular or lean ground beef both work. Brown it with the sausage, then drain off the fat so the shells do not turn soggy.
• Italian sausage: 1/2 lb, casings removed if needed and crumbled. Mild or hot sausage both work.
• Pepperoni slices: 1/2 lb is enough for a layer in each taco, with a few slices showing on top.
• Sliced black olives: 120 ml is about 1/2 cup. Drain them well.
• Mozzarella and cheddar: 120 g of each is about 1 cup shredded. Mozzarella melts smoothly, and cheddar adds a sharper flavor and a little color.
• Small flour tortillas: taco-size tortillas, about 6 inches across, hold their shape better than large wraps.
• Pizza sauce: 1 cup is enough to spoon a layer into each shell. A simple pizza sauce works better here than a sweet pasta sauce.
• Bell peppers and red onion: 1/2 cup diced red and green pepper plus 1/4 cup diced red onion add color and crunch, as seen in the finished tacos.
• Italian seasoning: 1 teaspoon stirred into the browned meat gives the filling a pizza-shop flavor.
• Oil, salt and pepper: a light brush of oil helps the tortillas crisp. Season the meat after draining.

How to Make Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

1. Heat the oven: preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. Brown the meats: in a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and crumbled Italian sausage, breaking them up, until no pink remains, about 8 to 10 minutes. The ground beef should reach 160°F. Drain off the fat.
3. Season the filling: stir in the Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Set the skillet aside.
4. Shape the tortillas: lightly brush both sides of each flour tortilla with oil. Drape each one over two bars of an oven rack, or fold it over a foil ridge, so it holds an open taco shape.
5. Bake the shells: bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the tortillas are lightly golden and hold their shape, then transfer them to the baking sheet, open side up.
6. Add the sauce: spoon a little pizza sauce into the bottom of each shell and spread it along the inside.
7. Fill the tacos: divide the beef and sausage mixture among the shells. Tuck in pepperoni slices, a few sliced black olives, and a pinch of diced bell peppers and red onion.
8. Add the cheese: sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar over the filling. Lay one or two extra pepperoni slices and a couple of olive slices on top.
9. Bake again: return the pan to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tortilla edges are crisp and golden.
10. Serve: let the tacos sit for 2 to 3 minutes so the cheese settles, then serve them hot.

Hands-on time is about 20 minutes, and oven time is about 20 minutes, for a total of about 40 minutes. The recipe makes 8 tacos and serves 4.

Tips for the Best Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

• Drain the meat well: extra fat in the filling can soften the shells. After browning, spoon off the fat, then season the meat.
• Do not skip the first bake: if you fill soft tortillas and bake them only once, they tend to slump. A short first bake sets the taco shape.
• Leave a little space: overfilled shells are harder to move and can spill cheese onto the pan. A rounded spoonful of meat in each shell is enough.
• Watch the last few minutes: flour tortillas can darken quickly at 400°F. Pull the pan when the cheese is melted and the edges are crisp.
• Cook the ground beef thoroughly: the filling should show no pink, and the beef should reach 160°F, the safe temperature given in the USDA guidance linked above.

What to Serve With Meat Lovers Pizza Tacos

Meat lovers pizza tacos are rich and savory, so they sit well next to a simple green salad or cut raw vegetables. For a pizza-and-taco spread, add these homemade mini pizzas or this walking taco casserole. They also work on a game-day table beside these loaded taco shells with creamy cheese sauce. Serve the tacos as soon as the cheese has settled so the shells stay crisp.

Variations

• Mild or hot sausage: use mild Italian sausage for a quieter flavor, or hot sausage if you want more heat.
• Extra vegetables: add sliced mushrooms or a few sliced mild peppers if you want more toppings in the shell.
• All-beef filling: if you do not have Italian sausage, use 1 1/2 lb ground beef and add an extra 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
• Cheese swap: all mozzarella works if that is what you have.
• Smaller batch: halve every ingredient to make 4 tacos. The bake times stay the same.

Storage

Let leftover meat lovers pizza tacos cool, then store them in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. See this FDA guide to storing food safely for general refrigeration advice. Reheat them on a baking sheet at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the centers are hot. A microwave will warm the filling but will soften the tortillas.

FAQ

What are meat lovers pizza tacos?

They are baked flour tortilla tacos filled with pizza sauce, ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni, olives, peppers, onion and melted mozzarella and cheddar. The shells are crisped in the oven, then filled and baked again until the cheese melts.

Can I make meat lovers pizza tacos ahead of time?

You can brown the meat mixture up to 2 days ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Fill and finish the shells just before serving so they stay crisp.

Do I have to use flour tortillas for meat lovers pizza tacos?

Flour tortillas are the better choice because they fold and crisp without cracking as easily. If you only have larger tortillas, fold them into a tighter shape and watch the bake time.

How do I keep meat lovers pizza tacos from getting soggy?

Drain the browned meat well, use a moderate amount of pizza sauce, and give the tortillas a short first bake so they set before you fill them. Serve them soon after the second bake.

What temperature should the ground beef reach in meat lovers pizza tacos?

The ground beef and sausage should be cooked until no pink remains and the beef reaches 160°F, the safe temperature recommended for ground beef.