Tostadas de Frijol y Carne Molida (Crisp Bean and Beef Tostadas)
Crisp corn tostadas spread with warm refried beans, topped with taco-spiced beef, cool lettuce, tomato and crumbled cheese.
Made with Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Taco seasoning mix. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.88 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
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Brown the beef mince for 6 minutes, breaking it up, until the juices have cooked off.
6 min - 2
Stir in the taco seasoning mix and 100 ml water. Simmer for 4 minutes until the sauce clings to the meat, then take off the heat.
4 min - 3
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water for 4 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through.
4 min - 4
Crisp the tostadas for 2 minutes in a dry pan or a hot oven if they have gone soft, so they snap when you bite them.
2 min - 5
Spread each tostada with refried beans, then spoon over the beef. Top with lettuce, tomato, queso fresco and a spoonful of soured cream, and serve at once with lime wedges.
Tips
- Build the tostadas just before eating. Once the beans and meat touch the tostada it starts to soften within minutes.
- Spread the beans right to the edges. They act as glue and a barrier, so the toppings stay put and the tostada stays crisp longer.
- Use crumbled feta if you cannot find queso fresco. Rinse it briefly to take the edge off the salt.
- For a dairy free version, swap the cheese and cream for diced avocado and a squeeze of lime.
Storing and freezing
Keep the beef and beans in separate containers in the fridge for up to 3 days and assemble fresh. Assembled tostadas do not keep. Reheat the fillings until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Are these tostadas gluten free?
Yes, as long as the corn tortillas and the refried beans are gluten free and your taco seasoning is pure spices. The beef, lettuce, tomato and cheese contain no gluten.
Can I use shop bought tostadas?
Yes. Buy a pack of flat, crisp corn tostadas from the world foods aisle and use 8 of them. Check the label for gluten if you need to avoid it.
How do I stop the tostadas going soggy?
Spread the beans thickly to the edge, keep the meat fairly dry and assemble just before serving. Never top them until everyone is at the table.
More made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
Tostadas de Atún con Aguacate (Tuna and Avocado Tostadas)
GFDFEFTotopos con Guacamole y Pico de Gallo (Chips with Guacamole and Fresh Salsa)
GFDFEFTotopos con Carnitas y Queso (Carnitas Nachos)
GFEFNFTostadas de Ceviche de Pescado con Salsa Macha (Fish Ceviche Tostadas)
GFDFEFSee every dish made with tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips)
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.