Beef Tostadas with Refried Beans (Printable)

Crispy tostadas topped with seasoned beef, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, and sour cream. A festive Mexican-inspired meal ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 14 oz ground beef (85% lean)

→ Beans

02 - 14 oz can refried beans

→ Tostada Base

03 - 8 corn tostada shells

→ Vegetables & Toppings

04 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
05 - 1 medium tomato, diced
06 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 avocado, sliced or diced
08 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

→ Cheese & Sauces

09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
10 - 1/2 cup sour cream
11 - Salsa or hot sauce to taste

→ Spices

12 - 1 tbsp olive oil
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 1 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1 tsp chili powder
16 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
17 - 1/2 tsp salt
18 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnishes

19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Lime wedges

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned (5–7 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the beef. Stir and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a small saucepan, warm the refried beans over low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth and heated through.
04 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Place tostada shells on a baking sheet and heat for 3–5 minutes until crisp and warm.
05 - Spread a generous spoonful of refried beans onto each tostada shell. Top with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, jalapeño (if using), and shredded cheese.
06 - Drizzle with sour cream and salsa or hot sauce. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything satisfying about tacos but with an unbeatable crispy base that does not get soggy
  • The beef seasoning hits all the right notes without being overwhelming
  • Perfect for feeding a crowd or letting everyone build their own
02 -
  • Warm tostada shells before topping them so the cheese melts just enough to stick
  • The refried beans act as the glue that keeps everything from sliding off when you take a bite
03 -
  • Add a splash of beef broth or water to the seasoning mix if it seems too dry
  • Warm your beans with a tiny bit of cheese mixed in for extra flavor

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