Crispy, crunchy corn tortillas topped with creamy refried beans, cheese, zesty salsa, guacamole and shredded lettuce, these Mexican Tostadas are a party of flavors.
They're a family favorite for fiesta night and a real crowdpleaser for get-togethers. Enjoy this easy 30-minute recipe!
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These Mexican Tostadas are one of my go-to Mexican recipes. It's a meal-prep-friendly and make-ahead dish, which makes it ideal for weeknight meals.
I always have a bag of store-bought Tostada shells in my pantry. All that's left for me to do is make a pot of refried beans.
The toppings are where the fun begins! You can top these tostadas with fresh Pico De Gallo (or any Salsa), Guacamole, cheese, sour cream, or your favorite taco toppings.
It's a quick and easy recipe that's flavorful and satisfying, and comes together in no time!
What is a Tostada
Tostada means "toast" in Spanish. Tostadas are corn tortillas that are fried or baked until crisp, then topped with refried beans, cheese, occasionally chicken or meat, and condiments like salsa, guacamole, cheese, and lettuce.
Think of it as a giant tortilla chip that is topped with your favorite Mexican toppings. Yum!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Here are some reasons why this tostada recipe is on rotation in my home:
- Easy Make-ahead for Weeknights: I make beans ahead of time, then preparing toppings and assembling these tostadas takes less than 15 minutes.
- Tasty Vegetarian Meal: This dish is filled with flavor from beans, salsa, guacamole, and crispy tortillas, and it's all vegetarian. It's easy to make it vegan by switching the cheese (see recipe notes for details).
- Easily Customizable: Switch up the beans, and add your favorite protein like shredded chicken or fish, or shredded beef. Pick your own toppings - anything that goes on a taco is perfect for a tostada.
- Ideal for Entertaining: I love making these for game-day parties or Tex-Mex nights. I set up a toppings bar and my guests get to assemble their personalized tostadas. Really easy to set up and the clean-up is a snitch!
Ingredients- Notes & Substitutions
Tostada Shells: Most of the time I use store-bought tostadas for convenience, but when I have extra time, I go for homemade tostadas and either bake or fry a batch ahead of time. (instructions mentioned below)
Refried Beans: Homemade is my preference here. The flavor and texture of homemade refried beans are far superior to canned. I use this dump and start Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe. If canned beans are all you have, then I recommend heating them as per the instructions below.
Pico De Gallo: Freshly made salsa adds vibrant and zesty flavors to the tostadas. A must-have for this dish and takes minutes to make. Here's a detailed recipe for Pico De Gallo.
Guacamole: Even though you can add plain, chopped avocados, I highly recommend spending an extra 5 minutes and making this delicious Guacamole. It really enhances the overall taste.
Shredded Cheese: Grate a block of cheddar cheese or buy it shredded from the store. Crumbled Cotija cheese is another flavorful substitute in this recipe.
Lettuce: I like using iceberg lettuce for this. Buy a head and shred it into thin ribbons. For added convenience, pick up a bag of shredded and washed lettuce from the refrigerated produce section.
Optional Add-ons: Sour Cream, pickled jalapeños, lime juice, cilantro, and hot sauce. You can also add a layer of chopped rotisserie chicken or browned ground meat of your choice to these.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Tostada Shells at Home
Baked Tostada Shells
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Brush the corn tortillas lightly with olive or avocado oil on both sides. I prefer them as-is, but you can sprinkle some salt over them if you like.
- Spread them on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 5 mins, then flip them and bake another 5 minutes. For extra crispy, bake them for another 1-2 minutes.
Fried Tostada Shells
- Heat about ¼ inch of vegetable or canola oil in a 10-inch deep skillet, on medium-high heat.
- To check the temperature of the oil, drop a piece of tortilla and if it sizzles, the oil is ready. Using tongs, carefully place one tortilla and fry each side until it turns golden brown, flipping in between.
- Remove on a plate lined with paper towels to soak the excess oil. Sprinkle salt and cool before using.
How to Make Tostadas
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make Mexican tostadas from scratch:
1. Prepare Refried Beans: It's best to make refried beans ahead of time for this recipe, so they get a chance to thicken. You can use this easy recipe for Instant Pot Refried beans.
If using canned refried beans, warm them in a saucepan with a tablespoon of olive oil. Adjust the seasoning based on your liking.
2. Make Ahead or Gather Ingredients: Prepare pico de gallo, guacamole, and other ingredients and toppings including shredded cheese, sour cream, etc.
3. Assemble Tostadas: Spoon and spread a layer of refried beans on the tostadas, leaving ½-inch around the edges.
Add shredded cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and other toppings of your choice of toppings. Top with shredded lettuce and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Tostadas: For an authentic taste use yellow corn tostadas for this recipe. Buy store-ready tostadas from your nearest supermarket or make your own by baking or deep frying yellow corn tortillas as per the instructions above.
- Refried beans: If you can, make your own refried beans at home. It is an easy recipe and adds a ton of flavor as compared to canned refried beans.
- Toppings: Pick your favorite toppings and customize these tostadas to taste. Anything that goes in a taco is a good option for tostadas.
- Serve Immediately: Tostadas are best served immediately after assembling, otherwise, they get soggy. If planning ahead, keep all the ingredients ready and assemble just before serving.
- Make it Vegan: Switch the cheese to any vegan cheese of your choice, or simply skip it and make this recipe completely vegan. When buying store-bought tostadas, read the label to ensure it is vegan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Think of a tostada as an open-faced sandwich. Using your thumb and fingers lift it flat and take a bite in the middle.
While tostadas and tortillas are both variations of the same corn flatbread, it's their end texture that sets them apart. Tortillas are soft and pliable and typically warmed before being filled with beans or meat, and condiments. Tostadas are crispy fried tortillas (or baked), that are topped with fillings and condiments.
Typically, tostadas are deep fried so they should be treated like any fried food and had in moderation. However, you can bake the tostadas instead of frying them and make them healthier.
Tortillas are generally considered healthier than tostadas since they are cooked on the stove or oven whereas tostadas are typically deep fried.
More Tasty Mexican Dishes
And here are more Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes to enjoy!
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📖 Recipe
Tostadas
Equipment
Ingredients
Optional Toppings
- sour cream, chopped cilantro, pickled jalapeno, hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare refried beans ahead of time using easy recipe for Instant Pot Refried beans. Alternatively, use 2 cans of refried beans, and warm them in a sauce pan with a tablespoon of olive oil. Adjust seasoning based on your liking.
- Prepare pico de gallo, guacamole and other ingredients and toppings including shredded cheese, sour cream etc.
- Spoon and spread a layer of refried beans on the tostadas, leaving ½-inch around the edges.
- Top with about a tablespoon of shredded cheese.
- Add pico de gallo, guacamole, and other toppings of your choice of toppings.
- Top with shredded lettuce and serve immediately.
Notes
- Tostadas: For an authentic taste use yellow corn tostadas for this recipe. Buy store-ready tostadas from your nearest supermarket or make your own by baking or deep frying yellow corn tortillas as per instructions above.
- Refried beans: If you can, make your own refried beans at home. It is an easy recipe and adds a ton of flavor as compared to canned refried beans.
- Toppings: Pick you favorite toppings and customize these tostadas to taste. Anything that goes in a taco is a good option for tostadas.
- Serve Immediately: Tostadas are best served immediately after assembling, otherwise they get soggy. If planning ahead, keep all the ingredients ready and assemble just before serving.
- Make it Vegan: Switch the cheese to any vegan cheese of your choice, or simply skip it and make this recipe completely vegan. When buying store-bought tostadas, read the label to ensure it is vegan.
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