18 Tostada Recipes That Are Crispy, Crunchy Perfection

Whether you’re looking for a simple way to mix things up on taco night or are simply craving the crunchy satisfaction that only a crisp corn tortilla can provide, tostadas are the answer. They’re easy to load up with all your favorite toppings—and we find them easier to eat than hard-shell tacos (which always crumble and make a huge mess). Whether you choose authentic Mexican recipes with shredded beef or chicken or an inspired take that features bacon and eggs, you’ll find that, served with some homemade guacamole and a margarita or two, tostadas make the perfect meal. You’ll find lots of ideas for topping your tortillas in this roundup but Marcela’s chicken tinga has to be one of our favorites. It’s easy to make at home and so full of flavor. Once you shred your chicken, warm it in a flavorful sauce made from chorizo, garlic, chipotle pepper and tomato. Then, simply spoon over crispy tortillas and enjoy.

The secret to these tostadas is the quick ancho chile marinade. It comes together with just a handful of seasonings and ingredients — and gives the shrimp a wonderfully smoky flavor.

You might not think to add a shot of espresso to your steak marinade, but it gives the meat a deep, toasty flavor when cooked. We like to add a little chili powder to the marinade too, then grill the steak and serve over crunchy tostadas.

These quick-and-easy tostadas boast big flavor despite their simple preparation. The secret? Ingredients like bacon, fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle pepper in adobo and ground cumin make the chicken taste nice and smoky.