How to make Beef Tostadas Recipe: a Comfort Food (2024)

Beef Tostadas are delicious and crispy Mexican antojito with many different toppings like chicken, beef, seafood, or beans. In this recipe, I will show you how to assemble the perfect tostada topped with seasoned and shredded beef, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado, and fresh cheese. These tostadas are perfect for a cozy night in or for entertaining guests.

Beef Tostadas Recipe

Comfort food has many names and shapes. Yours could be macaroni and cheese or your mother’s famous soup. Mine has a name, too: Beef Tostadas, a traditional dish that cures all kinds of “blues” I may have. And for a moment, everything seems fine. It’s all good!. Tostadas are part of “our antojitos Mexicanos” Mexican little cravings made using corn masa. And, without a doubt, Antojitos must be one of the most missed dishes for any Mexican living abroad.

Beef tostada is one of the most popular antojitos because it is versatile and filling. On top of being a beloved dish by many, it is economical and a whole meal in one corn tortilla. This dish is the kind you enjoy in many small fondas (small restaurants for homecooked meals) and in cenadurias, which are food shops that sell antojitos at night, where surrounded by our family and friends.

So, if you miss eating tostadas like in Mexico or wonder how to make them at home, look no further because here I will show you how to make them step by step.

Frequently asked questions about Mexican Beef Tostadas.

Before I share my recipe, I will answer the questions I usually get about this homemade recipe.

What are antojitos?

Mexican Antojitos are homemade dishes with corn tortilla or masa harina base. Then, it is filled or topped with meat, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, queso fresco, or other toppings. Some of the most popular antojitos are sopes, flautas , cachetadas and tostadas to name a few. These antojitos are a favorite meal to eat at night among friends and family at local food stands.

Are tostadas Mexican?

Yes, tostadas, meaning toasted, has a long history in our Mexican culture. In ancient Aztec times, corn tortillas were sun-dried to make them last longer. Still, some years ago, you could find sun-dried tortillas in popular cities like Toluca in Central Mexico. These toasted tortillas were then consumed with beans and some kind of protein. Nowadays, these tortilla shells are topped with beans, meat, lettuce, queso fresco, Mexican crema, avocado, etc.

What is the difference between tostadas and tacos?

Tacos are usually soft corn or flour tortillas folded and filled with some sort of meat or vegetables. Tostadas are made with an open-shell tortilla and topped with refried black or pinto beans, lettuce, queso fresco, Mexican crema, and more.

What are the traditional toppings for tostadas?

The traditional tostada toppings are refried beans, shredded beef, shredded lettuce, Mexican crema, queso fresco, slices of avocado, tomato, and onions. However, there are other toppings like chicken, beef, ground beef and potatoes, seafood, beans, and pork feet. Yes, pork feet indeed!I know that many will be surprised that this recipe doesn't include cumin, chili powder, paprika, or any other spices, and this is because in Mexico we do not usually put those spices in the shredded meat for tostadas.

Can you make tostadas ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the meat, beans, and other toppings way ahead of time. Make sure all of them are individually and properly stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Regarding the tortilla shells, I prefer to fry my tortillas to make the tostadas, however, you can always use the crispy tostada shells purchased at your grocery store.

How to make Beef Tostadas

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Ingredients:

• Corn tostadas
• Refried beans, warm
• Shredded romaine lettuce
• Tomato chopped
• Onion diced or slice
• Queso fresco Fresco, Cotija Cheese. (Feta and Parmesan are good substitutions)
• Avocado diced or sliced
• Mexican Table cream (also Sour cream or Creme Fraiche)
• A good salsa of your choice

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

DIRECTIONS

To make things easier for you, I will break down the directions for this recipe into sections.

How to cook your shredded beef:

• Place the 1 pound of Skirt steak, ¼ of a small white onion, 2 garlic cloves, and 1 bay leaf.
• Place the ingredients in a stock pot filled with water and cook over medium heat.

• Cooking time will be about 2 hours until meat is tender enough to be shredded.
• Let it cool, season with salt and pepper.

Note: If you want to cook your shredded beef using an Instant Pot or other methods, look at How to cook shredded beef.

How to make the tostada shell:

• For a healthier alternative, you can use your oven to dry the tortillas, place them on a baking sheet, brush them with vegetable oil or spam spray oil, and cover them with your cooling rack to keep them flat.
• Then, bake at 200 degrees (low temperature) for about 10 minutes.

• Alternatively, you can deep-fry the tortillas in oil in a large skillet until golden, rigid, and crispy.

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• Drain on paper towels. This is the most common method used in Mexico.

• Lastly, you can always buy a bag of already-made tostadas at your local grocery store.

How to assembly the tostada recipe:

• First, spread a thin layer of refried beans on one side of each tostada (about 2 tablespoons).

• Then, add the shredded meat evenly among the tostadas.

• Top the tostada with lettuce, onion, and tomato.

• Sprinkle with the crumbled cheese, Mexican crema or sour cream, and avocado. Serve immediately.

Note: Day-old tortillas are better for tostadas since they absorb less oil, and laying them on your counter overnight will start the drying process. Place a kitchen towel and remove the tortillas from their plastic packing, layer, and cover them with another towel.

And now, let me ask you: What is the name of your favorite comfort food?

¡Buen provecho!

Mely Martinez,

What to Serve with Beef Tostadas

Mexican beef tostadas are a meal by itself that can be enjoyed at dinner or a weekend gathering. But if you're looking for more delicious Mexican toppings to serve with your Beef Tostadas, try a delicious guacamole: creamy and flavorful dip made with ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and diced tomatoes. Or a spicy red taqueria salsa to complete your beef Tostadas.

More Authentic Mexican Food Recipes

And in case you would like to try other Mexican food recipes besides this delicious beef tostadas, you can check my other recipes:

• Tuna Tostadas
• Black Bean Tostadas
• Chicken Tinga Tostadas
• Crab Tostadas
• Mexican Coleslaw

If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!

-Mely

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