Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published March 28, 2018. Updated May 8, 2019

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These Tostadas with Chicken Beans and Guacamole are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner! These are piled high with layer after layer of deliciousness and you’ll be savoring every bite. It’s one of those tasty recipes the whole family can agree on!

Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (1)

What is a Tostada?

A Tostada is a classic Mexican dish that’s generally made up of a crisp fried tortilla shell as the base then it’s layered with toppings such as seasoned meat or poultry, beans, lettuce, cheese and salsa or pico de gallo.

The Best Easy Chicken Tostada Recipe

I love tostadas because they’re so versatile, they’re easy to throw together and they’re loaded with so many delicious flavors.

This version is my weeknight favorite because it includes all the best things, and it requires minimal cooking (you only need to heat the beans, it uses pre-cooked rotisserie chicken).

And when avocado is involved you know it’s going to be the best!

Watch the Tostada Video!

Ingredients Needed for Tostadas:

  • Tostada shells
  • Guacamole
  • Refried beans
  • Canned diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • Rotisserie chicken
  • Lettuce
  • Cheese
  • Pico de gallo
  • Sour cream

For this recipe I usedmy families favorite canned refried beans. Rosarita Traditional Refried Beans are a go-to product around here (and you can find them at Walmart). We always heat them up with cheese and spices as a dip for tortilla chipsand my kids frequently request them as a side to their lunch.

Then another product I love which I used here are Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies. You can add a can of those to just about any Mexican or Southwestern dish, right? They work perfect for this recipe.

Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (2)

How do You Make Tostadas?

  • Prep ingredients.
  • Make the quick guacamole.
  • Heat the bean and tomato mixture.
  • Assemble tostadas. Easy as that!

How do You Make Homemade Tostada Shells?

You can usually find tostada shells next to the tortillas at the store, but if you can or if you just want to make them yourself here’s how you’ll do it:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Brush both sides of 6 yellow corn tortillas lightly with olive or vegetable oil, season lightly with salt
  • Bake on a rimmed baking sheet about 4 – 5 mins per side until crisp.

Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (3)

More Mexican Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Homemade Enchilada Sauce
  • Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
  • Mexican Rice
  • Homemade Salsa
  • Fish Tacos
  • Tres Leches

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (4)

5 from 4 votes

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Tostadas {with Chicken Guacamole and Beans}

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These tostadas are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner! They're loaded with layer after layer of deliciousness and you'll be savoring every bite. Plus it's a recipe everyone can agree on.

Save time by using store-bought tostada shells, pico found in the deli, and store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Watch the video

Servings: 6

Prep20 minutes minutes

Cook5 minutes minutes

Ready in: 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 tostada shells , store-bought or homemade*
  • 2 medium ripe avocados
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder, divided
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (16 oz) can Rosarita Traditional Refried Beans
  • 1 (10 oz) can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies Mild, drained
  • 3/4 tsp ancho chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or shredded cooked chicken breasts
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup pico de gallo, homemade or store-bought**
  • 6 Tbsp Sour cream

Instructions

  • Using a fork mash avocado with lime juice and 1/8 tsp garlic powder to a slightly chunky texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • In a small saucepan mix together refried beans, drained canned tomatoes, chili powder, cumin and remaining 1/8 tsp garlic powder.

  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until heated through.

  • To assemble tostadas, layer each tostada shell with guacamole (avocado mixture), bean mixture, lettuce, chicken, cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. The store-bought tostada shells can usually be found by the tortillas. If making the tostada shells yourself preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of 6 yellow corn tortillas lightly with olive or vegetable oil (about 1 Tbsp total). Season lightly with salt then bake on a rimmed baking sheet about 4 - 5 mins per side until crisp.
  2. For homemade pico de gallo - in a medium bowl toss together 2 diced roma tomatoes, 3 Tbsp diced yellow onion, 2 Tbsp minced cilantro and 2 tsp lime juice. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Recipe source: Cooking Classy

Nutrition Facts

Tostadas {with Chicken Guacamole and Beans}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 461Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 59mg20%

Sodium 998mg43%

Potassium 617mg18%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 9g38%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 22g44%

Vitamin A 825IU17%

Vitamin C 14.7mg18%

Calcium 206mg21%

Iron 2.7mg15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Tostada

Author: Jaclyn

This post was sponsored by Mirum Shopper, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Chicken Tostada Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat a tostada without making a mess? ›

Instead, take a small bite on one of the sides that has fewer ingredients. Then, slowly work your way to the middle while trying not to let any ingredients fall out. The smaller the bites, the better. Finally, using napkins is your best bet for eating messy foods like tostadas.

