Easy Tostada Recipe

A Family Favorite

Here we are again and this time I have another exciting Mexican-inspired recipe for you! In case you missed it, Mexican recipes are some of my favorite ones to make.

If you are a fan of Mexican food, you are going to love this easy tostada recipe. It’s very quick to prepare, which makes it perfect for weeknights and it also uses convenient ingredients that don’t require a lot of fuss. In other words, it’s perfect for a speedy family dinner!

The preparation for this recipe is super easy and takes just a few minutes, and if you want to make the taco meat topping ahead of time, you can store it in the fridge so all you have to do is assemble your tostadas right before serving. It doesn’t get any simpler than that! 

I serve these tostadas as an appetizer or as a main dish alongside some Mexican rice and homemade salsa. Everyone is always very excited when they see these on the table!

What is a Tostada?

A tostada is a Mexican dish that starts with a crispy tortilla shell (usually corn) that is topped with beef, beans, and common taco toppings like lettuce, tomato, salsa, and sour cream. If you haven’t tried them, I just know you’re going to love them as much as I do!

Recipe Ingredients

This easy tostada recipe is handy for busy weeknights because it uses accessible and convenient ingredients. To keep things simple, I use store-bought tostada shells and canned refried beans. 

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Ground beef: I use 80% – 90% ground beef for the best flavor without too much fat. Make sure you drain the fat from the beef before adding the seasonings or your tostadas may turn out greasy.
• Taco seasoning: I use my own blend of taco seasoning, but store-bought is also good.
• Refried beans: Canned beans work well in this recipe or you can make your own refried beans. You can also substitute black beans if you prefer.
• Tostada shells: Again, I use store-bought tostada shells for a great shortcut. Make sure they’re fresh and not stale. You’ll usually find them in the same aisle along with the rest of the Mexican food like flour tortillas and taco shells. You can also make your own shells from corn tortillas. I’ve shared a couple of different ways below on how to cook them to crunchy perfection.
• Optional toppings: Chopped iceberg lettuce, queso fresco, avocado, sour cream, hot sauce, salsa, pico de gallo, lime juice, and sliced jalapenos.

Now, let’s see exactly how to make this easy tostada recipe in your own kitchen! 

Variations

Once you’ve got the general idea for these easy tostadas, then you can let your creativity loose and make them your own! I’ve shared the recipe for the classic version but if you’re looking for something different, check out some of these other ideas:

• Protein: Instead of ground beef, try topping your tostadas with shredded beef, shredded chicken, pork carnitas, or sautéed shrimp for a different flavor combo.
• Vegetarian: Leave out the meat and top the refried beans with some sautéed vegetables like onions, bell peppers and zucchini.
• Breakfast: Top your tostadas with scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon and a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese.
• Dessert: Spread some dulce de leche or Nutella over the tostada and top with fruit, whipped cream, and nuts.

How to Make Easy Tostadas

A bit of sautéing and assembling is all you need to do for this easy tostada recipe.

Expert Tips

• To keep your tostadas crisp, keep them separate from the toppings until you are ready to serve them. 
• Avoid overloading your tostada with toppings. A huge pile of toppings sounds like a good idea until your tostada shell breaks into several pieces making it harder to eat.
• Let your family and friends make their own tostada combinations by setting out bowls of toppings so they can customize them to their own tastes.

Mexican tostadas are a great appetizer or main dish all on their own, but they can also be served with your other favorite Mexican-inspired sides! 

When I’m making this easy tostada recipe, in addition to salsa, I like to serve them with some fresh pico de gallo and my homemade guacamole. For an alternative sauce option, try my red enchilada sauce. It has a really nice smoky flavor. 

Adding a bowl of steaming cilantro lime rice and some warm bean dip with tortilla chips would make a great feast! 

Of course, any good feast needs dessert! A slice of tres leche cake or a mug of refreshing and creamy horchata would make the perfect end to the meal.

How to Eat a Tostada

I’m going to warn you that you should be prepared to get a little messy when eating tostadas. It’s all part of the fun! Just have plenty of napkins or hand wipes ready.

Typically, you’ll eat tostadas by hand. Think of them like a flat crispy taco, it’s almost similar to a Mexican pizza. Once you’ve assembled your tostada, pick it up with your hands and start eating from the edge. Some of the toppings will likely fall onto your plate and the tostada might break a bit, but that’s ok! It’s always delicious.

You could also try to eat them with a knife and fork by breaking up the crispy tostada shell into bite-sized pieces. Either way, your tastebuds will thank you.

Storing

If you have leftovers of this easy tostada recipe, store the meat and toppings separately from the tostadas in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 

When you’re ready to serve them again, rewarm the meat and beans in the microwave for 1 minute and then 30-second intervals until they are heated through. Then, you can assemble the tostadas as normal.

You can also freeze the beef mixture in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Place the bag in the fridge overnight to thaw, then reheat the beef in a skillet over medium heat or microwave until warm.