Chipotle Beef Tostadas – crunchy tortillas topped with a flavor packed beef and veggie mixture. This is an easy last minute meal that feels a little more sophisticated.
There are so many ways to celebrate taco Tuesday without actually making tacos! If it’s not these tostadas, consider making cheesy chicken enchiladas, slow cooker burrito bowls or a batch of sheet pan fajitas.
Chipotle Beef Tostadas Recipe
This version of a classic Mexican dish made up of a crisp tortilla as the base and layered with toppings such as seasoned beef, veggies, cheese and shredded slaw is a flavor bomb you are going to love!
The heat in the beef mixture comes from chipotle chile powder, so if you want to make this less spicy, just use regular chile powder. There will still be tons of flavor and this recipe also sneaks some zucchini into the mix.
You might want to double this recipe since the leftovers are awesome! Don’t forget to squeeze lots of extra lime over the top, it really adds to the taste.
Ingredients for Chipotle Beef Tostadas
I recommend using ground chuck for the best flavor, which you are going to season with chipotle chile powder, white onion and salt. Fir-roasted tomatoes, pinto beans and fresh zucchini are going to bulk up this mixture and add to the flavor.
Once the meat mixture is ready to serve, pile it up high on individual tostada shells and top it with shredded cheese, finely chopped cabbage, extra onion and a big squeeze of lime juice.
How to Make Chipotle Beef Tostadas
This recipe could not be easier to put together and is as simple as making tacos.
You are going to cook your ground beef together with lots of yummy ingredients and pile it high on a tortilla sheel or stick with a taco shell if you prefer that option.
Garnish each shell with shredded cabbage, lots of lime and onion and you are good to go.
What’s the Difference Between Ground Chuck and Ground Beef?
Ground chuck is the beef that comes from front beef shoulders. On the other hand, ground beef is the leftover pieces after cutting the beef into roasts and steaks. This means that ground chuck comes from a particular part or from a special cut whereas ground beef comes from many parts or from other different cuts.
One of the advantages that ground chuck does have is a higher fat percentage than the ground beef from leaner primal cuts like the round or the sirloin (somewhere in the 15-20% range). A 3-ounce serving of ground chuck contains 66 more calories and 8 grams more fat than the same weight in ground round.
This is what your tostada will look like before adding the cheese, shredded cabbage and extra onion. Even the kids won’t mind the zucchini.
What to Serve With Tostadas
IF YOU DO MAKE SOMETHING FROM NOBLEPIG, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HOW YOURS TURNED OUT! TAG @NOBLEPIG ON INSTAGRAM WITH YOUR CREATION. DON’T FORGET TO RATE THIS RECIPE AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. ALSO FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FOR LOTS OF FOOD INSPIRATION AND A PEEK INTO EVERYDAY LIFE.
Chipotle Beef Tostadas
Ingredients
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 lb ground beef chuck
- 1 large white onion, minced
- kosher salt
- 1-1/2 tsps chipotle chile powder
- 1 (10 oz) can can Fire roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles or Mexican-style diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2 cups coleslaw mix or finely shredded cabbage
- juice of one lime plus lime wedges for serving
- freshly ground pepper
- 8 tostadas (flat crisp shell) or taco shells
- 1-1/2 cups (about 4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, half of the onion, 1 teaspoon salt and chile powder; cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned and the onion is tender, about 7 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, beans and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is just tender, about 6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss the coleslaw mix, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
- Divide the tostadas among plates and spoon the beef mixture on top. Top with the cheese, slaw and the remaining minced onion. Serve with lime wedges.
Nutrition
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Lea Ann (Cooking on The Ranch) says
I know I’m going to love this recipe! Everything about it is calling my name. Pinned.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Really looking forward to making these tostadas, love the kick of those fire roasted diced tomatoes!
Sheila G says
The flavors are incredible!! I am making these again over the weekend!
Mina says
This was so tender and delicious! The beef made the best tostadas and tacos we’ve had in a long time!