This straightforward tostada recipe is a quick, contemporary dinner! I pile crispy tortillas with flavorful toppings like refried beans, avocado, veggies, and cheese.

This tostada recipe is a enjoyable, contemporary, and FAST weeknight dinner. Simply load up crunchy tostadas with toppings like refried beans, crisp lettuce and cabbage, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado. Squeeze with lime juice, and dig in!
This recipe has turn out to be an awesome household meal for us these days…as a result of it’s not a real “recipe” in any respect. It’s extra of a suggestion—the toppings listed below are versatile, and in our home, everybody chooses their very own. I take my tostadas with further avocado and spicy peppers, Jack skips the avocado and piles on further cheese, and Ollie goes for no matter he’s within the temper for that day (typically simply beans and cheese).
Within the recipe, you’ll discover some steered toppings (my faves!), however I’ve additionally included extra topping concepts within the weblog publish. Combine and match to create a mix you like!
What’s a tostada?
Let me again up! For those who’ve by no means heard of tostadas earlier than, right here’s a fast intro:
A tostada is a corn tortilla that has been baked, fried, or grilled till crisp (the phrase tostada additionally means “toasted” in Spanish). In Mexican and different Latin American cuisines, tostadas are sometimes served with toppings resembling beans, meat, cheese, and avocado for a snack or meal. Although not fully genuine, this straightforward recipe is certainly one of my favourite methods to take pleasure in them.

Retailer-bought vs. Home made Tostada Shells
I’m calling for store-bought tostadas right here, as a result of they’re usually what I exploit once I make this recipe. Search for them within the Mexican part of your grocery retailer—in mine, they’re proper by the chipotles in adobo sauce and exhausting taco shells.
However if you happen to’d reasonably bake or fry the tostadas your self, you possibly can. Right here’s how:
- To fry: Use the tactic from my home made tortilla chips recipe. Warmth 1/4 to 1/2 inch vegetable oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven. Add a single layer of corn tortillas and cook dinner, utilizing tongs to flip the tortillas constantly till they crisp up, about 1 to 2 minutes. Switch to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the surplus oil and season with salt.
- To bake: Spray corn tortillas with cooking spray on each side and season with salt. Unfold in a single layer on a baking sheet. Then, bake in a 425°F oven till crisp, 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them midway.
Full disclosure: I want store-bought or fried tostadas to baked ones. I discover that baked tostada shells can get a bit of too exhausting within the oven, and so they don’t turn out to be as ethereal and crisp. That’s simply my opinion although—select whichever possibility works greatest for you!
Easy methods to Make Tostadas
When you put together your precise tostadas (or take them out of the bundle, if you happen to’re utilizing store-bought…), you simply have so as to add toppings!
I all the time begin with a layer of refried beans, which provides protein and helps the opposite toppings stick. Then, I pile on:
- Shredded cabbage and iceberg lettuce, for crunch
- Avocado, for creamy richness
- Chopped tomatoes, for juicy sweetness
- Pickled serrano peppers or pickled jalapeños, for warmth and tangy taste
- Cotija cheese, for further tang
- And chopped cilantro, for a contemporary of completion
I season to style with salt and squeeze with lime juice earlier than serving.
Discover the entire recipe with measurements under.

Different Topping Choices
This tostada recipe is tremendous versatile—be at liberty to make it your individual! Listed below are another toppings that might be nice:
Let me know what toppings you attempt!
What to Serve with Tostadas
You possibly can completely take pleasure in these tostadas on their very own for a fast and straightforward dinner—no sides required!
However if you happen to’d wish to serve them as half of a bigger meal, they pair properly with facet dishes like these:

Simple Tostada Recipe
Serves 4 to six
We love this straightforward tostada recipe! It is an awesome versatile weeknight dinner—set out the crunchy tostadas with toppings and let everybody assemble their very own. Discover extra topping strategies within the weblog publish above.
Forestall your display from going darkish
Unfold every tostada shell with a layer of refried beans, about ¼ to ⅓ cup.
Prime with the avocado, lettuce and cabbage, and Cotija cheese. Add different toppings as desired. Season to style with salt and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

