Ready to elevate your Taco Tuesdays? These loaded ground beef tostadas are just the thing!
Crispy tostada shells piled high with savory refried beans, perfectly seasoned ground beef, and all your favorite fresh toppings.
Who needs tacos when you can have all that?
Better yet, tostadas are easy to make and entirely customizable. So feel free to add jalapeños, peppers, corn, and more!
What Is a Tostada?
A tostada is like a crispy, crunchy, open-faced taco!
Imagine a flat, perfectly fried (or baked) corn tortilla acting as the base for all your favorite toppings. It’s the ultimate canvas for flavor explosions!
You can load it up with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, refried beans, fresh tomatoes, cheese, avocado, and more.
Whether you pile it high or keep it simple, tostadas are all about bold textures and flavors in every bite.
Why You’ll Love These Ground Beef Tostadas
Classic Taco Flavors: These feature a taco bar-worthy medley of zesty seasoning, savory beef, and fresh salsa. There’s loads of South of the Border flavor in every bite.
Handheld Convenience: Crispy tostada shells make these easy to eat on the go. And without utensils that you’ll have to clean up later!
Versatile Leftovers: Transform any leftover tostada components into burritos, nachos, salads, and more. Nothing has to go to waste with these guys.
Ingredients
- Tostada Shells (or Corn Tortillas): Crunchy tostadas are available in most supermarkets. Look for Guerrero shells for the best taste and texture.
- Lean Ground Beef: Go for a lean-to-fat ratio of 90/10 for the best results. It’s not overly greasy and will brown up nicely.
- Onion & Garlic: For a savory flavor foundation. Dice/mince them into evenly sized chunks for ease and uniformity of cooking.
- Taco Seasoning: Use your favorite store-bought brand or make DIY seasoning. Either will add spice, heat, and flavor to the ground beef.
- Salsa: Again, select a delicious store-bought brand or make homemade salsa. It adds freshness, zestiness, and a bit of extra heat.
- Refried Beans: The creamy spread you’ll add to the crispy tostada shells. They’re tasty and hearty, and they’ll help “glue” the toppings to the tostada.
- Toppings: You can go as mild or as wild as you like here. I definitely recommend crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes. I also include avocado, sharp cheddar, and sour cream in the recipe. But again, toppings are entirely up to you.
How to Make Ground Beef Tostadas
Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or planning a Mexican-inspired feast, these ground beef tostadas are sure to satisfy.
Here’s how to make them:
1. PREP: If using corn tortillas, preheat the oven to 400°F and bake them for 8-10 minutes until crisp. Set aside.
2. SAUTÉ: Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and taco seasoning and cook until fragrant.
3. COOK: Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Stir in the salsa and heat through.
4. HEAT: Microwave the refried beans in 30-second intervals until hot.
5. ASSEMBLE: Spread refried beans on each tostada shell, then top with beef, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro. Enjoy immediately with extra salsa on the side.
Tips For the Best Ground Beef Tostadas
Tostadas are wonderfully simple to make. But these tips can make the process flow even more smoothly:
- Make homemade shells. You can buy a pack of bre-baked tostada shells at most grocery stores or online. However, making your own ensures they’re extra-crispy, fresh, and warm.
- Drain well. There shouldn’t be much fat and grease if your beef is lean or extra lean. However, if there is, be sure to drain it before adding the beef to the tostadas. Otherwise, the shells will become soggy.
- Thin the beans. They should be thick but spreadable. If yours are too thick to spread easily, thin them with a bit of water. Add it slowly and only a teaspoon at a time to avoid getting them TOO thin.
- Add the beans first. As mentioned, the beans act as the glue and hold on all the toppings. Spread a generous layer over the shell before adding anything else.
- Shred the cheese yourself. It’ll taste better and will melt more easily into the warm beans and beef.
- Serve immediately. Tostada shells are best and crispest immediately after warming them. Plus, the longer they sit with beans and toppings on them, the soggier they’ll get.
- Try variations. Want to dial up the heat? Add some diced chipotles in adobo or a few dashes of hot sauce to the ground beef mixture. You can also substitute your favorite protein for ground beef or make a vegetarian version with extra beans. If you want tostadas for breakfast, use chorizo, scrambled eggs, and cheese.
Topping Ideas
There are plenty of great toppings besides the ones listed in the ingredient list. Here are some of my other favorites:
- Spinach
- Pickled red onions
- Pickled radishes
- Sliced jalapeños
- Charred corn kernels
- Guacamole
- Crumbled cotija cheese
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Hot sauce
- Mexican crema
You can even set up a tostada bar with a wide variety of toppings. Then, let everyone customize to suit their tastes!
How to Store
I don’t recommend storing assembled tostadas as they’ll quickly become soggy.
However, you can keep the leftover components in separate containers for a few days.
To Store: Store the beef mixture, beans, and toppings in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep the leftover shells in a sealed bag at room temperature for up to a week. Remove as much air as possible to prevent staleness.
To Freeze: Tostada shells, toppings, and beans don’t freeze well. However, you can freeze the beef mixture in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To Reheat: Reheat the shells on a baking sheet in the oven. (350 degrees for 5-7 minutes). Reheat the beef and beans separately in the microwave on high or in a skillet over medium heat.
More Tex-Mex Faves Your Family Will Love
Beer Battered Fish Tacos
Taco Zucchini Boats
Chile Relleno Casserole
Sheet-Pan Nachos
Ground Beef Tostadas
4
servings15
minutes15
minutes655
kcalCrispy, flavorful ground beef tostadas topped with fresh veggies, refried beans, and cheese are easy to make, fun to eat, and perfect for weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
8 tostada shells or corn tortillas
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup salsa, plus more for serving
1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
sour cream and fresh cilantro, for serving
Instructions
- If making fresh tostada shells, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place corn tortillas directly on the oven rack and bake for 8-10 minutes until crisp. Set aside.
- Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and taco seasoning and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Break the meat up with a wooden spoon. Stir in the salsa and cook until hot. Remove from the heat.
- While the meat cooks, microwave the refried beans in 30-second intervals until hot.
- To assemble, spread a thin layer of refried beans on each crispy tostada shell. Top with a generous spoonful of the seasoned ground beef mixture, followed by the lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, as desired.
- Serve the tostadas immediately with extra salsa on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
- Thin the beans with a small amount of water if needed.
- Shred the cheese yourself for the best taste and texture.
- Serve immediately after assembling to prevent sogginess.
