A staple recipe at our house, these Beef Tostadas have tostada shells that are topped with refried beans, a spiced ground beef mixture, and all of our favorite toppings. This is a great weeknight dinner that can be done in 30 minutes.
Want more easy, weeknight, Mexican-inspired dinners? Try this Beef Enchilada Casserole, this Taco Casserole, or these Taco Lettuce Wraps.
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and delicious dinner, this is it! In our house, ground beef tostadas are a regular meal. My husband has always preferred tostadas to tacos. The combinations are endless, and it does not take long to throw them together.
What Is A Tostada
Wondering what a tostada is? It’s a pretty simple Mexican dish. The tostada base starts with a tortilla that has been baked or fried, and then topped with various toppings. You could also think of it like a Mexican pizza! I love that you can use all kinds of different toppings, so everyone can top theirs with whatever they like. My kids tend to go pretty simple, but my husband and I like to pile the toppings on!
Ingredients
- Spices: I love this mixture of spices, but if you want to save time, you can use store bought or homemade taco seasoning. In this mix, I use chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, coriander, and cayenne pepper. You’ll also add in a bit of cornstarch to help it thicken up.
- Oil: You need oil to cook the onions and garlic. I used olive oil, but feel free to use your favorite oil.
- Onion & Garlic: These are both for flavor.
- Ground Beef: I like to use a lean ground beef so that I don’t have excess fat.
- Broth: You can technically use water, but the beef broth will add a lot of flavor.
- Beans: I usually use canned beans for ease, but feel free to make homemade refried beans!
- Tostada Shells: I use store bought shells, but read below for some other options.
- Toppings: Scroll below for some ideas for different toppings.
How To Make Beef Tostadas
There are only a few steps involved to get these tostadas on the table in 30 minutes.
STEP 1: Make your spice mixture. I just whisk these together in a small bowl.
STEP 2: Cook the onion and garlic then add the ground beef and cook. If you have excess fat at this point, you can drain it.
STEP 3: Add the spice mixture and the beef broth. Stir this together and cook until it is slightly thickened.
STEP 4: Heat up the beans. I add a splash of water to thin them out a little bit.
STEP 5: Heat the tostada shells in the oven.
STEP 6: Assemble your tostada by adding some beans, topped with the beef mixture. Then pile on all of your favorite toppings.
Tostada Shells
We use store bought tostada shells, but if you wanted to make your own there are definitely some simple steps to do so. My trick for getting these store bought tostada shells just right is to warm them up in the oven for just a few minutes. If you are wanting to make homemade tostada shells, or if there aren’t any tostada shells at the store, grab some tortillas and bake them for 5 minutes on each side in the oven at 400 degrees. You can also fry corn tortillas yourself to make the tostada shells.
Toppings For Tostadas
We like to use a lot of the same toppings that we use for tacos. But I love that you can really pile on the toppings here!
I like to serve this meal buffet style, so while all my hot food is cooking I will chop up any produce and place additional toppings in their own bowl. This makes it super easy for each person in my family to make their tostada however they like!
Here are some of our favorite tostada toppings, but feel free to use whatever you like on yours!
- cheese (we usually use shredded cheddar, but queso fresco is great, too!)
- lettuce
- finely chopped onion
- chopped tomatoes
- cilantro
- diced avocado
- salsa
- guacamole
- sour cream
- sliced olives
- hot sauce
- fresh or pickled jalapenos
More Tostada Recipes
Chicken Tostadas
Spaghetti Squash Tostadas
Easy Breakfast Tostadas
Shrimp Tostadas
Chicken Tostadas with Poblano Cream Sauce
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Beef Tostadas
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 oz ground beef
- 2/3 cup low sodium beef broth
- 2 cans (16 oz each) refried beans
- 12 tostada shells
- Desired toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onion, salsa, sour cream, avocados, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, cornstarch, smoked paprika, salt, coriander and cayenne pepper.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened.
- When the onion is soft, add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned and cooked through.
- Stir the prepared spiced mixture into the meat, then stir in the beef broth.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until it is thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Place the beans in a saucepan and add just enough water to thin them out just a little bit. Cook over medium heat until warmed through.
- Place your tostada shells on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for a few minutes, just to heat them through.
- To build your tostada – spread some of the warmed beans on each tostada shell, then top with some of the ground beef mixture. Add desired toppings.
- Serve immediately.
Cheryl says
This recipe takes me back in time. There was a little taco place near where I lived when I got my very first job and everyday on my way home from work I stopped and got 2 of these (everytime I try to type in the name of this recipe spell check changes it to tornado.) I’m going to make these right now with a smile on my face remembering how much I loved these. And maybe I’ll make them tomorrow too…just for old times sake. Thank you for this recipe!
Deborah says
I love it when food brings back memories!! I hope you enjoy them!
Bhavesh says
I have tried this amazing tostadas recipe and i found this recipe really easy to make and very delicious in taste.
kellypea says
Yum! When we make tacos, we usually fry up some flat tortillas so that people can choose to make a tostada, too. It’s funny — the ingredients are the same regardless. I always put refers in my tacos, which is usually what makes a tostada. Now that everyone’s thoroughly confused…
And I still can’t figure out how people do this and work. Jeez. You’re a complete stud.
Abby says
I’m still not sure how you nablo… people are doing it. You all amaze me!
Those look great and definitely like something we’d enjoy in my house.
Emiline says
My family and I eat tacos or tostadas almost every week. It’s like our favorite meal, I guess. It’s fun to put the topping on yourself. 😉
We do the veggie crumbles a lot. They’re really good. Promise.
glamah16 says
With or without the avacado they are so sastifying and good.Now Im craving some Mexican food. I’m really impressed you’ve kept up this post a day. I rack my brain trying to create anything on a weekly basis that may or not be blog worthy.
Anonymous says
Wow posting every single day for a month? That’s intense!
Tostadas are some of my favorite things to eat, I haven’t had them in too long…. thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Ari (Baking and Books)