What are tostadas made of? ›

A tostada has a pretty simple construction: it's like a taco, but flat. It's usually made with a fried corn tortilla, topped with refried beans, shredded cheese, salsa, and other toppings.

What is the history of tostadas? ›

Despite the tortilla being fried, tostada means “toasted” in English. The dish originated as a way to use tortillas once they were too stale for tacos but had not entirely lost their pliability, allowing them to be shaped.

What is tostada in English? ›

A tostada is a flat, crispy corn tortilla that is typically layered with mashed or refried beans, protein, cheese and toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and avocado. In Spanish, the word tostada means toasted.

Are tostadas bad for diet? ›

As you can see, a tostada can be a good source of some essential nutrients like magnesium, fiber and iron. Note that a normal serving of tostadas is 2-3 tostadas. When combined with other toppings like beans, vegetables and meat, tostadas can make a filling and balanced meal!

How to eat chicken tostadas? ›

To assemble a chicken tostada, start by placing a crispy corn tortilla on a plate. Spread a layer of refried beans on top, followed by shredded chicken, and then add your favorite toppings. To eat, simply pick up the tostada and enjoy it like an open-faced taco.

What is a Mexican tostada called? ›

The word “Tostada” is Spanish for “toasted” and is the name of a Mexican dish that is served on a toasted or deep fried corn tortilla. The actual tostada (the toasted corn tortilla) is the base of the recipe and is topped with refried beans, cheese, meat, lettuce, and other toppings.

Is a tostada just a flat taco? ›

"The main difference is that a tostada is flat and made on a crispy tortilla shell, usually corn. Tacos, while they can be made in crispy corn shells, are most commonly seen soft, folded, with either corn or flour tortillas," says Jessica Formicola, chef and blogger at Savory Experiments.

What is a Cuban tostada? ›

Cuban tostada

In Cuban cuisine, tostada refers to a slice of handmade Cuban bread, cut lengthwise, buttered, and pressed. The bread is similar to French bread or Italian bread and is usually made in long, baguette-like loaves. It is the Cuban equivalent of toast.

Do Mexicans eat tostadas? ›

Tostadas can be found across Mexico. Toppings for tostadas are mostly the same as those used for tacos: a base layer of beans, cheese, sour cream, chopped lettuce, sliced onions, and salsa, which is then topped with diced and fried meat, usually chicken or pork, and also beef.

Why do Guatemalans eat tostadas? ›

Tostadas are Guatemalan snacking food and associated with celebrations and holidays. While the ingredient list looks long, there is very little cooking, of which most can be done in advance.

Who eats tostadas? ›

Tostadas, with a base of crunchy corn tortilla and various toppings are popular in Mexico and the Southwest US states, such as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Are tostadas healthy? ›

It also is certified healthy (healthier at least) because it clocks in at 120mgs of sodium per serving (2 tostadas) opposed to regular tortilla chips which are 137mgs of sodium per serving (10 chips).

Is a chalupa a tostada? ›

Known as little boats, chalupas have a concave shape that allows them to hold plenty of fillings, while tostadas are flat and crispy, providing a sturdy base for stacking ingredients. The tostadas are made from frying or toasting stale day-old tortillas, while chalupas are a fresh tortilla deep-fried.

How do you eat corn tortillas without them breaking? ›

Corn tortillas will tear and break if not really fresh! They can be softened in a skillet with a small amount cooking oil. Put them in, One layer at a time, leave space, turn over and when softened remove carefully.

How can I eat without making a mess? ›

Use a napkin to wipe your mouth regularly during your meal. You may also want to tuck one into the top of your shirt to catch any small spills, such as from soup. Have a few extra napkins on hand to replace soiled ones as needed. Chew with your mouth closed if possible and try not to talk much while you're eating.

How to eat a loaded tostada? ›

might need this step-by-step guide to eat them:
  1. Gently pick up the tostada with both hands and lift. to your mouth.
  2. Decrease the amount of food on the tostada by. ...
  3. Take small bites all around the edges.
  4. Alternatively, eat from left to right and then back. ...
  5. Use a fork to eat the pieces of food that have fallen.
Feb 12, 2020

How to eat a hard shell taco without it falling apart? ›

Most people eat a taco by taking a bite from one end and then continuing towards the other end through the centre. But this is not the best way to eat it if you want to avoid making a mess. The correct way to eat a taco is to first take a few bites from one end, then flip it and take some more from the other end.

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