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    Home » Authentic Mexican Recipes

    Tostadas de Carne Molida (Ground Beef Tostadas)

    Published: Sep 21, 2024 · Modified: May 21, 2025 by Gemma · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Crispy, flavorful, and customizable, Tostadas de Carne Molida are a classic Mexican dish. These ground beef tostadas are topped with savory, seasoned beef and potatoes, a smooth layer of refried beans, and fresh garnishes that add the perfect finishing touch. They are not only quick, budget-friendly and perfect for weeknights, but also a crowd-pleaser that works for family dinners and gatherings.

    Tostadas de Carne Molida on a Mexican plate

    Tostadas have increasingly become one of my kids' favorite foods. Usually I make them Refried Bean Tostadas or Avocado Tostadas just like my mom used to make when I was growing up.

    However, I also try to switch it up with different recipes like today's tostadas made with ground beef and refried beans.

    Jump to:
    • What is a Tostada?
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How to Make Tostadas with Ground Beef
    • Tips and Variations
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Recipe

    What is a Tostada?

    The word "tostada" literally translates to "toasted" in Spanish. In Mexican cuisine, tostadas are corn tortillas that are either baked or fried until crispy. These crunchy tortillas are then topped with a variety of ingredients, including meats, seafood, vegetables, and salsa, making them a versatile and satisfying meal option.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Easy-to-Make: This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and requires minimal cooking skills.
    • Great Flavor: An amazing combination of crunchy tortillas, creamy beans, and seasoned beef with potatoes.
    • Versatile: Great as a lunch, dinner, and to serve for parties.
    • Customizable: It is so easy to switch up the protein and toppings.
    • Budget-Friendly: I love cooking with ground beef, potatoes and beans because they are affordable, filling, and delicious.

    For a similar recipe with ground beef, try Sopes de Picadillo

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients for tostadas de carne molida: Tostadas, raw ground beef, spices, onion, garlic, tomato and a potato
    • Tostada Shells: You can buy tostada shells, but making your own is actually extremely easy and taste much better than store-bought. Click here to learn How to Make Tostada Shells. 
    • Ground Beef: I like to buy ground beef that is 80% lean so that it won't get dried out while cooking.
    • Potatoes: I use russet potatoes, but red or Yukon gold potatoes also work.
    • Tomato: Roma tomatoes are typically used in Mexican cooking. Select ripe tomatoes that are firm with a little give when squeezed gently.
    • Onion and Garlic: Diced onion and garlic add so much flavor to the beef.
    • Cumin: Just a tiny pinch of cumin will help round out the flavors without being overpowering.
    • Refried Beans: Creamy, homemade refried beans make a delicious base and also keep the ground beef from easily sliding off the tostada. Use leftover refried beans or make your own by using delicious Instant Pot Pinto Beans for the best result.
    • Toppings: Top with with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and a salsa (like this Jalapeño Salsa).
    • Salt and Pepper: Essential for enhancing the overall flavor of the dish.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    Substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef.

    You can also use mashed avocado or this 4-Ingredient Guacamole for your base instead of refried beans.

    How to Make Tostadas with Ground Beef

    Tostadas draining on paper towel
    1. Fry or Bake Tortillas: Making your own tostada shells is easy and taste much better than store-bought. Click here to learn How to Make Tostada Shells. 
    Diced potatoes in a cast-iron skillet
    1. Prepare Potato: Small dice potato. In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of oil on medium-high. Add diced potato and sauté until soft and crispy.
    Cast-iron skillet with potatoes and uncooked ground beef
    1. Cook Beef: Add ground beef, breaking it up with a large spoon as it cooks. Once browned, add onion and garlic and incorporate with the potatoes.
    Cast-iron skillet with meat, potatoes and diced tomatoes on top
    1. Add Tomatoes: After one minute, mix in the diced tomato. Cover and turn off heat.
    A potato masher on top of authentic refried beans in a cast-iron skillet
    1. Make Refried Beans: Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add cooked Pinto Beans and their liquid to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, then mash with a potato masher until smooth and creamy. Mix a bit more oil into the beans and keep cooking until they're slightly thickened. Set aside.
    Tostada with a layer of refried beans
    1. Spread Beans: Spread an even layer of beans on the tostadas.
    Tostada with a layer of refried beans and ground beef with potatoes

    7. Add Ground Beef: Top with ground beef.

    Garnish with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and Jalapeño Salsa, Salsa Verde Taquera or Guacamole Falso. Serve.

    How to Serve

    These beef tostadas make a great lunch or dinner. With all the protein and vegetables, these can be a meal all by themselves.

    You an also serve them with:

    • Arroz Rojo
    • Mexican White Rice with Corn
    • Gluten-Free Fideo Soup
    • Nopalitos and Roasted Red Pepper Salad.

    How to Store and Reheat

    Store any leftover ground beef or refried beans separately in air-tight containers. Both will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

    Store the tostada shells on the counter in a ziplock bag or an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

    To reheat, heat the meat in a pan on medium heat until warmed through. The beans can also be reheated in a small pan on medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of water to rehydrate the beans if they have dried out.

