Whip up a fuss-free dinner with our Chicken Tostada Recipe —easy, fun, and good for you! Packed with ground chicken and refried beans, these tostadas put a tasty spin on regular tacos. Feeling wild? Swap chicken for beef or pork, or switch up refried for black beans. Spruce up the table with taco toppings, a heap of refried beans, and, of course, tostada shells—a must on my grocery list and forever in my pantry.
Now, don’t let those extra tostada shells go to waste! Embrace culinary creativity with various delightful combinations. Imagine starting your day with scrambled eggs, cheese, Pico de Gallo, and avocado slices on a tostada, or indulging in the savory blend of ground beef, cheddar cheese, salsa, and sour cream. For a veggie-packed option, try black beans, roasted corn, red onion, and Cojita cheese. And if you’re in the mood for some BBQ bliss, top a tostada with BBQ chicken, mozzarella cheese, and sautéed onions. The possibilities are endless, turning your kitchen into a hub of flavor and fun!
How to Make
Step 1: Brown the Chicken Start by browning ground chicken in a sauté pan over medium heat. Ensure it cooks thoroughly until no longer pink.
INGREDIENT SWAP: Replace ground chicken with shredded chicken, baked chicken breasts, ground beef or pulled pork.
Step 2: Get Creative with Ingredients Consider an ingredient swap to add variety. Replace ground chicken with shredded chicken, baked chicken breasts, ground beef, or pulled pork for a different flavor profile.
Step 3: Add Flavor with Rotel Tomatoes and Taco Seasoning Once the chicken is browned, introduce a can of Rotel tomatoes and taco seasoning. For an extra flavor kick, use a batch of homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning. Let the mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes to enhance the flavor.
Step 4: Prepare Toppings and Refried Beans While the chicken is simmering, chop up your favorite toppings and scoop refried beans into a bowl. If you’re looking for a winning refried beans recipe, try the Crockpot Refried Beans—perfectly paired with these tostadas.
Step 5: Set the Table When it’s time to assemble, set the table with an assortment of taco toppings, a generous serving of refried beans, and a stack of tostada shells. Tostada shells, a pantry staple, are essential for this delicious dish.
Step 6: Consider Homemade Tostada Shells Did you know you can make tostada shells from scratch? Explore the Baked Crisp Tostada Shells recipe for a fun kitchen project. Get the kids involved for a batch of these homemade tostadas.
Step 7: Pro Tip for Extra Flavor For an additional burst of flavor, add a splash of lime juice to your homemade tostadas before or after baking.
Step 8: Customize with Toppings The best part of any Mexican dish is the toppings. Embrace the endless possibilities, creating new topping combinations each time you make these tostadas.
Step 9: Family-Friendly Customization Encourage your family to customize their own dinner. It’s a secret trick to get kids to eat more veggies—let them pick their toppings for a personalized and enjoyable dining experience.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Versatile Protein Choices: Experiment with different proteins. Swap ground chicken for shredded chicken, baked chicken breasts, ground beef, or pulled pork to diversify the taste and texture.
Creative Toppings: Have fun with toppings! From fresh veggies to different cheeses and salsas, the possibilities are endless. Encourage family members to create their own custom tostadas with a variety of toppings.
DIY Tostada Shells: Take the culinary adventure further by making your own tostada shells from scratch. Check out the Baked Crisp Tostada Shells recipe for a fun and rewarding kitchen project.
Kid-Friendly Involvement: Get the kids involved in the kitchen. Making homemade tostadas can be a family activity, making it more enjoyable for everyone.
Customize for Picky Eaters: Customization is key, especially if you have picky eaters. Letting family members pick and choose their own toppings can make the meal more enjoyable and encourage trying new ingredients.
Double the Batch: Consider making a larger batch of the chicken mixture and storing it for later use. It can be a convenient shortcut for future meals like tacos, burritos, or even a quick nacho topping.
Quick Cleanup with Parchment Paper: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper when baking tostada shells. It makes for easy cleanup and ensures the shells don’t stick.
FAQ
To keep your tostada shells crisp, assemble and serve them immediately after preparing. If you’re making them ahead, store the components separately and assemble just before serving.
Beyond chicken, consider using seafood like grilled shrimp or fish, or even vegetarian options like seasoned black beans or grilled veggies for diverse and flavorful tostadas.
Absolutely! Substitute the chicken with black beans, sautéed vegetables, or tofu. Ensure your toppings include fresh veggies, cheese, and maybe a dollop of guacamole for a delicious vegetarian option.
How To Eat A Tostada?
Eating a tostada can be a delightful experience, but it requires a bit of finesse to avoid a mess. Here’s a simple guide on how to enjoy a tostada:
Hold It Carefully: Start by picking up the tostada, gently cradling it from underneath. Tostadas can be delicate, so handle them with care to prevent breakage.
Take a Central Bite: Dive into the tostada with a confident bite from the center. This helps to create a stable base and prevents the toppings from sliding off.
Navigate Back and Forth: Work your way back and forth across the tostada, ensuring you evenly enjoy each bite. This method helps maintain balance and avoids overwhelming one side with toppings.
Use a Fork for Dropped Goodness: If any toppings or pieces fall off during your culinary adventure, fear not! Keep a fork handy to scoop up the delicious bits and enjoy them without a mess.
Be Mindful of Toppings: Pay attention to the toppings as you eat to prevent any major spills. Tostadas can be generously loaded, so a mindful approach helps maintain a neat and enjoyable dining experience.
More Healthy Dinner ideas
- Creamy Chicken Pot Pie
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Baked Taco Cups
- Greek Chicken Thighs
- Tuna Pasta
- Shredded Chicken Quesadillas
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Chicken Tostada Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken or beef ✅
- 6 tostadas
- 16 ounce can refried beans ✅
- 10 ounce diced tomatoes ✅
- 1 packet gluten-free taco seasoning or 4 tbsp. homemade taco seasoning
- Assorted veggies and cheese such as tomatoes green onions, lettuce, avocado, and queso fresco cheese
Instructions
- ⭐️Brown ground chicken in a medium-sized saute pan. Add taco seasoning and diced tomatoes, stir.
- Spread refried beans onto tostada, top with meat mixture and add veggies and cheese of choice.
Video
Notes
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Nutrition
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Katie says
I never bought tostadas because I didn’t know what to do with them. Turns out my kids love them. Thanks for the easy recipe!