A visually delightful and super easy appetizer; Air Fryer Mexican Pizza Cups are going to be your go-to for any party or brunch.
These come together quickly and taste just like the Mexican pizza from your favorite fast food joint!
Fusion recipes have always been popular and they are all over the food space currently. Mexican and Indian, Asian and Mediterranean, Indian and Italian, the list goes on.
I have shared multiple fusion recipes over the years. These are popular among readers and has been recreated multiple times by so many. Paan Pannacotta, Vietnamese inspired Nachos, Paneer Chilli Noodles and so on.
These recipes generally have an inspiration from one cuisine and are made using ingredients that are more popular in another cuisine. Rice paper, corn chips, noodles, rice, pasta and flatbreads are great to use in these recipes.
Today I am sharing a recipe we have had for the last couple of years and enjoyed it each time. It is a fusion recipe; inspired by Mexican cuisine and made using phyllo cups; not something that is popular in the cuisine.
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What is Mexican Pizza
A super delicious dish at Taco Bell; Mexican pizza is a cross between pizza and tostada. While the name is pizza, it really does not have a base with toppings and cheese.
It starts with two fried tortillas, has beans in the middle and over for the vegetarian version with some crunchy toppings like scallions and tomatoes.
This dish was super popular at Taco Bell before they stopped it a few years ago. It is back on the menu now. And it is definitely one of the loved dishes for so many.
Inspired from this, I have made these bit size cups. They are in no way authentic but taste amazing as an appetizer for any party and beyond.
Why this recipe works
- It is perfect as an appetizer for a party or as a 4 p.m. snack.
- These are bite size, great for portion control.
- We can make it Vegan by one simple substitution.
- Can be classified at mess-free. There is no mess while making, serving or enjoying.
- Has a crunchy shell with delicious smooth cheesy beans in it and topped with crunchy veggies. A great play of textures.
- Is easier to make at home than drive to your favorite restaurant for a fast food takeout.
- The recipe comes pretty close in taste to the Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza.
- We can make these very quickly.
- We can bake or make these in the air fryer.
The Phyllo shells are super versatile. I use them all the time for chaat cups, desserts, snacks etc. They come handy on busy days as they crisp up in 5 minutes in the air fryer. Hello surprise guests!
Once the refried beans are done, the entire recipe can be assembled in under 5 minutes. While the air fryer heats up, the cups are ready to go in. I sometimes have my toddler assemble these too; he truly loves to eat them after making them himself!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Phyllo Shells: These cups are available in most grocery stores in the frozen aisle. I use Athens brand; it comes in a pack of 15 shells. Make sure you get more than one box, as they vanish quickly! They are fully cooked and ready but baking or air frying them makes them super crunchy. However, the step is optional.
- Pinto Beans: I like to use canned pinto beans to make the recipe quick and easy. That being said, it is also okay to prepare the beans from scratch by soaking and pressure cooking them.
- Beans add-ins: I like to add some roasted cumin powder, red onions and taco seasoning to the beans to prepare the refried beans. It helps enhance the taste, making them even more delicious. Use a can of refried beans by itself if you want to skip this process.
- Shredded Cheese: A mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese is used in the recipe. Using shredded cheese works better than shredding your own. The fresh shredded one melts away and does not resemble the cheese from Taco Bell Mexican Pizza.
- Taco Seasoning: I use this Taco Bell seasoning to season all my Mexican dishes. This recipe is no exception! However, any taco seasoning works.
- Hot Sauce: Hot sauce adds a zing to the recipe. A little sauce does go a long way. I use Taco Bell's Fire sauce in the the recipe. Use another hot sauce or salsa if you like.
- Toppings: The crunchy toppings in the recipe includes sliced olives, tomatoes and scallions. These are optional but highly recommended.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
How to make this recipe
1- In a pan heat oil. Add diced onions once the oil is hot.
2- Season with cumin powder and taco seasoning.
3- Once the onions soften, add the canned or cooked beans.
4- Let them cook for a couple minutes, mashing them with a spatula. Add hot sauce and turn down the flame. Set aside.
5- In a plate arrange the phyllo shells.
6- Add a tablespoon of the refried beans in each shell.
