Beef Tostadas Salsa Cheese (Printable)
Crispy corn tortillas layered with savory beef, fresh salsa, and melted cheese for a flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/4 cup beef broth or water
→ Tostadas
13 - 8 small corn tostada shells
→ Salsa
14 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
15 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
16 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
17 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - Juice of 1 lime
19 - Salt, to taste
→ Toppings
20 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
21 - 1/2 cup sour cream
22 - 1 avocado, sliced
23 - Fresh cilantro, for garnish
24 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How To Make:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Mix in ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to release aromas.
05 - Incorporate tomato paste, stirring to combine. Pour in beef broth or water and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
06 - In a bowl, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Toss gently to mix.
07 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange tostada shells on a baking sheet, sprinkle with half of the cheese, and bake for 3 to 4 minutes until cheese melts.
08 - Top each tostada with beef mixture, fresh salsa, remaining cheese, avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything comes together in 40 minutes, and most of that is letting flavors get cozy in the pan.
- Your guests get to customize their own—no two tostadas need to be identical, which somehow makes them taste better.
- The spiced beef smells incredible while it cooks, and your kitchen becomes this warm, welcoming place.
- It looks restaurant-worthy but tastes like home, the best kind of contradiction.
02 -
- Don't skip browning the beef—it's the difference between good and unforgettable, and it only takes a few extra minutes.
- Fresh salsa tastes so much better than jarred, and the lime juice is what makes it sing instead of just tasting like tomatoes.
- The shells need to stay a little crispy, so don't assemble them until the very last second or they'll get soft and floppy.
03 -
- Brown the beef in batches if your skillet feels crowded—patience here pays off in deeper flavor and better texture.
- Taste your spice mixture before adding the broth; if it seems muted, you might need to add a pinch more salt, which wakes everything up.