Description
These minute oven-baked tostadas are a quick and easy Mexican-inspired dish perfect for a main course or appetizer. Crispy corn tortillas are brushed with olive oil and baked to golden perfection, then topped with warm refried beans, seasoned meat or shredded chicken, melted cheese, and fresh toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, and salsa. This versatile recipe can be tailored to vegetarian preferences or made with your choice of protein for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 small corn tortillas
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Beans and Meat
- 1 can (15 oz) refried beans
- 1 tsp taco seasoning (optional)
- 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken or ground beef (optional)
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa or hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for crisping the tortillas.
- Prepare Tortillas: Lightly brush both sides of each corn tortilla with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake Tortillas: Bake the tortillas for 4–5 minutes on one side until they start to crisp and turn golden, then flip and bake the other side for an additional 4–5 minutes.
- Heat Refried Beans: While the tortillas are baking, warm the refried beans in a small saucepan. Add taco seasoning if desired to enhance the flavor.
- Assemble Tostadas: Once the tortillas are crisp, remove them from the oven. Spread a layer of warm refried beans onto each tortilla, then top with cooked chicken or ground beef if using, followed by shredded cheese.
- Melt Cheese: Return the assembled tortillas to the oven and bake for an additional 2–3 minutes to melt the cheese thoroughly.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove tostadas from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, sour cream, and salsa or hot sauce as desired.
- Serve: Serve immediately to enjoy the tostadas while they are crispy and warm.
Notes
- Great for using up leftovers by adding whatever cooked veggies or proteins you have on hand.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the meat and adding sautéed vegetables instead.
- Use store-bought tostada shells to skip the baking step and save time.
- Adjust spice level by varying the amount of taco seasoning and hot sauce.