7- Top with shredded cheese.
8- Place the shells in an air fryer preheated to 375 F. Air-fry for 5 minutes.
9- Remove from air fryer and add some fire sauce on each shell.
10- Place the tomatoes, scallions and olives on them and serve immediately.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Use canned refried beans to eliminate the step of making them from pinto beans. Simply remove from can and heat lightly before using.
- The recipe is best enjoyed immediately as the shells tend to become soggy quickly with the beans and cheese.
- Add more toppings like tortilla chips, more cheese, sour cream or even guacamole if you like.
- We can easily prepare everything before hand. That way all we need to do is assemble the cups and air fry before serving.
- In case phyllo cups are unavailable, buy the frozen phyllo sheets. Cut into small squares, layer in a muffin mold and bake. Use these to make the shells. Plus, we can easily make these cups using wonton wrappers too.
- Use shredded cheese for this recipe. Shredding from a block gives cheese that melts into the beans and disappears. It tastes the same but the look changes dramatically. I have had the best results with shredded cheese from the package.
Recipe FAQs
The Mexican Pizza, originally called the Pizzazz Pizza, is a popular dish at the U.S. based fast food chain Taco Bell. The vegetarian version consists of two tortillas with a filling of refried beans, topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and diced tomatoes and olives.
Phyllo cups are frozen cups made with phyllo sheets. These cups are pre cooked and are available in packets in the frozen aisle of most grocery stores. They make a great carrier for sweet and savory dishes. Though they do not need cooking, baking or air frying them makes them crunchy and amazing.
Yes certainly. Simply use either phyllo sheets or square wonton wrappers. Stack them in a pile in a muffin pan, bake till crisp and use these to fill in the refried beans, cheese, sauce and toppings. This works just as well as phyllo cups, might just be slightly larger.
Yes certainly. Simply skip the steps to make the refried beans using pinto beans with slightly heated refried beans from the can. This works just as great as making them from scratch.
The phyllo cups from the brand Athens are naturally Vegan. Simply substitute the regular cheese with dairy feee cheese to make the recipe Vegan.
More Mexican Recipes to try
Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!
Air Fryer Mexican Pizza Cups
Ingredients
- 15 pieces phyllo cups
- ½ cup tomatoes (diced)
- ½ cup olives (sliced)
- ¼ cup scallions
- 2 teaspoon fire sauce
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese
For the beans
- 1 cup pinto beans (canned)
- ¼ cup red onion (diced)
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon fire sauce
Instructions
- In a pan heat oil. Add onions once the oil is hot.1 teaspoon oil, ¼ cup red onion
- Once the onions soften, add the beans. Let them cook for a couple minutes, mashing them with a spatula.1 cup pinto beans
- Season with cumin powder and taco seasoning.½ teaspoon cumin powder, 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- Add hot sauce and turn down the flame. Set aside.1 teaspoon fire sauce
- In a plate arrange the phyllo shells.15 pieces phyllo cups
- Add a tablespoon of the refried beans in each shell.
- Top with shredded cheese.¾ cup shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese
- Place the shells in an air fryer set to 375 F. Air-fry for 5 minutes.
- Remove from air fryer and add some fire sauce on each shell.2 teaspoon fire sauce
- Place the tomatoes, scallions and olives on them and serve immediately.½ cup tomatoes, ½ cup olives, ¼ cup scallions
Video
Notes
- Use canned refried beans to eliminate the step of making them from pinto beans. Simply remove from can and heat lightly before using.
- The recipe is best enjoyed immediately as the shells tend to become soggy quickly with the beans and cheese.
- Add more toppings like tortilla chips, more cheese, sour cream or even guacamole if you like.
- We can easily prepare everything before hand. That way all we need to do is assemble the cups and air fry before serving.
- In case phyllo cups are unavailable, buy the frozen phyllo sheets. Cut into small squares, layer in a muffin mold and bake. Use these to make the shells. Plus, we can easily make these cups using wonton wrappers too.
- Use shredded cheese for this recipe. Shredding from a block gives cheese that melts into the beans and disappears. It tastes the same but the look changes dramatically. I have had the best results with shredded cheese from the package.
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