Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this Easy Mexican Taco Beef Pie! This delicious dish combines a savory beef mixture seasoned with taco seasoning and creamy refried beans, all topped with melted cheddar cheese, nestled perfectly in a crispy pie crust.
Whether looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing dish for a gathering, this taco pie is sure to be a hit. It doesn’t matter whether it is Taco Tuesday or not. This easy recipe is simple to make and bursting with flavor, it brings the best of Mexican-inspired cuisine to your table in a delightful and easy-to-serve pie. This one is going to be a family favorite that the entire family will love so let’s dive into this mouthwatering recipe!
This Mexican pie is one of my favorite meals, and it was made by my mom growing up. This was in the rotation along with Texas Hash, which I love as well. Both are quick and easy dinners that the whole family will love.
It seems we would always have this meal on Fridays for supper. I always looked forward to eating a slice of this and watching TGIF on ABC! (Thank Goodness It’s Funny which was a family-friendly Friday night TV show on ABC from the 80s-90s).
Why You’ll Love This Mexican Pie Recipe
Here are a few reasons why everyone will love this Easy Mexican Taco Beef Pie recipe:
- Bursting with Flavor: The combination of seasoned beef, creamy refried beans, and melted cheddar cheese creates a rich and savory taste that’s hard to resist.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a hassle-free meal.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This dish is versatile and appeals to a wide range of tastes, making it an ideal choice for family dinners or gatherings with friends.
- Customizable: You can easily tailor the recipe to suit your preferences by adding your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or fresh cilantro.
- Comfort Food: The warm, hearty filling and crispy pie shell provide a comforting and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.
- Great Leftovers: This pie reheats well, making it perfect for next-day lunches or quick dinners.
- Mexican-Inspired Delight: For those who love Mexican cuisine or Tex-Mex, this pie offers all the delicious flavors of a classic taco in a fun and convenient pie form.
What Does This Mexican Pie Taste Like
The Easy Mexican Taco Beef Pie is a delightful explosion of flavors in every bite. The seasoned ground beef is savory and spiced just right, blending harmoniously with the creamy, smooth texture of refried beans and green chilies. The melted cheddar cheese adds a rich, tangy layer that perfectly complements the hearty filling. All of this is enveloped in a golden, flaky pie crust that provides a satisfying crunch. The combination of warm, comforting flavors and textures makes this dish an irresistible treat for your taste buds.
What You Need To Make This Recipe
Note: You’ll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but let’s go over the basics
Ingredients for Mexican Taco Beef Pie
For the Filling
- Ground beef
- Taco seasoning mix-or use Homemade taco seasoning.
- Salsa
- Green chilies-drained
- Refried beans
- Water (a portion will be used for flour slurry, the rest for the refried beans)
- Sharp Cheddar cheese-(a portion of the cheese will be used for the beef mixture, the rest for topping on the pies)
- Two frozen Pastry pie shells
- Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
Garnish
- Shredded lettuce
- Fresh diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Black olives
- Green onions
- Taco Sauce or Salsa
- Lime wedge
Note: See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Large Skillet
- Medium stock pot
- Mixing spoon and Spatula
- Pie plate
- can opener
- Measuring Spoon
- Cheese Grater
- Cutting Board
- Sharp knife
- Serving Spatula
For a full detailed list of the brands of equipment I use and recommend, check out this article on Best Kitchen Essentials Checklist that I have prepared for you.
How To Make Mexican Taco Beef Pie
Step-by-step instructions
Prepare pie shells
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lay out frozen pie shells 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time to thaw. Using a fork, prick holes in the bottom of the pie shells. Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly brown.
Mexican Taco Beef Pie Filling
1. Place the large skillet on the stovetop on medium-high heat. Cook beef until the meat is brown.
2. Drain the grease off of the meat. Add in the taco seasoning then the flour slurry (cold water and flour mixture) Stir into ground beef until it is well incorporated.
After reducing the mixture, add the drained green chilies and salsa. Then add in 1 cup of the cheese and mix well.
