Name: Easy Ground Beef Tostadas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 33 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 cups refried beans, homemade or store-bought; 10 ounces Monterey cheese, grated; 1 large tomato, diced; 1/2 head of iceberg lettuce, shredded; 2 cups ground beef, cooked with a taco seasoning packet or homemade seasoning; Guacamole (optional); 12 corn tortillas; Optional toppings-Cotija cheese, avocado slices, salsa, guacamole

Crispy, crunchy corn tortilla shells are topped with ground beef, refried beans, and your favorite toppings. Mexican dinner ready in 20 minutes!

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This Tostada recipe brings you all these flavors and textures in an easy weeknight meal that the whole family can agree upon.

Tostada is the best dish for buffets. Just set out the shells, then beans & meat in crockpots, and then all the toppings.

Tostadas are a standalone dish in Mexico and the American Southwest and are also served as a companion to various Mexican foods.

Fried or Baked Tostada Shells?

Frying tostada shells are traditional, but baking and air frying is another way of toasting corn tortillas.

Frying Instructions: In a medium, deep skillet, heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil until hot. Fry one corn tortilla at a time over moderately high heat until lightly golden on both sides, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Let cool before serving.

Baked Instructions: Place corn tortillas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush tortillas with olive oil on both sides and sprinkle with salt. Place in preheated oven at 350° F for 5-7 minutes on each side. Let cool before serving.

Air Fryer Instructions:

Place one tortilla into the air fryer. Air fry at 390 degrees F for about 4 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown. (Note: Place metal trivet on tortilla to keep flat in the air fryer.)

Tostada Toppings

Refried pinto or black beans are the traditional base of tostadas. For extra flavor, I add cooked Mexican chorizo or bacon drippings to the refried beans.

Meat: Another great topping is shredded beef, chicken, or pork. Leftover meat from any Mexican dish is perfect. Taco meat, fajita meat, barbacoa, steak and carne asada are the perfect complement to top tostadas.

Salsa: Any type of salsa will add that kick to your tostada.

Cream: Guacamole, sour cream, Habenero cream sauce, and Spicy Poblano Cream Sauce take tostadas to a whole different level of yumminess!

Veggies: Lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocados, sliced black olives, chopped cilantro, and more!

Cheese: I love cheese on tostadas...you can use Quesadilla, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Queso Fresco.