By Laurel Perry
Published Apr 30, 2025
Mexican tostadas are my latest obsession! The deliciously crispy and crunchy tortillas are the perfect base for seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and fresh ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. They take just 30 minutes to make, and I guarantee they’ll be a hit for weeknight dinners and Cinco de Mayo celebrations alike!
Easy Mexican Tostadas
Who knew tostadas would be so easy to make?! I never realized that the only difference between making these tostadas and regular tacos is toasting the tortillas in the oven to create a super crisp, flat base for the toppings. The toasted tortillas add the perfect crunch to this delectable Mexican dish! The ground beef, cheese, and refried beans are the perfect combination!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 10 corn tortillas*
- ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 1 pound lean ground beef
- ▢ ½ yellow onion chopped
- ▢ 1 clove garlic chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 16 ounces refried beans (1 can)
- ▢ ½ head iceberg lettuce shaved or finely chopped
- ▢ 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- ▢ 1 avocado chopped small
- ▢ ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Use two baking sheets if needed. Bake for 5 minutes, flip, and then bake for another 4-5 minutes or until the tortillas are golden and crisp. 10 corn tortillas*, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- While the tostadas are baking, add the ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink. 1 pound lean ground beef, ½ yellow onion
- Add in the garlic, taco seasoning, and salt, and cook for another minute until fragrant. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm. 1 clove garlic, 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Scoop the refried beans into a microwave-safe bowl and heat the microwave until warmed through. 16 ounces refried beans
- Spread a warm tostada with beans. Then top with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cotija and cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy. ½ head iceberg lettuce, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 1 avocado, ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Tostadas Step by Step
Toast the Tortillas: Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush both sides of 10 corn tortillas with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet (use two baking sheets if needed). Bake for 5 minutes, flip, and then bake for another 4-5 minutes, or until the tortillas are golden and crisp. Remember, we want these tostada shells to be nice and crunchy!
Cook the Beef: While the tostadas are baking, add 1 pound of lean ground beef and ½ of a diced yellow onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink.
Season the Beef: Add in 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning , and ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt, then cook for another minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Assemble the Tostadas: Scoop 16 ounces (1 can) of refried beans into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave until warmed through. First, spread the warm tostadas with beans. Then top them with meat, ½ head of chopped iceberg lettuce, 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes, 1 diced avocado, ½ cup of crumbled cotija cheese, and ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover tostada ingredients in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Re-crisp the tortillas in the oven and reheat the beef in the microwave before assembling and serving.
Serving Suggestions
Pretend that every day is Cinco de Mayo , and serve these tasty Mexican tostadas with a side of Mexican rice , some chips and salsa , and a margarita . Finish off the night with a delicious slice of tres leches cake !
more mexican recipes to try!
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Esquites (Mexican Street Corn in a Cup)
Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Mexican Zucchini Boats
Mexican Tostadas Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 10 corn tortillas*
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 16 ounces refried beans (1 can)
- ½ head iceberg lettuce shaved or finely chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 avocado chopped small
- ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Use two baking sheets if needed. Bake for 5 minutes, flip, and then bake for another 4-5 minutes or until the tortillas are golden and crisp. 10 corn tortillas*, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- While the tostadas are baking, add the ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink. 1 pound lean ground beef, ½ yellow onion
- Add in the garlic, taco seasoning, and salt, and cook for another minute until fragrant. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm. 1 clove garlic, 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Scoop the refried beans into a microwave-safe bowl and heat the microwave until warmed through. 16 ounces refried beans
- Spread a warm tostada with beans. Then top with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cotija and cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy. ½ head iceberg lettuce, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 1 avocado, ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
