Tostadas are an easy way to use leftovers or serve your favorite meat or vegetarian entree for a quick and easy weeknight meal everyone will love. Whether you make homemade tostada shells or buy them from the grocery store, here are 33 tasty ideas for what to eat with tostadas.
What is a Tostada?
Tostadas are crisp, flat tortillas used as an edible base for toppings, and a staple in Mexican cuisine. When buying them, look for fresh tostadas that are flat and crisp at grocery stores or learn how to make tostadas at home.
How to Make Tostadas
Turn your dinner dreams into a reality, and learn how to make tostadas in the oven or stovetop with these easy tips and tricks.
What to Eat With Tostadas
- 1. Birria con Consome
- 2. Salpicón de Pollo
- 3. Carnitas
- 4. Ground Beef for Homemade Tacos
- 5. Chicken Tinga
- 6. Carne Asada
- 7. Chori Pollo
- 8. Pan Seared Shrimp with Peanuts and Lime
- 9. Fajitas
- 10. Ceviche de Camaron Tostada
- 11. White Fish Ceviche
- 12. Chilean Ceviche with Salmon
- 13. Instant Pot Pozole Rojo
- 14. Chili Con Carne
- 15. Black Bean Soup
- 16. White Chicken Chili
- 17. Mexican Rice
- 18. Guacamole
- 19. Mango Pico De Gallo
- 20. Esquites or Mexican Street Corn Salad
- 21. Pico de Gallo
- 22. Avocado Cream Sauce
- 23. Black Bean Corn Feta Dip
- 24. Hot Sauce
- 25. Chicken Salad
- 26. Buffalo Chicken Dip
- 27. Tuna Salad
- 28. Mediterranean Breakfast Taco
Meat Toppings
While tostadas are the main ingredient, they can be a simple way to eat some of your favorite meals, perhaps a few you haven’t thought about before. Here are a few of my favorite fresh protein toppings:
1. Birria con Consome
Instant Pot beef birria con consome is a flavorful dish made up of tender shredded beef, rich broth, and aromatic spices, and it pairs perfectly with warm corn tortillas, tostadas, diced onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
2. Salpicón de Pollo
Salpicón de pollo is a refreshing shredded chicken, radish and mint salad that’s popular in Mexico, Guatemala, and much of Latin America. Enjoy it topped on a crunchy tostada shell or tucked inside soft tacos for a party appetizer, picnic food or game day snack.
3. Carnitas
Top a corn tostada with juicy, tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder and top it with fresh cilantro and red onion for restaurant-style Instant Pot carnitas you can make in the comfort of your own home.
4. Ground Beef for Homemade Tacos
Homemade tacos with ground beef or ground turkey are easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd, but feel free to skip the crispy tortilla shells and serve the ground beef on a warm, crispy tostadas.
5. Chicken Tinga
Spicy, saucy, simple, and so fresh – chicken tinga is one of the best bases for flavorful chicken tostadas.
6. Carne Asada
Tender and juicy carne asada steak marinates and is grilled to perfection to make the best street-style carne asada tacos or tostadas.
7. Chori Pollo
Chori pollo combines tender, juicy chicken and spicy chorizo smothered in a creamy cheese sauce for a dish that will have you licking your plate clean.
8. Pan Seared Shrimp with Peanuts and Lime
Spiced pan-seared shrimp cooks with peanuts, lime, and warm spices like freshly ground coriander and black pepper. Eat the juicy, flavorful shrimp on tostadas or with rice for a quick dinner idea that’s ready in 30 minutes!
9. Fajitas
Sheet pan fajitas are a go-to in our family because they are an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner; this recipe is for chicken, but you can serve them with steak, shrimp, or a combination of the three.
I am telling you, the possibilities are endless! However, if you’re still not decided on what to eat with tostadas, you should try barbacoa, adobada, or machacha.
Ceviche
10. Ceviche de Camaron Tostada
Ceviche de camaron tostada or shrimp ceviche tostadas is a classic Mexican dish that combines the zesty fresh flavors of ceviche with crispy tostada shells for an easy-to-make dinner or appetizer.
12. Chilean Ceviche with Salmon
Ceviche in all its varieties, is a great way to feature tostadas. And have you tried Chilean ceviche with salmon?
Soup and Stews
13. Instant Pot Pozole Rojo
Authentic Instant Pot pozole rojo is a stew made from tender pork, hominy, and a savory chili-based broth. Pile your bowl high with fresh toppings and eat it with crunchy corn tostadas!
