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Taco Braid (+Video)

This Easy Taco Braid uses pizza dough, seasoned taco beef, refried beans, cheese and salsa to create the most delicious family dinner!

A DELICIOUSLY FUN DINNER!

This Easy Taco Braid is one of our family favorite dinners. It’s simple to prepare and easy to serve up. It’s also one that everyone can jump in and help prepare. You can prepare and bake this meal in 30 minutes and it doesn’t require a ton of ingredients!

close up photo showing the inside of a sliced taco braid.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Can I use my own homemade pizza dough?

Of course! Just make sure you roll it out side and long enough to be able to braid it.

What other fillings can be used?

You really can add any of your favorite taco fillings to this taco braid. Seasoned ground turkey will work or even some spicy chorizo! Different cheeses can certainly be used depending on your preference.

What can I serve as a side dish with this?

Taco braid is really a whole meal in one. However, if you really want a side dish you could serve with French fries, cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, taco rice, guacamole or chips and salsa!

How do you store leftovers?

Any leftover taco braid can be stored in a covered container for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen. Wrap very well and place in a freezer-safe ziptop bag.

fully baked taco braid on parchment paper and topped with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • refrigerated pizza crust
  • ground beef
  • taco seasoning
  • water
  • refried beans
  • salsa
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • finely diced tomatoes (divided use)
  • melted butter
pizza crust, ground beef, taco seasoning, water, refried beans, salsa, shredded cheese, tomatoes.

HOW TO MAKE A TACO BRAID:

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add the taco seasoning and water and mix until well incorporated. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 – 7 minutes until thickened.

ground taco beef in a skillet.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the refrigerated pizza dough on a large piece of parchment paper and roll out the dough so that it measures 10 X 15 inches. You can spread it out with your hands as well. Whatever is easiest for you. Carefully transfer the parchment onto a large, rimmed baking sheet.

a wooden rolling pin rolling out pizza dough.

With a pizza cutter (or sharp knife), make slices (1 -1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long) along both long sides of the dough.

a knife cutting slits into pizza dough.

Place refried beans into microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 45 seconds until soft enough to spread. Evenly spread refried beans down the center of the dough.

an offset spatula spreading refried beans onto pizza crust.

Top beans with seasoned ground beef down the center of the dough.

taco beef evenly spread on top of refried beans on pizza dough.

Evenly spread salsa on top of ground beef.

salsa spread on top of ground beef and refried beans.

Then add shredded cheese and diced tomatoes.

diced tomatoes shredded cheese layered on top of ground beef and refried beans.

Beginning at one end of the braid, fold the end up and wrap the first two slices over to secure it. Repeat the wrapping with the remaining slices just until the last two.

two sets of hands braiding pizza dough over taco filling.

Fold the remaining end up and wrap the last two slices over it to secure.

uncooked taco braid on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Gently brush the top and side with the melted butter.

a pastry brush brushing melted butter on top of taco braid before cooking.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until golden brown.

fully cooked taco braid on baking sheet.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes on top of cooked taco braid.

Cover with chopped lettuce and tomato, if desired.

fully cooked taco braid sliced in half to show the inside.

Serve with sour cream and taco sauce.

slice of taco braid on a plate with sour cream on the side.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!

Updated to add: The original post had a giveaway that has now ended.

Fiesta Taco Braid

Taco Braid (+Video)

This Easy Taco Braid uses pizza dough, seasoned taco beef, refried beans, cheese and salsa to create the most delicious family dinner!
4.95 from 39 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 13.8 ounce tube refrigerated pizza crust
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1.25 ounce packet taco seasoning
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend shredded cheese)
  • 2 cups finely diced tomatoes , divided use
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 cups chopped lettuce, for serving
  • sour cream and salsa, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease.
  • Add the taco seasoning and water and mix until well incorporated. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 – 7 minutes until thickened.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the refrigerated pizza dough on a large piece of parchment paper roll out the dough so that it measures 10 X 15 inches.
  • With a pizza cutter (or sharp knife), make slices (1 -1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long) along both long sides of the dough.
  • Place refried beans into microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 45 seconds until soft enough to spread. Evenly spread refried beans down the center of the dough.
  • Top beans with seasoned ground beef down the center of the dough.
  • Evenly spread salsa on top of ground beef. Then add shredded cheese and diced tomato.
  • Beginning at one end of the braid, fold the end up and wrap the first two slices over to secure it. Repeat the wrapping with the remaining slices just until the last two.
  • Fold the remaining end up and wrap the last two slices over it to secure.
  • Gently brush the top and side with the melted butter.
  • Carefully transfer the parchment onto a large, rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Cover with chopped lettuce and tomato, if desired. Serve with sour cream and taco sauce.

Video

YouTube video
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 31g | Sodium: 874mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




49 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Favorite meal to make as a family has always been pizza. When my kids were small, their birthday party guests all got a pie plate with dough already rolled out and all they had to do was use the toppings to make their own personal pizza. It was always a hit. I also, unless birthday child requested a special cake, let the guests all help decorate the birthday cake.

  2. 5 stars
    My favorite meal to make together with my family is Thanksgiving dinner! A big turkey with all the sides!

  3. Me and my boys like making breakfast together. They work on the toast and I work on the eggs.

  4. 5 stars
    Taco’s!!! Always have the ingredients handy. I can’t wait to try the taco braid, looks delish.

  5. 5 stars
    My husband is the cook in our kitchen and he makes a wonderful American Goulash! We can’t wait to try the Fiesta Taco Braid, it sounds delicious!

  6. 5 stars
    Favorite “family” meal would have to be Pepper Steak! Hubby is my designated sous chef. He does all the cutting and chopping and I do the rest.

  7. 5 stars
    When I saw this I thought yum we make this all the time until I read through and you add refried beans! Had one of those slap the side of my head “why didn’t I think of that!” moments. Can’t wait to make this again adding the beans!