    Tips and Variations

    • Serve prepared tostadas immediately otherwise they will get soggy.
    • For added spice, add one or two jalapeño or serrano peppers when cooking the meat.
    • Instead of using plain tomatoes as one of the toppings, replace with Pico de Gallo.
    • You can also garnish with shredded cheese or crumbled queso fresco.

    FAQ

    What kind of beef is best for ground beef tostadas?

    Ground beef with an 80/20 fat content is best since the fat will help keep the meat moist and flavorful.

    Can you make tostadas ahead of time?

    The meat and beans can be prepared ahead of time. However, once assembled, tostadas should be served right away as the toppings can make the toasted tortillas soggy and unnapetizing.

    Can you make tostadas without meat?

    Yes, tostadas can be made with a variety of ingredients, try these Avocado Tostadas for a meatless option.

    Are tostadas gluten-free?

    Yes, tostadas made from corn tortillas are gluten-free. These in particular also do not contain any gluten in the meat, beans, or the garnishes.

    I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.

    Tostadas de Carne Molida on a Mexican plate

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Plate with flautas de pollo drizzled with jalapeño sour cream
      Flautas de Pollo (Crispy Mexican Chicken Flautas)
    • Entomatadas de Carne Molida on a plate
      Entomatadas de Carne Molida (Entomatadas with Ground Beef)
    • A plate with three shrimp tacos with mango salsa and a sparkling blueberry mocktail behind it
      Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
    • Bowl of Green Chile Picadillo (Chile verde con carne molida)
      Green Chile Picadillo

    Recipe

    Tostadas de Carne Molida on a Mexican plate

    Ground Beef Tostadas with Refried Beans

    by Gemma Aguayo-Murphy
    Crispy, flavorful, and customizable, Tostadas de Carne Molida are a classic Mexican dish. These ground beef tostadas are topped with savory, seasoned beef and potatoes, a smooth layer of refried beans, and fresh garnishes that add the perfect finishing touch. They are not only quick, budget-friendly and perfect for weeknights, but also a crowd-pleaser that works for family dinners and gatherings.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 12
    Calories 317 kcal

    Equipment

    • large cast-iron skillet or pan
    • potato masher
    • cutting board
    • Knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 tostada shells

    Ground Beef

    • 1 large russet potato, peeled and diced
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • ½ small onion, diced
    • 1 garlic clove, diced
    • 1 Roma tomato, diced
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 2 cups refried beans (see notes for instructions)

    Garnishes

    • shredded lettuce
    • diced tomatoes
    • sour cream
    • Jalapeño Salsa or Salsa Verde Taquera

    Instructions
     

    • Making your own tostada shells is easy and taste much better than store-bought. Click here to learn How to Make Tostada Shells. 
    • In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of oil on medium-high.
    • Add diced potato and sauté until soft on the inside and golden on the outside.
    • Make a well in the middle of the potatoes and add ground beef, breaking it up with a large spoon as it cooks.
    • Once browned, add onion and garlic and incorporate with the potatoes.
    • After one minute, mix in the diced tomato.
    • Cover and turn off heat.
    • Prepare refried beans (see notes for details).
    • Assemble tostadas by spreading an even layer of beans on the tostadas first.
    • Top with a couple tablespoons of ground beef.
    • Garnish with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and Jalapeño Salsa or Salsa Verde Taquera.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Refried Beans: Make your own refried beans by doing the following or check out the full blog post for Frijoles Refritos:
      • Start with 4 cups of homemade pinto beans
      • Heat ½ cup of oil in medium skillet over medium-low heat.
      • Add cooked pinto beans and their liquid to the skillet.
      • Bring to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes.
      • Mash with a potato masher until smooth and creamy. Add ¼-1/2 cup of bean broth, if needed, to make them easier to mash.
      • When beans begin to slightly dry, add ¼ more of oil and mix into the beans.
      • Keep cooking the beans until slightly thickened. The beans are done and at the perfect point when you can run a spoon down the middle of the beans and they don't stick to the pan.
      • Remove from heat and set aside.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 tostadaCalories: 317kcalCarbohydrates: 34.2gProtein: 17.3gFat: 12gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 428mgPotassium: 516mgFiber: 4.2gSugar: 1.3gCalcium: 53mgIron: 10mg
    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and star rating below or mention @everydaylatina on Instagram!

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    About Gemma

    Gemma is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Everyday Latina. Gemma was born in Mexico, but has spent the majority of her life in the United States. She has been sharing recipes since 2018 with an emphasis on her parents' traditional Mexican cuisine and a focus on clean, healthy ingredients. Her goal is to build a community of people who appreciate family, food and culture and, who like her, want to live a healthy, happy everyday life.

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lola

      October 04, 2024 at 1:00 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great, hearty tostada recipe! So glad you shared it.

      Reply
      • Gemma

        October 24, 2024 at 1:28 pm

        I love tostadas and these are a hit with my kids!

        Reply
    2. Kara D

      June 21, 2023 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      Another amazing recipe. Your refried bean recipe turned out so good! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gemma

        July 07, 2023 at 1:05 am

        Hi Kara, thank you so much! So glad you liked them. Refried beans are some of my favorite foods.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Gemma!

    I am originally from Mexico and the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Everyday Latina. Here you will find traditional Mexican cuisine and a focus on clean, healthy ingredients. 

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