Bean And Cheese Tostadas Baked Easy

My husband is obsessed with tostadas… Mexican food in general. OBSESSED! He literally asks me to make him tostadas every single week and will even pick up the baked tostada shells from the grocery store on a weekly basis. Elevate your weeknights with these easy, mouthwatering, and fully-loaded vegetarian tostadas. These tostadas are great for taco night and make a quick dinner.

What is a Tostada?

A tostada is a flat tortilla that is either baked or fried. It is usually made with corn and is essentially a flat taco. Check out my very popular Taco Bell Spicy Tostada! If you like chicken or turkey, then give my Chicken Tostadas or Spicy Baked Turkey Tostadas a try – both recipes are made with ground meat. Lastly, if you love Indian Fusion, then give these vegetarian Baked Aloo Chaat Tostadas a chance because they taste like a healthier Papdi Chaat. Tostadas are pretty versatile, in other words, you can top them with any kind of protein. I personally love a vegetarian option when it comes to tostadas. Once you add your protein, in this case, beans, I like adding veggies to my tostadas – lettuce or spinach for a healthier alternative, and pico de gallo. Then I like to top my tostada with some cheese and bake it off in the toaster oven. Drizzle some avocado cream sauce and taco sauce and indulge. They’re so good!

Ingredients

For the Beans:

Canned Refried Beans (canned): I love Trader Joe’s Organic Refried Pinto Beans Salsa Style. Feel free to use refried black beans as well, but I prefer mine with pinto beans. Feel free to make homemade beans if you prefer. Onion: Preferably red onion, chopped. Taco Sauce: I love Taco Bell’s Hot Sauce, also love Pico Pica Taco Sauce. Taco Seasoning: I love Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning and it’s a bit spicy. They’re all the same so any seasoning will work. Avocado Oil: Any flavorless oil works.

For Pico de Gallo:

Basics: Tomatoes, Red Onion, Jalapeno, Cilantro, Fresh Lime Juice, and Salt.

For Avocado Cream Sauce:

Basics: Ripe Avocado, Olive Oil, Water, Garlic, Cilantro, Cumin Powder, Salt, and Jalapeno Pepper (for more spice you can use a Serrano Pepper).

For Bean Tostadas:

Baked Tostada: I love Guerrero’s Baked Tostadas. Fresh Spinach: Baby spinach that’s chopped. Cheddar Cheese: You’ll need shredded cheese. I love using sharp cheddar in this recipe. Taco Sauce: I love Taco Bell’s hot sauce, but Pico Pica works amazing and tastes just like Taco Bell.

How to make Bean and Cheese Tostadas recipe?

Step 1 – Make the Refried Beans

Heat up a pan on medium heat, once hot, add oil, followed by red onion. Add just a pinch of salt. Saute for 3 minutes.
Add refried pinto beans – I like Trader Joe’s Organic Refried Pinto Beans Salsa Style.
Add taco sauce.
Now add taco seasoning and a little water. Mix well.
Cook for a minute. Your beans are ready. Set aside.

Step 2 – Make the Pico de Gallo

Add the tomatoes, red onions, and jalapenos to a mixing bowl.
Now add fresh cilantro, juice of lime, and salt. Mix well. Set aside.

Step 3 – Make the Vegan Avocado Cream Sauce

Add all the ingredients of the avocado cream sauce to a mini food processor and blend.
This is what you should have. Taste it and adjust salt, lime juice, and spice as needed.

Step 4 – Assemble

Add warm refried beans all over a baked tostada (you may use fried as well).
Top with chopped spinach.
Top with pico de gallo.
Now top with cheddar cheese.
Bake in a toaster oven at 400 degrees for 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Keep a close eye to make sure the tostada doesn’t burn.
Drizzle avocado cream sauce on top and Taco Bell Hot Sauce (or any other taco sauce you like). Enjoy your crispy bean tostadas.

Expert Tips

More Tostada Recipes!

✓ Grate your sharp cheddar cheese and chop the fresh spinach. ✓ Bake in the toaster oven until the cheese has melted, but stay close because these tostadas bake fast.