If you need a dinner that comes together in just 15 minutes, chicken tostadas are the way to go! They’re simple, flavorful, and perfect for busy family nights. With a little meal prep (like having shredded chicken ready in the freezer) you can pull this meal together with almost no effort. My kids love customizing their tostadas with toppings, and I love that it’s a crowd-pleaser that doesn’t keep me in the kitchen all night.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2–3 cups shredded chicken (pre-cooked in a pressure cooker, crockpot, or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
For the refried beans:
- 2 (15 oz) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon roasted chicken base
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp bacon grease (optional, but highly recommended for flavor)
- ½–1 cup water (start with ½ cup, add more as needed)
- ¼ cup salsa (optional, for extra flavor)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Canned refried beans work just as well in a pinch or as a matter of preference!
For assembling the tostadas:
- Tostada shells (store-bought or homemade)
- Shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced onion
- Avocado slices
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce (we love Cholula!)
One of the best things about this meal is that you really can add whatever you love best on top. There’s no wrong way to eat tostadas!
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken:
- Season your pre-cooked shredded chicken with onion powder, salt, and pepper. Warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- Make the beans:
- In a blender, combine the pinto beans, chicken base, garlic, bacon grease (if using), and ½ cup of water. Blend until smooth. Add more water as needed until you reach your desired consistency.
- Stir in the salsa, blend again, and taste for seasoning.
- Transfer to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until bubbly, or warm in the microwave.
- Assemble the tostadas:
- Spread a generous layer of beans on each tostada shell.
- Top with shredded chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and avocado.
- Finish with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of hot sauce.
This is a go-to in our house because it’s budget-friendly, customizable, and fast. With the chicken prepped ahead of time, you’ll have dinner on the table in 15 minutes flat. Plus, tostadas are just plain delicious!
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