Tortas de Barbacoa (Barbacoa Beef Sandwiches)
Crusty rolls toasted in butter and piled with refried beans, melting cheese, smoky shredded beef and creamy avocado.
Made with Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Barbacoa beef. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.40 a head
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
Warm your ready made barbacoa beef (see the base recipe) in a pan with a splash of its juices for 5 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through. Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan, stirring, for 3 minutes.
5 min - 2
Split the rolls and pull out a little of the soft crumb from the top halves to make room for the filling. Spread the cut sides with the butter.
- 3
Toast the rolls butter side down in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden and crisp.
1 min 30 s - 4
Spread the refried beans over the bottom halves and lay the cheese on top, so the heat of the beef melts it. Pile the barbacoa on next.
- 5
Add the avocado, onion and pickled jalapeños. Spread the soured cream on the top halves and press them down firmly.
- 6
For a hot, pressed torta, return it to the pan under a heavy plate for 1 minute per side until the cheese melts. Serve straight away with a small bowl of the beef juices for dipping.
1 min
Tips
- A torta is all about the roll. Choose a crusty roll with a soft middle, and scoop out a little crumb so the sandwich is not all bread.
- Spread the beans on the bottom half first. They seal the bread so the beef juices do not make it soggy.
- Pickled jalapeños from a jar are fine. For more heat, add a spoonful of salsa macha or chipotle.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep leftover barbacoa and beans separately in the fridge for up to 3 days and assemble fresh. Sandwiches do not freeze well once built.
Questions
What bread is used for tortas?
Traditionally a bolillo or telera roll, which has a crisp crust and soft inside. In the UK, a ciabatta roll, a crusty white roll or a small baguette works well.
Can I make tortas dairy free?
Yes. Leave out the cheese and soured cream and use a dairy free spread to toast the rolls. Check that the roll is dairy free too. The beef and beans are dairy free already.
Can I use leftover barbacoa?
Yes, that is what tortas are for. Warm the beef with a splash of its juices until steaming hot first, as cold meat does not melt the cheese.
More made with refried beans (frijoles refritos)
Borrego en Adobo con Frijoles y Arroz Verde (Guajillo Lamb with Beans and Green Rice)
GFDFEFSopes con Frijoles y Salsa Ranchera (Thick Corn Cakes with Beans)
GFEFNFTorta de Pollo Deshebrado con Guacamole (Shredded Chicken Torta)
EFNFHPArroz Rojo con Huevo Estrellado y Frijoles Refritos (Red Rice with Fried Eggs and Refried Beans)
GFNFDouble 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.