Beef Tostadas with Beans and Cheese (Printable View)
Crispy tortillas topped with savory beef, beans, cheese and fresh garnishes for a quick Mexican-inspired meal.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Beans
11 - 1 (15 oz) can refried beans
12 - 2 tbsp water
→ Tostadas
13 - 8 corn tostada shells
→ Cheese
14 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
→ Toppings
15 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
16 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream
18 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
19 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook while breaking up with a spoon until browned, approximately 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until spices are fragrant. Remove from heat and keep warm.
04 - Combine refried beans with water in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and warmed through.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange tostada shells on a baking sheet. Spread a layer of warm beans over each shell, then top with seasoned ground beef.
06 - Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the beef. Bake for 5–7 minutes until cheese is completely melted and tostadas are heated through.
07 - Remove from oven. Top each tostada with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeño slices, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
08 - Serve immediately while tortilla shells remain crisp for optimal texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between warm seasoned beef and cool fresh toppings hits every craving at once
- Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like it took all day
02 -
- Do not overload the tostada shells with beans or beef before baking, or they will crack under the weight
- Let the beef cool slightly before topping so the cheese does not slide right off
03 -
- Warm your tostada shells in the oven for 3 minutes before topping so they stay crisp longer
- Spread the beans in a thin, even layer to prevent the shell from getting soggy spots