Description
This Taco Pizza combines the classic flavors of a taco with the cheesy, crispy goodness of a pizza. Using crescent dough as the crust, it features a creamy, seasoned cream cheese base topped with savory ground beef, tangy sour cream sauce, shredded cheese, fresh lettuce, and cherry tomatoes. Perfect as a fun party dish or a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe offers a delightful fusion of Tex-Mex and Italian-inspired flavors baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 can refrigerated crescent dough sheets
Cheese Sauce
- 4 oz cream cheese (½ a bar), preferably at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (mild, medium, or hot, based on preference)
Meat Topping
- ½ pound ground beef
Sour Cream Drizzle
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce (or substitute with 1 teaspoon taco sauce)
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375° F. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the Crust: Roll out the refrigerated crescent dough sheets into the bottom of the baking dish, pressing them evenly to create a uniform crust. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, keeping a close eye to avoid burning while ensuring it is cooked through.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Sauce: While the crust is baking, place cream cheese into a small pot over low simmer. As it softens and melts, stir in the taco seasoning frequently until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Make Sour Cream Drizzle: In a small bowl, mix the sour cream with hot sauce (or taco sauce) to create a tangy drizzle.
- Assemble Pizza Base: Once the crust is baked, carefully remove it from the baking dish using a spatula and place it on a flat baking sheet. Keep the oven on.
- Layer Sauces and Meat: Spread the melted, seasoned cream cheese evenly over the crust. Then layer the cooked ground beef on top of the cream cheese base.
- Add Sour Cream and Cheese: Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the ground beef. Sprinkle shredded cheese generously on top.
- Melt Cheese: Return the pizza on the baking sheet to the oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Add Fresh Toppings and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven. Top with shredded lettuce and sliced cherry tomatoes. Slice using a pizza cutter and serve hot for best flavor.
Notes
- Keep a close watch when baking the crescent dough crust as it browns quickly and can burn easily.
- Room temperature cream cheese melts more smoothly, ensuring a better sauce texture.
- The sour cream drizzle can be added with a spoon or for decorative effect, place in a plastic baggie with a small cut at the tip for controlled drizzling.
- Feel free to add other taco toppings like jalapeños, olives, or green onions as desired.
- If preferred, use low-fat dairy products to reduce fat content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: Taco Pizza, Crescent Dough Pizza, Tex-Mex Pizza, Cream Cheese Pizza, Ground Beef Pizza, Easy Dinner Recipe, Party Pizza, Homemade Pizza
