Beef Tostadas Refried Beans (Printable)

Crispy tostadas topped with seasoned beef, creamy beans, fresh vegetables, and tangy accents for a colorful Mexican dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Beef

01 - 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp chili powder
06 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - ¼ cup beef broth or water

→ Tostadas and Toppings

12 - 8 tostada shells (store-bought or homemade, gluten-free if needed)
13 - 1 (15 oz) can refried beans
14 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
15 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
16 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
17 - ½ cup sour cream
18 - ¼ cup sliced jalapeños (optional)
19 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Steps:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula, until browned and mostly cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
02 - Add finely chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Sprinkle in ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat the meat evenly.
04 - Incorporate tomato paste and beef broth or water. Mix well and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until thickened and flavorful. Remove from heat.
05 - Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until warm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place tostada shells on a baking sheet and bake for 3 to 4 minutes if a crispier texture is desired.
07 - Spread warm refried beans onto each tostada shell. Top with a generous portion of seasoned beef.
08 - Layer shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños if using, and chopped cilantro atop the beef. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beef comes together in under 20 minutes, so you're eating before hunger even sets in.
  • Everyone can customize their own tostada, which means less arguing about toppings and more actual enjoyment.
  • It tastes like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did.
02 -
  • The beef needs to simmer with the sauce for those last few minutes, otherwise it tastes like seasoned meat instead of a unified filling.
  • Don't assemble the tostadas more than a few minutes before eating, or the shells will start to soften and lose their crunch.
  • Warm everything separately before assembling, because cold toppings on a warm shell can throw off the whole experience.
03 -
  • If you want more heat without making the beef spicy, layer extra jalapeños on individual tostadas and let people control their own level of fire.
  • The beef tastes even better the next day, so leftover seasoned beef makes incredible nachos, tacos, or taco bowls without any extra work.

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