Mexican Pizza

1 pre-baked packaged pizza crust like Boboli or Trader Joe's

½ lb. ground beef

½ c. onion, chopped

½ red pepper chopped

1 pkg. taco seasoning

½ - 1 c. salsa

Hot sauce

½ - 1 can spicy refried beans

2 cups cheddar cheese

Sliced black olives (optional)

Jalapeno slices, to taste (mild or hot or none at all)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Unwrap the pizza crust and place directly on the oven rack for 5 - 10 minutes to warm and make it more brown.

Brown ground beef with the onion and red pepper. Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Add a few shakes of the hot sauce if you like it spicy. The amount of salsa depends on the thickness…you do not want the meat mixture runny, just coated with flavor.

Remove the pizza crust from the oven and place on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread the refried beans over the crust leaving a 1/2" edge. Top with the meat/salsa mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on next. Dot with olives and jalapeno slices. Reduce oven temp to 400 degrees. Cook pizza for 6 - 12 minutes until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. 

Serve with a crisp tossed salad with Ranch dressing. Have an ice cold Margarita. Or two.