Beef Tostadas Refried Beans (Printable)
Crispy tostadas topped with seasoned beef, creamy beans, fresh veggies, and tangy garnishes in a bold Mexican style.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
→ Refried Beans
12 - 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans (vegetarian or traditional)
13 - 2 tablespoons water, as needed
→ Tostadas & Toppings
14 - 8 tostada shells (store-bought or homemade; use gluten-free if needed)
15 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
16 - 1 cup diced cherry tomatoes
17 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
18 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
19 - 1/2 cup sour cream
20 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
21 - 1 avocado, sliced
22 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
04 - Pour in tomato sauce and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
05 - In a separate saucepan, heat refried beans over low heat. Stir in water as needed to achieve a spreadable consistency. Keep warm.
06 - Spread warm refried beans over each tostada shell. Top with seasoned beef, then layer lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cheese, avocado, and cilantro.
07 - Drizzle with sour cream and serve with lime wedges alongside.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means dinner stress actually melts away instead of building up.
- Everyone gets to build their own plate, so there's this casual, interactive feeling that makes eating together feel less like duty and more like play.
- The balance of textures—crispy shells, creamy beans, fresh vegetables—keeps your mouth interested the whole way through.
02 -
- Do not assemble your tostadas too far in advance—the shells will soften from the warm beans and beef, and you'll end up with a sad, soggy situation instead of the crispy, satisfying crunch you're after.
- The texture of your refried beans matters more than you'd think; if they're too thick, the tostada becomes hard to bite through, and if they're too thin, everything slides off.
03 -
- Toast your spices for a full minute before adding the tomato sauce—this small step transforms them from flat and papery to warm and alive on your palate.
- Let your guests build their own tostadas instead of plating them yourself; everyone eats happier when they had a hand in creating their own meal.