Chicken Tostadas

Learn how to make Chicken Tostadas with all the fixings! Crunchy tortilla shells are piled high with perfectly seasoned chicken, black beans, cheese, and more. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe that’s packed with Mexican flavor the whole family will love!

These Shredded Chicken Tostadas are one of those quick dinner recipes you’ll come back to time and time again.

What are Tostadas?

Tostadas are flat or saucer-shaped corn tortillas that are baked, toasted, or fried until crispy. The word “tostada” literally translates to “toasted” in English. You fill or top a tostada with a combination of meat, cheese, beans, and vegetables, like an open-faced taco.

With so many topping and filling options, I can make them a million different ways and never get bored. It’s a great option for taco night that will please even those picky eaters. And after a long day, this meal is a real time saver, becoming a regular in our dinner rotation.

Ingredients for Chicken Tostadas

You will need these ingredients to make the chicken tostadas.

Tostadas – Store-bought or homemade

Cooked shredded chicken – A store-bought rotisserie chicken is perfect, or cook up some boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Black beans

Rotel diced tomatoes – Or any kind of diced tomatoes with green chilies.

Homemade taco seasoning– a store-bought packet works just fine, too!​​

Green onions

Shredded Mexican blend cheese

Avocado

Fresh tomato

Fresh cilantro

Find a list with detailed ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the end of the post!

How to Make Chicken Tostadas

You are going to LOVE how easy it is to make homemade rotisserie chicken tostadas! Here’s how I do it.

First, I line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. I place 8 tostadas on the pan and preheat the oven to 350°F.

Now I combine the shredded chicken, Rotel tomatoes, black beans, and taco seasoning in a saucepan. I add a generous splash of water and cook until heated through. This takes about 7 minutes.

Next, I stir chopped green onions into the chicken mixture. Then I spoon the shredded chicken evenly over the tostadas. I sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese over each one.

Finally, I bake the chicken tostadas for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts. I serve them hot with diced avocado, tomato, fresh cilantro, and any other toppings I have on hand.

FAQs

How do I make my own tostada shells?

Sometimes I can’t find the crispy tostada shells for sale at my local grocery store, or I just want to make my own. Luckily, it’s easy!

I preheat the oven to 400°F.

I lightly grease both sides of 8 corn tortillas with vegetable oil and place them flat on the baking sheet.

Then I bake the tortillas for 5 minutes on each side, or until hard and crispy. Voila! Crunchy tostadas!

OR

Follow these fried tostada shell directions.

Once your tostada shells are ready, follow the recipe below for assembling easy chicken tostadas.

Can I use flour tortillas to make tostadas?

Corn tortillas are the traditional choice for tostadas, but you’re welcome to use flour if you prefer!

The flour tortillas take a bit longer to get crispy. They’ll have toasty, golden brown edges and a softer center than the thin, crisp corn tostadas.

What other toppings are good on chicken tostadas?

Diced avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro aren’t the only things you can put on cheesy baked tostadas.

Try a dollop of sour cream, homemade lime crema, or plain Greek yogurt to add a cooling dimension to the spicy Mexican chicken. If you want a spicier tostada, spoon your favorite salsa or hot sauce. Top it with some cotija cheese, pickled red onion, and some fresh lime juice.

Instead of black beans, you can use pinto beans or spread a layer of homemade refried beans on the crunchy tortillas.

In place of the chicken, top them with the slow cooker carne asada from these taco boats for an equally delicious recipe.

We also enjoy eating Mexican tostadas with shredded iceberg lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole on top instead of the tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado. There’s no wrong way to enjoy homemade chicken tostadas!

Mexican Recipes

I love Mexican food. That includes Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex,  and every other cuisine informed by Mexican flavors.

This easy Mexican Chicken will make a great dinner any night of the week, and is perfect for a gathering, too! With shredded chicken, tomatoes, beans, and spices, this recipe is delicious served over rice or even in a taco salad!

I eat tacos regularly. Whether it’s a plate of Baja-inspired Shrimp Tacos or these decidedly nontraditional Taco Hummus Wraps, I’m happy when dinner comes wrapped in a tortilla.

The taco obsession doesn’t stop when I run out of tortillas. I love layering cheese, meat, and peppers in a Layered Taco Dip to scoop up with chips. This Chicken Taco Dip is another version you’ll enjoy.

Make-ahead casseroles make mornings so much easier—and tastier. Fans of breakfast tacos will love my Mexican Breakfast Casserole with its layers of eggs, spicy chorizo sausage, and peppers.

Whatever main course you choose, you’ll want to pair it with a side of Skillet Mexican Street Corn. It’s got all the spicy, creamy, sweet corn taste of Elote, cooked up in a skillet.

No Mexican meal is complete without a refreshing beverage like horchata or the horchata-inspired Coconut Cooler. Both would be delicious served with your chicken tostadas!

Let me know how my Chicken Tostada recipe turned out for you with a comment or recipe review below!

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This post was originally published June 3, 2022. It has been updated in format on April 29, 2026.

The post Chicken Tostadas appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.