These Ground Beef Tostadas are a delicious twist on Taco Tuesday. You can't go wrong with crispy tostadas shells, topped with refried beans, seasoned ground beef, and cheese. This recipe is the perfect easy recipe for busy weeknights!
Jump to:
- What makes this recipe irresistible
- Ingredients you'll need
- Great additions to the tostadas are:
- Creative variations to try
- Step-by-step instructions
- Essential tools for this recipe
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
- Deb's tips for the perfect dish
- How to store leftovers
- More recipes you'll love
- Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- Ground Beef Tostadas
What makes this recipe irresistible
I love it because it's quick and easy to make. It's also incredibly flavorful and always a crowd-pleaser with picky eaters, perfect for taco night! Homemade tostadas are the BEST!
Plus, you only need simple ingredients that are all easy to find at your local grocery store.
Ingredients you'll need
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- lean ground beef
- tomato sauce
- taco seasoning mix
- yellow onion
- refried beans
- crispy corn tortillas
- cheese
- Your favorite taco toppings; salsa, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, and/or jalapenos.
Great additions to the tostadas are:
- black beans or pinto beans
- pico de gallo
- queso - serve your favorite queso fresco, queso dip, etc.
- serve with lime wedges so you can squeeze your own fresh lime juice over the tostadas
Creative variations to try
- Don't worry if ground beef isn't your thing, you can use ground turkey or even ground chicken as a substitute.
- Also, you can leave out the meat and add more beans and cheese for a vegetarian dish.
- For a spicy kick, feel free to drizzle hot sauce overtop of the finished dish prior to serving.
- Tomato paste can be added to enrich the taco meat also.
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook beef with the diced onions. Drain excess grease.
- Add the tomato sauce and taco seasoning to the ground beef mixture. Simmer for five minutes, remove from heat.
- Lay the crispy tostadas on a large sheet pans.
- Spread a single layer of refried beans on top of the crispy tortilla. Top with a couple of tablespoons of the taco meat mixture, and sprinkle with cheese. Then with sliced jalapenos. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the beans and meat are hot and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and finish with your favorite classic toppings. Lettuce, tomato, olives, sour cream, guacamole - YUM!
Essential tools for this recipe
- large skillet
- large baking sheets
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
No, it's not the same but similar. A tostada is a flat tortilla that has been deep-fried or baked until crispy and then topped with various ingredients such as refried beans, meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
A tostada is a flat, crunchy Mexican dish made from a fried or baked tortilla topped with refried beans, ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and other toppings. It can be served as an appetizer or a full meal.
You can eat a tostada like a taco. You can either pick it up and take bites or use a fork and knife.
Traditionally a tostada is made with a crispy corn tortilla shell.
Deb's tips for the perfect dish
I like to line my baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up, but you could also spray it with nonstick cooking spray. I don't know about you, but not scrubbing a pan is always a win in my book!
- Using pre-made tostada shells can save you a lot of time in the kitchen. However, if you are feeling creative you can make your own tostada shells at home.
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and will last for up to 4 days. Make sure to keep the tostadas shells separate from the beans and beef so that they are not soggy.
Freeze - You can freeze the cooked beef mixture and beans for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.
Reheating - To reheat, preheat oven to 350°F and place the tostadas on a baking sheet and cook them for 8 - 10 minutes.
More recipes you'll love
- The next time you are craving a simple Mexican meal with your family give this Mexican Tater Tot Casseorle recipe a try. It's hearty, comforting, and a delicious twist on this simple dish.
- Taco Salad Casserole is another easy recipe to try. It's a flavorful mix of taco ingredients combined into a comfort food casserole that your family will enjoy.
- I just love a simple recipe to make weeknight easier. How about you? If so, try the Beef and Rice Casserole. It's super simple, tasty, and a real crowd-pleaser!
- Are you looking for something a little different that's still filling and hearty? If so, then add this Mexican Albondigas recipe to your meal plan. You won't regret making this flavorful meatball soup.
- Velveeta Taco Mac and Cheese - this easy one pot meal has dinner on the table in a snap. AND it's delicious!
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- You can never go wrong with a rice side dish when you are making a Mexican main dish like this one. And this Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is always my go-to rice recipe to pair with Mexican food.
- However, if you are looking for a fresh side dish to pair with this comfort food meal, then look no further than this Mexican Coleslaw recipe. It's light and creamy with a small kick which means that it's a simple side dish that pairs great with most Mexican-inspired dishes.
- Are you a fan of indulging in an adult beverage while you enjoy a hearty meal? If so, give this Mexican Martini a try with this tasty dish. It's something a little different than the traditional margarita while still keeping that refreshing flavor that you are
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If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Ground Beef Tostadas
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix
- 1 medium onion diced
- 15 ounce refried beans
- 8-10 crispy tostadas
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- Toppings: salsa, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced olives and jalapenos. Use your favorites!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Drain excess grease.
- Add the tomato sauce and taco seasoning to the ground beef mixture. Simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat.
- Lay the crispy tostadas on a large baking sheet (you'll probably need to use two cookie sheets).
- Spread a thin layer of beans on the top of the tostada, top with a couple of tablespoons of the taco meat mixture, and sprinkle with cheese. Finish with some sliced jalapenos, 2-3 per tostada. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the beans and meat are hot, and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and finish with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, olives, salsa, etc. I enjoy it with a dollup of sour cream as well!
ColleenB.~Tx. says
I make Indian Fried bread and we call them Indian Taco's. Hubby isn't too fond of the crispy tostadas.
Don't ask me why, but I only make the Indian Taco's around the state fair starts. I guess because they go hand in hand; State Fair and taco's.
Thank You and enjoy your weekend.
Stay safe and keep cool
Blessings 2 U and your family.
Colleen says
I had bought some taco bowls (2 different sizes) at our local mission thrift store sometime back and I now use them. It's like having a nice salad and eating the bowl besides.
Hubby likes them so much better then eating them flat.
Debra Clark says
That sounds great Colleen!
Madame says
Thank you so very much! This is exactly the recipe I was looking for. I grew up going to Pepe's Taco in Chicago getting these and I am in Dallas most days. I am feening for some of these and your recipe is exactly the same and I am so glad you posted this. I was so lost but now I found this. Blessings to you and your family for the holidays.
Debra Clark says
Ooooh yes!! These are so good, you're going to love them!! Happy holidays to you as well Madame, thanks for supporting the blog!