This easy tostada recipe is my go-to for a quick homemade Mexican dinner! A crispy tostada shell is layered with ground beef, refried beans and your favorite toppings.
I love Mexican recipes! Other favorites that taste better homemade include taco soup, salsa verde chicken and Mexican pizza.
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A Family Favorite
If you are a fan of Mexican food, you will love this easy tostada recipe. It’s quick to prepare with simple ingredients just like my bean and cheese burritos, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights!
The preparation for tostadas is super easy, although you make it even faster by making the taco meat ahead of time! I love to serve these with Mexican rice and homemade salsa. Everyone is always very excited when they see these on the table!
Recipe Ingredients
This easy tostada recipe is handy for busy weeknights because it uses accessible and convenient ingredients.
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 easy tostada recipe or you can make your own refried beans. You can also substitute black beans if you prefer.
- Tostada shells: I use store-bought tostada shells for a great shortcut. 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.
- Optional toppings: Chopped iceberg lettuce, queso fresco or cotija cheese, avocado, sour cream, hot sauce, salsa, pico de gallo, lime juice, and sliced jalapenos.
How to Bake or Fry Tostada Shells
Don’t sweat it if you can’t find tostada shells in your local grocery store! You can easily make your own tostada shells at home with corn tortillas!
- Bake tostada shells. Preheat the oven to 415°F. Spray corn tortillas on both sides with oil. Lay flat on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 4 minutes. Flip and bake for 5 minutes more, or until toasted and golden.
- Fry tostada shells: In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 inch oil over medium-high heat. Fry 1 tortilla for 30 to 60 seconds on each side, or until golden. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Substitutions Variations
Once you’ve got the general idea for these easy tostadas, let your creativity loose and make them your own. I’ve shared the recipe for the classic version but here are some ways to mix it up!
- Protein: Instead of ground beef tostadas, try topping 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: Similar to huevos rancheros, top tostadas with scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon and a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese.
How to Make Easy Tostadas
A bit of sautéing and assembling is all you need to do for this easy tostada recipe.
- Brown the beef: Sauté the beef and onion over medium heat until brown, breaking any large pieces up with a wooden spoon. Don’t forget to drain the grease.
- Simmer: Add in the taco seasoning, salsa, water, salt and pepper, and bring everything to a light simmer.
- Warm the beans: Combine the refried beans and sour cream in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until warmed through.
- Assemble: Layer on the beans, beef and your favorite toppings before digging in!
Expert Tips
- To keep your tostadas crisp, keep them separate from the toppings until you are ready to serve them.
- You don’t have to heat the tostadas, but if you’d like to, place them onto a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for 4 – 5 minutes. Make sure you don’t overheat them or they could begin to burn.
- 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.
Tostada Toppings and Sides
Mexican tostadas are a great appetizer or main dish all on their own, but they can also be served with your other favorite Mexican sides dishes!
When I’m making this easy tostada recipe, I like to serve them with some fresh pico de gallo, homemade guacamole or cilantro lime Mexican crema. For an alternative sauce option, try my red enchilada sauce.
Adding a bowl of steaming cilantro lime rice and some cream cheese 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.
Recipe FAQs
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!
Typically, you’ll eat tostadas by hand. Think of them like a flat crispy taco that you pick up with your hands. Start eating from the edge. Some 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.
You bet! Prepare the ground beef mixture, refried beans, and toppings and then store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve the tostadas, reheat the meat and beans and assemble the tostadas.
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. You can also freeze the beef mixture up to 3 months.
Looking for more Mexican-inspired recipes? Try easy black beans and rice, chicken flautas, or albondigas soup.
More Favorite Mexican Recipes
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Easy Tostada Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80%-90% lean)
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1-2 Tablespoons taco seasoning , plus more to taste
- ½ cup salsa
- ¼ cup water , plus more as needed
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
- 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans
- 2 Tablespoons sour cream
- 10 tostada shells
Optional toppings: Chopped iceberg lettuce, Queso fresco, Avocado, Sour cream, Salsa or pico de gallo, Sliced jalapenos
Instructions
- In a large skillet, sauté the ground beef and onion over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, or until the beef is browned. Use a wooden spoon to break up any large pieces. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning, salsa, and water. Bring to a light simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, stir together beans and sour cream. Microwave in 30 second intervals until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- On a tostada, spread an even layer of refried beans. Top with a spoonful of beef mixture and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
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Bake tostadas. Preheat the oven to 415°F. Spray corn tortillas on both sides with oil. Lay flat on a baking sheet and bake in 4 minutes. Flip and bake 5 minutes more, or until crispy and golden.
- Fry tostadas: In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 inch oil over medium-high heat. Fry 1 tortilla 30 to 60 seconds on each side, or until golden. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Mexican, Nut-Free, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Loved this tostada! So delicious and easy to make. Will make again!
So yummy!! I am making them again for Cinco de Mayo! Thank you for this recipe!
We usually have chicken tostadas, and this was a nice change. We loved the addition of salsa to the taco meat!