Tostada Recipe

This easy Tostada Recipe makes delicious, homemade tostadas fast. Similar to a crunchy beef taco, tostadas add a layer of refried beans which makes them extra hearty and filling.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 12

Total Time 15

Servings servings (2 tostadas each)

Calories 329kcal

Author Meggan Hill

Equipment

large skillet

Ingredients

For the taco seasoning (see note 1):

1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the beef:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pound ground beef (see note 2)
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar (see note 3)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For serving

tostadas
refried beans
shredded lettuce cotija cheese, finely diced tomatoes, and thinly sliced avocado

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the taco seasoning:

In a small bowl, whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like 1/2 teaspoon), Whisk in cornstarch if desired. (Or, substitute one packet store-bought taco seasoning).

To make the tacos:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, garlic, and oregano until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon, until almost cooked through, about 2 minutes. Feel free to drain excess grease at this point if desired.
Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve:

Arrange tostadas on a flat surface. Top each with 2 tablespoons refried beans, 1/4 cup ground beef, and your favorite toppings like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and finely minced white onion.

Notes

Taco seasoning: Ingredients for homemade taco seasoning are right in the recipe card in the amount you need. Or, substitute one packet of store-bought taco seasoning.
Ground beef: If you choose a lean ground beef such as 90/10, you may not need to drain any fat. Fat is flavor!
Brown sugar: Leave this out if it sounds weird to you.
Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups (1 quart) of taco meat. That's enough for 16 tostadas where each tostada has 2 tbsp refried beans and 1/4 cup meat. At 2 tostadas per person, that's 8 servings total.
Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition