Move over, tacos… there’s a new favorite in town! These crunchy Tostadas are layered with refried beans, seasoned ground beef, lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, and more in a flavor explosion you’re guaranteed to love!
It’s no secret that my family adores Mexican food… and if I had to name my kids’ favorite, it would definitely be tostadas. Not only are they ultra crunchy and fun to eat, but they’re loaded with so much amazing flavor… you can’t help but love them!
Of course, there are a million different ways to top tostada shells, but if you ask me, this combination is the BEST. It’s the perfect balance of spicy and creamy and crunchy and fresh… and the flavor combo is to die for.
Of course, I would always recommend making your own toppings since homemade is always more fresh and flavorful than store bought. But if you’re in a hurry and looking to get dinner on the table quickly? Feel free to use whatever is easiest!
ENJOY!!
[feast_advanced_jump_to]
🍅 Ingredients
Tostadas are easy to put together once you have all the ingredients ready. If you plan to use homemade toppings, I would definitely suggest preparing them in advance so everything is ready at the same time. Of course, you can also substitute store bought ingredients if you’re short on time!
- 12-18 tostada shells
- 1 pound ground beef
- taco seasoning
- 1 can refried beans
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 3/4 cups crumbled queso fresco
- pico de gallo
- guacamole
- cilantro lime sauce
- 2-3 jalapeños, thinly sliced
📋 Instructions
The best thing about tostadas is that each person can top them differently, according to their own individual tastes. Just be sure to have all the toppings out and ready to go by the time the meat is done!
- Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Add taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Spread beans on tostada shells (1-2 Tablespoons per shell).
- Spoon meat on top of beans (2-3 Tablespoons per shell).
- Top with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro lime sauce, jalapeños, and any of your favorite toppings.
🍗 Recipe variations
As I mentioned above, one of our favorite things about this recipe is all the fun possibilities for toppings! If you’re looking to switch things up a bit… here are some ideas:
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef
- Use refried black beans
- Add shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend
- Substitute fresh sliced avocado for the guacamole
- Substitute regular salsa or diced tomatoes for the pico de gallo
- Top with sliced black olives
- Substitute sour cream for the cilantro lime sauce
📍 Tips for success
- Make the tostada shells in advance so they’re ready when you need them. Don’t worry… they store well!
- Decide which toppings you plan to use (e.g. pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro lime sauce) and also make them in advance.
- Always start with refried beans as your first topping. Everything else will stick to them!
- Top tostada shells individually, as you use them. Keep the extra toppings separate in case you need to store leftovers.
- Use homemade shells & toppings when you can, but in a pinch, go store bought!
- Let each person top their shells according to their tastes.
♨️ Storing & reheating
Leftover tostada shells can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Leftover toppings should be stored in individual containers in the refrigerator and reheated accordingly before assembling leftover tostadas.
🌮 Related recipes
Whether you’re hosting a Mexican fiesta or just looking for more delicious dinner recipes for your family… these are some of our favorites that I think you’ll love, too!
- Creamy Chicken Flautas
- Shrimp Tacos
- Loaded Chicken Quesadillas
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Taco Salad
- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
- French Bread Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
Tostadas
Ingredients
- 12-18 tostada shells
- 1 pound ground beef
- taco seasoning
- 1 can refried beans
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 3/4 cups crumbled queso fresco
- pico de gallo
- guacamole
- cilantro lime sauce
- 2-3 jalapeños thinly sliced
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Add taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Spread beans on tostada shells (1-2 Tablespoons per shell).
- Spoon meat on top of beans (2-3 Tablespoons per shell).
- Top with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro lime sauce, japeños, and any of your favorite toppings.
leave a reply