Tlayudas de Chorizo (Oaxacan Crisp Tortillas)
Crisp, flat corn tortillas spread with beans, topped with chorizo and stringy cheese, then loaded with cabbage and avocado.
Made with Corn tortillas from masa harina and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Homemade Mexican chorizo. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.38 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Brush both sides of the corn tortillas (see the base recipe) very lightly with oil and lay them on two baking trays.
- 2
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until firm and crisp at the edges, turning once.
7 min - 3
Cook your homemade Mexican chorizo (see the base recipe) in a cold pan over a medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through.
9 min - 4
Warm your refried beans (see the base recipe) until steaming hot, then spread a thin layer over each crisp tortilla.
- 5
Scatter with the cheese and chorizo and return to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese melts.
3 min 30 s - 6
Toss the cabbage with the lime juice. Pile it on the tlayudas with the avocado and tomato and serve straight away.
Tips
- Genuine tlayudas are large, thin and smoky. Using your biggest corn tortillas, pressed thin, gets closest at home.
- Do not overload the base or it will go soft. Build just before eating.
- Add a spoonful of any spare salsa for heat.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep cooked chorizo and beans separately in the fridge for up to 3 days once cooled within 1 to 2 hours, and reheat until steaming hot throughout.
Questions
What is a tlayuda?
A tlayuda is a large, thin, toasted corn tortilla from Oaxaca, spread with beans and topped with meat, cheese and salad. It is often called a Mexican pizza.
Can I use flour tortillas?
They work in a pinch, but the dish is much more authentic and gluten free with corn tortillas. Crisp flour tortillas for 4 to 5 minutes instead.
Is it dairy free?
Not as written, because of the cheese. Leave the cheese off and add extra avocado to make it dairy free.
More made with corn tortillas from masa harina
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.