It’s probably a stretch to call this a tostada recipe, it’s more like a tostada how-to guide! Tostada technically just refers to the crispy baked or fried tortilla that serves as sort of a plate for a host of Mexican toppings, so that crispy tortilla base is the only “must-have” in this recipe. The rest you can play with! You can cut a lot of corners with this recipe using store bought guacamole, canned beans, pre-made tostada shells, and salsa. Or, you might choose to go fancy and DIY the tostadas using Homemade Corn Tortillas, whip up a batch of Guacamole, and some Pico De Gallo. These can be as quick and easy or as involved as you want, and either way, dinner will be delicious.
Base Ingredients for Easy Tostadas
See the full recipe at the bottom of this post for even more detail and exact measurements.
- Tostada shells: I always, always use store-bought tostada shells. They’re easily available at the grocery store in the aisle where you’d find other Mexican ingredients. If you want to make them yourself, we've got instructions for that below.
- Beans: Canned refried beans work great here, no need to get fancy. However, if you want to take it to the next level, use homemade Refried Beans.
- Meat: Rich and seasoned with chiles, garlic and vinegar, Mexican chorizo is my go-to tostada topping because it packs so much flavor. However, you could use any type of ground meat in its place. Consider using some Taco Seasoning to spice it up if you use ground beef or ground turkey.
- Cheese: Cojita cheese is a crumbly Mexican cheese with a salty flavor that I adore! It’s pretty easy to find and it’s perfect for tostadas. If you can’t find it, you could try subbing in a little crumbly feta.
How to Make Tostadas At Home
- Cook the meat! Sauté whatever meat you’re using (if you’re using meat) in your favorite skillet until it’s cooked through.
- Stir in the beans until they’re warm.
- Assemble the tostadas! Spread the meat and bean mixture onto the tostadas, followed by cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and more cheese. Top with the sour cream sauce, if you’re using it.
Make Your Own Crispy Tostada Shells
Yes, if you really don’t want to do store bought tostadas, you can make them yourself at home. It’s pretty easy to bake them in the oven. Just brush some corn tortillas (store-bought or homemade) with a little oil and bake them on a baking sheet at 400°F for 4-5 minutes per side until they’re crisp.
Variations + More Topping Ideas
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Diced fresh tomatoes
- Store-bought salsa, or homemade Pico De Gallo
- Homemade (or store-bought) Guacamole or slices of avocado
- Use any bean you happen to have on hand. Got leftover beans from Mexican take out, or maybe you whipped up our Instant Pot Black Beans or Pinto Beans. Any of those beans would work well in place of the canned refried beans.
- Top the tostada with a fried egg for even more protein.
- Homemade lime crema: This is optional of course, but you can make this yummy tostada sauce in basically no time and it makes the tostadas feel a little extra special. See the full instructions in the recipe below.
What To Serve With Tostadas
Swap Taco Night for Tostada Night!
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