Copycat Taco Bell Meximelts
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Miss those iconic Meximelts from Taco Bell? This homemade copycat version brings back the nostalgia using simple ingredients right from your kitchen. With seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and fresh pico de gallo wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, these make the perfect addition to your Taco Tuesday!
Recently, I was with a group of women, and someone asked, “What is your favorite food?” We all went around in a clockwise circle, and when they got to me, I didn’t even need to ponder it. Mexican food is and has always been my favorite food of all. I have tons of yummy Mexican food recipes on my website here, and I make Mexican food quite a bit. We also dine out at Mexican places frequently. And I am not ashamed to admit that Taco Bell has always been my guilty pleasure, so these get two thumbs up from me whenever I make them. I am excited to share them with you!
Copycat Taco Bell Meximelt Recipe
Meximelts were a beloved menu item introduced by Taco Bell in the 1980s that disappeared from their menu, leaving many Taco Bell fans disappointed. This copycat recipe recreates this specialty item with fresher ingredients your whole family will love.
If you love this recipe, try our Copycat Wendy’s Taco Salad and Qdoba’s queso recipes too!
Copycat Meximelt
The original Taco Bell Beef Meximelt was the perfect hybrid between a soft taco and a quesadilla. This copycat version captures what made the original so popular – perfectly seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, and fresh pico de Gallo, wrapped in a steamed flour tortilla. Now you can enjoy them right at home!
Taco Bell Meximelt Ingredients
For complete ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card.
- Ground beef – Can substitute ground turkey
- Taco seasoning – Store-bought or homemade taco seasoning works
- Water – Helps the seasoning distribute evenly
- Flour tortillas – Burrito sized for proper folding
- Cheddar cheese – Or pepper jack for a spicy cheese alternative
- Pico de gallo – Store-bought or make your own pico de gallo for a fresher taste
How to Make Taco Bell Meximelts
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, drain and crumble it fine using a potato masher before adding taco seasoning and water.
Warm the tortillas using damp paper towels in the microwave.
Then layer with cheese, seasoned beef, pico de gallo, and more cheese.
Roll them up, wrap each in a damp paper towel, and microwave for 30-45 seconds until the cheese melts.
Store leftover Meximelts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I don’t recommend freezing these due to the fresh pico de Gallo.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this Copy Cat Taco Bell Meximelts recipe, pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board!
FAQs about Taco Bell Meximelts
- What is a Meximelt? A Meximelt is a Taco Bell creation featuring seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and pico de gallo wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.
- Why did Taco Bell discontinue the Meximelt? Taco Bell discontinued the Meximelt in 2019 as part of a menu simplification effort, disappointing many loyal fans.
- What was in the original Meximelt? The original contained seasoned ground beef, a three-cheese blend, and pico de gallo wrapped in a soft tortilla.
- When was the Meximelt introduced? The Meximelt was introduced to Taco Bell’s menu in the late 1980s and remained popular for approximately 30 years.
Tips & Tricks
- Use a meat chopper or a potato masher to get the beef into super fine crumbles like the real deal Taco Bell taco meat.
- Warm tortillas with damp paper towels in the microwave to prevent cracking
- For a crispy exterior, place the assembled meximelt in a skillet over medium heat instead of microwaving
More Recipes to Love
What’s your favorite Taco Bell menu item? I love the Mexican Pizza (pictured above) and, of course, you can’t beat a Taco Bell Enchirito, Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, or Nachos Supreme! Feeling saucy? Try these Taco Bell copycats: Spicy Ranchero Sauce and Quesadilla Sauce.
Check out these other copycat versions of your fast food favorites: McDonald’s Filet o Fish and Big Macs, Copycat Hooters Wings, Dairy Queen Buster Bars, Olive Garden Night at Home with Zuppa, salad, and breadsticks, or this KFC chicken and coleslaw. Check out all of my Restaurant Copy Cats here.
And if it’s Mexican you crave (me? ALWAYS!) Give these Double Decker Tacos, Cheesy Beef Enchiladas, Baked Chicken Taquitos, Crockpot Shredded Beef Burritos, and this Copycat El Bee’s Margarita a try! Find all of my Mexican Recipes here.
This perfect copycat recipe brings all the flavors you remember right to your kitchen. Whether for a quick weeknight dinner, your next Taco Tuesday meal, or a Cinco de Mayo celebration, this copycat beef meximelt recipe is sure to bring smiles to all who eat them.
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Taco Bell Meximelts
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 large flour tortillas burrito sized
- 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup pico de gallo salsa store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- Brown and finely crumble the ground beef over medium high heat. Drain excess grease and then return the meat to the skillet.
- Add water and taco seasoning. Mash the meat to super fine crumbles using a potato masher.
- Simmer the taco meat for about 5-10 minutes or until the water has cooked into the meat. Remove from heat.
- Place a couple of damp paper towels on the counter, add your stack of 4 tortillas on top and then place a couple more damp paper towels over the top of the tortillas. Place them in the microwave and cook for about 15-20 seconds to soften them and make them easy to work with.
- Fill each tortilla first with 1/8th of the cheese, then ¼ of the meat, then ¼ of the pico, then another 1/8th of the cheese. Tuck in the ends and roll like a burrito.
- Wrap each meximelt in a damp paper towel. Microwave for about 15 seconds to steam the outside and melt the cheese inside.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
