Taco Pizza with Beer Crust

"This is the best pizza I've ever had!"

That's what my 14 year old said about this pizza.  

The idea came about from me trying to figure out what to do with some left overs.  I had some grilled chicken and some toppings left from fajitas from the night before and was just going to make burritos, but then I remembered this idea.

Taco pizza was my favorite as a kid.  It usually cost more than the other pizzas at our local pizza place, so we only got it every once in a while, which was always a treat. 

This recipe is very reminiscent of those flavors and is worth the little extra effort. Although the crust is homemade, the beer helps in making it a little quicker, since you don't have to wait for it to rise.

It was fun to make something a little different than the usual, and introduce an idea that was kind of "retro" to the boys.

Taco Pizza

1 pizza crust (recipe follows)

refried beans

chicken or beef

cheddar cheese

lettuce

salsa 

other taco toppings of choice

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Lightly grease pizza pan with cooking spray or olive oil.  Spread dough out to desired thickness. Spread beans into a thin layer over the crust. Top with meat and cheese.  Bake for 12-15 min or until golden.

Remove from oven and top with remaining toppings.

*I apologize for having another recipe without the exact quantities. It really is a matter of taste, just remember to not load the pizza up too much or the crust won't cook properly.

Beer Pizza Crust

(from food.com)

3 cups unbleached flour (plus more for dusting)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12 ounce) can beer (I use light)
olive oil

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour in the beer and mix well (the dough will be sticky). Spread a handful of flour on your work surface and dump the dough onto it. Toss the dough around to coat it with flour and prevent it from sticking. Knead it 2 or 3 times to make it pliable. Shape the dough into a ball and divide it in two if you are making 2 thin crust pizzas.

 

For a deep dish pie do not divide.