Description
Mexican chicken tostadas deliver a crispy, flavor-packed meal perfect for busy weeknights. Crunchy tortillas topped with seasoned chicken, fresh salsa, and creamy avocado create a delightful dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (450 g) cooked shredded chicken
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) refried beans
- 8 tostada shells
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded lettuce
- 1 cup (150 g) diced tomatoes
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
- ¼ cup (50 g) sour cream
- ¼ cup (50 g) guacamole
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- 1 jalapeno, sliced
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) water
Instructions
- Chicken Preparation: Simmer shredded chicken in taco seasoning and water over medium heat, stirring until mixture reduces and becomes fragrant, developing rich, spicy flavors.
- Bean Layer: Heat refried beans until smooth and spreadable, creating a creamy foundation for the tostada base.
- Shell Assembly: Spread warm beans evenly across crisp tostada shells, establishing a solid groundwork for subsequent layers.
- Protein Placement: Distribute seasoned chicken generously over bean-covered shells, building a robust and flavorful platform.
- Topping Composition: Artfully arrange garnishes – crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, crumbled cheese, sour cream, guacamole, black olives, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro – creating a vibrant and textural masterpiece.
- Serving Strategy: Present tostadas immediately, preserving the shells’ crispness and allowing diners to experience the harmonious blend of Mexican-inspired ingredients.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Flavor: Ensure chicken remains moist by using low-sodium taco seasoning and adding a splash of chicken broth instead of water during cooking to enhance depth and prevent dryness.
- Prevent Soggy Shells: Toast tostada shells in oven for 2-3 minutes before assembling to maintain crispness and create a barrier between beans and shell, preventing rapid softening.
- Build Layer Strategy: Apply refried beans while still warm to help them spread smoothly, and let each layer slightly cool before adding next ingredient to prevent structural collapse of tostada.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Swap traditional refried beans with black beans for lower-fat option, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for protein boost, and choose gluten-free tostada shells for celiac-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg