Easy Ground Beef Tostada Recipe
on Oct 24, 2019, Updated Jun 17, 2024
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This easy ground beef tostada recipe is the perfect weeknight meal. The simple and crunchy tostada shells, made quickly in the oven, and flavorful toppings round out the dish!
All hail the meals that kids can participate in putting together! I don’t know about you, but there’s always less of a struggle in our house when my kids can pick and choose what’s on their plates according to what they like. Tostadas are a perfect dish for this because if one doesn’t like tomatoes and another hates cheese, they can build their tostadas accordingly.
Even if you’re not a parent, this is still such a fun and delicious meal! It comes together quickly by baking corn tortillas in the oven with a little oil so they get nice and crunchy and browning the ground beef on the stovetop with some decadent spices that amplify the flavors. Use your favorite taco toppings and veggies on top, and it’s a quick meal that anyone can make, and everyone will love!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s a family favorite because it’s tasty, and everyone can customize their own tostada creations with toppings they like!
- The only cooking required is crisping the shells in the oven and browning the ground beef on the stovetop.
- Such an easy meal to serve a group buffet-style, plus the kids can help set it up.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef – if using lean, you may not need to drain it
- Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, black pepper, salt
- Corn tortillas
- Oil – olive or corn oil
- Canned beans – black or refried
- Toppings – lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, sour cream, hot sauce, and shredded cheddar cheese
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Easy Ground Beef Tostadas
- Brown the ground beef and season.
- Heat the beans in a separate pan on the stovetop.
- Toast the tortillas in the oven.
- Add mashed beans, ground beef, and toppings to the tostada shells and eat right away.
Recipe FAQs
I bake tostada shells in the oven at 400 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes and then flip them to bake for another 4 to 6 minutes longer until they’re lightly golden brown and a little crispy. They’ll continue to crisp up as they cool, too.
Tostada shells are simply corn tortillas that are typically fried in oil. Instead of frying them, I brush them with oil lightly and then bake them to make them a little healthier!
Oh, this is the fun part! Think of tostadas as giant nachos with all the toppings you could ever desire! You can eat it like a big chip with your hands—although this can get messy! Or you can use a fork to crack the tostada into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Tostada shells don’t keep very well, so I recommend only making as many as you will use immediately.
Expert Tips
- One packet of store-bought taco seasoning can be used in place of the seasonings in the recipe, or if you keep homemade taco seasoning on hand, use 3-1/2 teaspoons of it in place of the seasonings, and then salt to taste.
- Don’t overcook the tostada shells! Stick to the few minutes per side as the recipe states. They’ll continue to crisp up as they cool, too.
- These can be eaten like a big chip with your hands—although this can get messy! Or you can use a fork to crack the tostada into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
More Easy Beef Recipes to Consider
Beef Recipes
Reverse Sear Steak
From Scratch Recipes
Beef Noodle Soup
1 Hour or Longer Recipes
Beef Bourguignon
Easy Appetizers
Carne Asada Fries
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Easy Ground Beef Tostada Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 3 tablespoons oil, such as olive or corn oil
- 1 can black beans or refried beans, (15-ounce)
- Toppings, such as lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, sour cream, hot sauce, and shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the ground beef. It's fine to let it sear up and brown on the bottom of the pan. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, and drain any fat.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, and salt, and stir to combine.
- While the beef cooks, heat the beans. If using black beans, mash them lightly with the back of a fork, and add a little water and salt to taste.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F to prepare the tostada shells. Brush each side of a tortilla with oil, and place it on a baking sheet (about 6 fit on a sheet). Bake for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the tortillas over, return to the oven, and bake for 4 to 6 more minutes, or until the shells are slightly browned. Remove the shells from the oven, and allow to cool slightly. The shells will finish crisping up as they cool. Repeat with remaining shells.
- To assemble your tostadas, add a tablespoon or two of mashed beans, a tablespoon or two of ground beef, and additional toppings to your liking. Eat right away.
Notes
- The tostada shells don’t keep well so just make as many as you’re going to eat.
- You can eat it like a big chip with your hands—although this can get messy! Or you can use a fork to crack the tostada into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
- One packet of store-bought taco seasoning can be used in place of the seasonings in the recipe, or if you keep homemade taco seasoning on hand, use 3-1/2 teaspoons of it in place of the seasonings, and then salt to taste.
- Be careful not to overcook the tostada shells. They’ll continue to crisp as they cool!
