Beef Tostadas with Beans Cheese (Printable version)
Crisp corn shells topped with spiced beef, creamy beans, fresh lettuce, and melted cheese for a vibrant meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef
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
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/4 cup water
→ Beans
13 - 1 (15 oz) can refried beans, warmed
→ Tostadas & Toppings
14 - 8 corn tostada shells
15 - 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
16 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced
18 - 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
19 - 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional)
20 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
21 - Lime wedges for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato paste and water; mix well and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until mixture thickens.
04 - While the beef simmers, warm the refried beans in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.
05 - Spread a thin layer of warm refried beans over each tostada shell. Top evenly with the seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and diced tomato.
06 - Garnish with sour cream, jalapeños, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Ready in 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress or delivery apps.
- Customizable enough that everyone at the table builds their own perfect bite, so even picky eaters get involved.
- Tastes restaurant-quality but costs a fraction of what you'd pay eating out.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the beef—excess fat makes the whole thing greasy and dilutes the spice flavors you worked to build.
- Layer your toppings in this order: beans, beef, lettuce, cheese, tomato, or the cheese will melt onto cold lettuce instead of creating that beautiful warm-cool contrast.
- Assemble only as many tostadas as you'll eat immediately, since they get soft quickly once the warm beef and beans touch the shell.
03 -
- Brown your onions until they have some color on the edges—they'll taste sweeter and more caramelized than if you stop at pale and soft.
- Make your seasoned beef a little saucier than you think you want it; it will soak into the beans and tostada shell rather than making the whole thing soggy.