- Crescent dough sheet (or crescent roll dough pressed into a sheet) – you can substitute homemade pizza dough if desired
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- Taco seasoning (packet or your own blend with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, etc.)
- Hot sauce (or about 1 teaspoon taco sauce)
- Sour cream (full‑fat or light)
- Shredded cheese – Mexican blend, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or a combo
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomatoes – cherry tomatoes quartered work especially well
Optional toppings and sides: refried beans, black beans, black olives, green onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, guacamole or avocado slices, salsa, Fritos or Doritos, tortilla chips, extra beans and dips on the side.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Bake the crescent crust
- Preheat the oven to the temperature on your crescent dough package (usually around 375–400°F / 190–200°C).
- Press the crescent dough sheet into an 8×8‑inch or similar baking dish, sealing any seams if using rolls. Press slightly up the sides to form a shallow edge.
- Bake until puffed and lightly golden, forming a soft, square pizza crust. The edges will be a bit thicker and the crust should slide out easily once baked. Keep the oven on.
- Carefully remove the crust from the baking dish and transfer it to a pizza pan or baking sheet for topping.
2. Cook and season the taco meat
- While the crust bakes, cook the ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium‑high heat, breaking it up with a spatula until browned and cooked through.
- Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in taco seasoning and a splash of water (or hot sauce/taco sauce if you like extra kick) and simmer briefly so the flavors absorb.
3. Make the taco cheese sauce and sour cream drizzle
- In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese with a spoonful or two of taco seasoning and a bit of shredded cheese until smooth; this becomes your “taco cheese sauce” base.
- In a separate small bowl, stir sour cream with a dash of hot sauce or taco sauce to create the sour cream drizzle that will go on top of the meat.
4. Assemble the taco pizza
- With the crust now on a baking sheet, use a spatula to spread the taco‑flavored cream cheese sauce in an even layer over the warm crescent crust.
- Spoon the hot, seasoned ground beef over the sauce and spread it out evenly.
- Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the meat. You can pipe it from a small bag with the tip snipped or simply drizzle with a spoon.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheese over everything. At this stage you can add any bake‑friendly toppings like black beans, refried beans, or sliced olives if you like.
5. Melt, top, and serve
- Return the pizza to the hot oven for a few more minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and immediately top with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes. Add any fresh toppings such as cilantro, green onions, pico de gallo, or crushed chips.
- Slice into squares with a pizza cutter. The pre‑baked crust holds its shape well, so pieces are easy to eat by hand or with a fork.
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