3. Place the medium stock pot on the stove on medium heat. Add the refried beans to the pot to reheat. Add in the water to thin the beans down some. You want them to be able to spread easily when we layer them in the bottom of the pie shell. A nice smooth texture is what we are looking for.
Make the Pies
1. Divide the refried beans between the two pie crusts and spread the mixture on the bottom of the shells.
Next, divide the ground beef mixture between the two shells and spread evenly. Top with the remaining sharp cheddar cheese.
2. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is nice and bubbly and the edges of the pie crust are golden brown.
3. Allow Mexican pie to cool for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the pie to set before serving.
How To Serve Mexican Pie
Serve Mexican Pie on a plate with tortilla chips. Top the Mexican Taco Beef Pie with the garnishes listed above or your favorite taco toppings.
Great Side Dishes to Serve with Mexican Taco Beef Pie
- Corn on the cob
- Marinated Cucumbers Onion & Vinegar
- Spicy Cucumber Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Garden Salad
- Spanish rice
- Coleslaw
Substitutions
You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
Storage Tips
You can store Mexican Taco Beef Pie in an airtight container or cover it with aluminum foil. My favorite way to store any pie is by putting it in a Nordic Ware High Dome Covered Pie Pan. I love mine and use it quite often. Nordic Ware is made in the USA and makes awesome products.
Place the pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
FAQ’s
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. Store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove it from the refrigerator and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if necessary.
Yes, you can freeze the assembled pie before baking. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed.
Absolutely! While cheddar cheese adds a great flavor, you can use other cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
If you don’t have refried beans, you can use black beans or pinto beans as an alternative. Simply mash them slightly to create a similar texture.
To add more heat, you can include diced jalapeños, a dash of hot sauce, or extra chili powder in the beef mixture. You can also top the pie with spicy salsa or serve with a side of sliced jalapeños.
Great toppings include sour cream, guacamole, salsa, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sliced olives, fresh cilantro, and chopped green onions.
Yes, homemade taco seasoning works great. Combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste.
Easy Mexican Taco Beef Pie
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this Easy Mexican Taco Beef Pie! This delicious dish combines a savory beef mixture seasoned with taco seasoning and creamy refried beans, all topped with melted cheddar cheese, nestled perfectly in a crispy pie crust.
Ingredients
- 1 lb of ground hamburger meat
- Two frozen pastry pie shells
- 12 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup for meat mixture, the rest for topping pies)
- 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix or use a Taco Seasoning packet
- 1-16 ounce can of refried beans
- 1-4 ounce can of green chilies
- 8 ounces of Salsa (half of a 16 ounce jar)
- 2 tablespoons of all purpose (AP) flour
- 1 cup of water (1/4 cup for flour slurry, the rest for refried beans)
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Toppings or Garnish
- Lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Gucamole
- Black olives
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Taco Sauce or Salsa
- Lime Wedge
Instructions
Prepare pie shells
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay out pie shells 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time to thaw. Using a fork, prick holes in the bottom of the pie shells. Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly brown.
Mexican Taco Beef Pie Filling
- Place the large skillet on the stovetop on medium-high heat. Cook beef until the meat is brown
- Make a flour slurry by mixing a 1/4 cup of water into the 2 tablespoons of AP flour and whisk until smooth. This will be used to help thicken the beef mixture.
- Drain the grease off of the meat. Add in the taco seasoning. Add in the flour slurry. Stir into the ground beef until it is well incorporated. After reducing the mixture, add the drained green chilies and salsa. Then add in 1 cup of cheese and mix well.
- Place the medium stock pot on the stove on medium heat. Add the refried beans to the pot to reheat. Add 3/4 cup of the water to thin the refried beans. This will allow them to thin out and spread easily when we layer them in the bottom of the pie shell. A nice smooth texture is what we are looking for.
Make the Pies
- Divide the refried beans between the two pie crusts and spread the mixture on the bottom of the shells. Next, divide the ground beef mixture between the two shells and spread evenly. Top with the remaining Sharp Cheddar cheese and place in the oven to bake.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is nice and bubbly and the edges of the pie crust are golden brown.
- Allow Mexican pie to cool for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the pie to set before serving.
Recommended Products
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