14. Chili Con Carne
Warm up with a heaping bowl of this savory, southwest-style chili. Our authentic chili con carne with beans recipe is my take on an old classic with hearty beef chuck, black beans (gasp! I know), and a satisfying combination of chilies.
15. Black Bean Soup
Serve chipotle black bean soup with a dollop of sour cream and golden brown homemade tostadas for a tasty dinner idea.
16. White Chicken Chili
Generous chunks of chicken and corn simmer in a richly spiced broth with creamy white beans to make easy Instant Pot white chicken chili in under an hour. Once the weather turns, my family loves chili. If you’re like us, work your way through the 25 best chili recipes – each one of them a perfect way to eat tostadas!
Beans
Spread a thin layer of smooth, creamy refried beans on a crispy corn tortilla to create the ideal base for even more toppings. Make your own from scratch, or eat canned refried beans if you’re in a hurry. You can also top the tostadas with seasoned black beans before adding various toppings for the perfect small bite.
Rice
17. Mexican Rice
Easy-to-make vegan Mexican rice brings restaurant-style rice straight to your table for a tasty and versatile side dish.
Add Your Favorite Toppings
Making the perfect tostada requires plenty of toppings like avocado, fresh tomatoes, onions, lettuce, shredded cheese, queso fresco, sour cream, Mexican crema, cotija cheese, and salsa to pile high on the crispy tortilla for delicious flavor and texture in every bite.
18. Guacamole
Guacamole without tomato is ready in 10 minutes, and all you need is a few ingredients! Serve it as a tasty dip or use it to top your favorite entree. If you don’t feel like taking the time to make guacamole, serve a tostada with chunks of creamy avocados.
19. Mango Pico De Gallo
Sweet, spicy, and easy to make – serve fresh mango pico de gallo as a dip or a topping for crispy tostadas.
20. Esquites or Mexican Street Corn Salad
Learn how to make these delicious and authentic Mexican esquites, a popular street food in Mexico. The salad is inexpensive to make, and it is a perfect addition to tostadas.
21. Pico de Gallo
Make fresh pico de gallo with just five ingredients – ripe tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and the juice of a lime make the perfect salsa or topping.
22. Avocado Cream Sauce
Drizzle tangy, creamy avocado lime crema over tacos, burgers, salad and, tostadas. This quick and easy 5-ingredient condiment adds fresh flavor to all the Tex-Mex classics.
23. Black Bean Corn Feta Dip
Use simple ingredients to make an easy black bean corn feta dip with whipped feta for game day, potlucks, and get-togethers.
24. Hot Sauce
Drizzle Mexican tostadas with a few drops of your favorite hot sauce, like Cholula, Tapatio, or Valentina, and enjoy!
More Creative Toppings to Eat With Tostadas
If you’re still stumped about what to eat with tostadas, here are some out of the box idea for you to try with your leftover crispy tostada shells:
25. Chicken Salad
Crunchy and slightly sweet California chicken salad features shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or homemade shredded chicken), grapes, celery, and pecans tossed in a creamy, flavorful dressing. Serve the salad as is, with crackers as a dip, or use it as a topping for a croissant, pita, or tostada.
26. Buffalo Chicken Dip
Whip up this easy-to-make appetizer in minutes! Creamy and slightly spicy Instant Pot buffalo dip features canned shredded chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, cream cheese, butter, and ranch dressing to make a dip that cooks to perfection in the Instant Pot. Serve it with tortilla chips, fresh vegetables, air fryer pita chips, or corn tostadas.
27. Tuna Salad
Tuna salad features simple ingredients such as tuna, mayonnaise, onion, and celery. It’s the perfect combination of creamy and crispy. Serve it in a sandwich, wrap it in lettuce, or use it as a topping for a crunchy tortilla.
28. Mediterranean Breakfast Taco
Mediterranean breakfast tostadas with Greek-inspired toppings are a quick and delicious breakfast recipe that will fill you up and fuel you for the day!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the proper way to eat a tostada?
Tostadas are a mess – that’s how it is. The juices will drip all down your hands, the tostada will break, and the toppings with fall off. It’s all a part of the experience, so go for it. And the best part? Just break another tostada into small pieces and scoop up the leftover toppings on your plate like a chip.
What do you cook tostadas on?
The materials you need to prepare tostadas from scratch depends on the method you choose. For fried tostadas, use a griddle or nonstick, cast-iron, or stainless steel skillet. For baked tostadas, all you need is a baking sheet and foil.