Bean Tostadas

I could go on for days about my love for tostadas and if you’re anything like me, you’ve likely spent hours online trying to find the next best combination. Over the years, I have experimented with all sorts of tostada recipes, from chicken to turkey to ceviche to grilled vegetable and more. Today it’s time for beans!

These Bean Tostadas are so simple, yet they are easily of my favorite tostadas I have ever created. Why is that? Sometimes, my friends, simplicity is key.

This mouth-watering Mexican-inspired tostada recipe is easy to prepare, perfect for Meatless Mondays, super affordable, and serves as the ultimate base for all sorts of toppings. We also love these Mushroom Tacos for a vegetarian Mexican meal.

Trust me when I say that this is one healthy recipe that you don’t want to miss. It’s great for weeknight meals with the family or a DIY tostada bar for a little fun on the weekends. Because these easy bean tostadas work great with a wide variety of toppings, everyone has the chance to customize their meal just how they like.

Black bean lovers also won't’ want to miss these Easy Black Bean Tacos and Black Bean Bowls.

What You’ll Need

All you’ll need to make these amazing bean tostadas are a few simple ingredients, most (or all) of which you may even have laying around at home:

• Beans. I’ve used canned black beans for the sake of convenience, but you can also cook your own using my slow cooker black beans recipe. Any canned or homemade beans will work. If you’re using canned beans, make sure that they’re drained and rinsed.
• Salsa. Choose your favorite salsa—mild, medium, or hot salsa all work fine. When cooked with the beans and veggies, this makes for a mouth-watering tostada base. It also adds tons of flabvor without needing to add lots of different spices. It’s a great shortcut.
• Bell peppers. I love using a combination of red and green bell peppers in this dish, but feel free to use any colors you like.
• Onions. The sharpness of the red onions contrasts beautifully against the creaminess of the beans. If you want to tame down the sharpness a bit, feel free to soak the onions in ice water before using them.
• Tortillas. I always use my fool-proof homemade tostada shell recipe to whip up my own shells from corn tortillas. They’re way lighter than fried tostada shells, but with the same delicious crunch and flavor.

Best Tostada Topping Ideas

While the beans are the undisputed stars of these tostadas, we can’t forget about the toppings! And there are a lot of options to work with here. You could load it up with my Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde, guacamole, or any other sauce that you love. Here are some more of the best tostada topping ideas:

• Queso fresco or shredded cheddar cheese
• Iceberg lettuce or shredded cabbage
• Pulled pork
• Pico de Gallo
• Sliced avocado
• Shredded carrots
• Sliced radish
• Cherry tomatoes
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Chicken tinga

Delicious Tostada Combinations to Try

This is the fun part! While I love to enjoy these bean tostadas in all their simplistic glory every now and then, I also love switching things up based on my mood and sometimes going crazy with toppings. Here are some of my favorite tostada combinations to try:

• Tangy Twist. This combination is incredibly easy but tastes so good! Just mash your black beans to help them act as a binder, add some shredded cheese and chipotle crema, then top off with some pickled red onions, jalapenos, and plenty of fresh cilantro. Make sure that your beans are warm so they’ll melt down the cheese for a gooey, cohesive mixture.
• Extra protein. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, then add some extra protein with leftover cooked meat. It’s super filling and I don’t think I’ve ever managed to finish more than two. Try using leftover shredded chicken or steak.
• Mexican Pizza. Pizza meets tostada to create one of our all-time favorite indulgences. First, you’ll need to create a base using mashed beans, low-fat sour cream, and a mix of your favorite spices. Spread it on a tostada shell, sprinkle on some cheese, and top it off with some onions, black olives, tomatoes, and cilantro.
• Add more veggies: I love adding some mushrooms to these tostadas for even more flavor and texture.