Quick Chicken Tostadas Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes)
Make these easy chicken tostadas in just 20 minutes. Crispy shells topped with seasoned chicken, refried beans, and fresh toppings for a quick, family-friendly dinner everyone will love.
Easy Chicken Tostadas
If you need a quick and easy dinner recipe that everyone will actually eat without complaints, you need to try these Chicken Tostadas.
They’re crispy, loaded with flavor, and come together in about 20 minutes. And the best part? Everyone can build their own. Around here, that usually means less whining and more eating, which I’ll take any day.
This easy weeknight Mexican food is a great way to mix up taco night but is somehow even easier. No folding, no mess, just layer it up and dig in.
Recipe Snapshot
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 7 minutes
SERVINGS: 6
BEST FOR: Busy weeknights, quick family dinners, and easy DIY tostada nights
What Are Chicken Tostadas?
Chicken tostadas are basically open-faced tacos made on a crispy corn tortilla shell. Instead of folding everything inside, you stack layers on top of each other.
They usually start with refried beans, then seasoned chicken, cheese, and fresh toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.
What You’ll Love About These Chicken Tostadas
Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Tostadas
- Chicken (boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs) – the main protein, cooks quickly and soaks up all that seasoning
- Olive oil – helps the chicken brown and keeps it from sticking
- Water – helps create a light sauce with the seasoning
- Taco seasoning – adds bold flavor without extra work
- Tostada shells – the crispy base that holds everything together
- Refried beans – creamy layer that keeps the tostada from feeling dry
- Colby Jack cheese – mild and melty, perfect for this dish
- Iceberg lettuce – adds crunch and freshness
- Cherry tomatoes – juicy and bright
- Red onion – a little sharp bite to balance everything
- Sour cream – cool and creamy contrast
- Cilantro – fresh flavor that ties it all together
- Lime – adds a pop of acidity at the end
How to Make Chicken Tostadas (Step-by-Step)
- Preheat oven to 325ºF. Arrange tostada shells on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Set aside and start the chicken while the oven preheats.
- Add chicken to a skillet with olive oil and cook over medium heat. Cook for about 7 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Break the chicken into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Add water and taco seasoning. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Turn heat to low.
- Bake tostada shells for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer refried beans to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir, then heat another 30 seconds. Spread a thin layer of heated refried beans onto each tostada shell.
- Add about ¼ cup of chicken and sprinkle cheese on top.
- Layer with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
- Finish with a squeeze of lime and a dollop of sour cream.
The Best Way to Assemble Tostadas (So They Don’t Get Soggy)
This is where most people go wrong.
If you’ve ever had a tostada fall apart halfway through eating it, this is why.
The Right Order Matters
- Beans
- Chicken
- Cheese
- Fresh toppings
Example
- Wrong: lettuce first, then beans on top
- Right: beans first, then everything else
What Kind of Chicken Is Best for Tostadas?
- Skillet Chicken (This Recipe): Quick, flavorful, and ready in minutes. Perfect for busy nights.
- Shredded Rotisserie Chicken: A great shortcut when you need dinner on the table fast. Just heat it in a skillet and toss it with some taco seasoning.
- Crockpot Shredded Chicken: Perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
Favorite Toppings for Chicken Tostadas
Serve with a few of your favorite toppings. Being able to customize each tostada is what will make this meal perfect for the whole family.
- Refried beans
- Seasoned chicken
- Shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, cotija cheese)
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Red onion
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt for a healthier option
- Fresh cilantro
- Fresh lime juice (lime wedges)
- Hot sauce
- ​Salsa verde
- Pico de gallo
- ​Green chiles
- Green onions
How to Keep Tostadas Crispy
- Assemble right before serving
- Don’t overload with wet toppings
- Use thick refried beans, not runny ones
- Serve toppings separately
Chicken Tostada Variations
Switch things up depending on what you have on hand:
- Spicy chicken tostadas with jalapeños or hot sauce
- BBQ chicken tostadas for a fun twist
- Buffalo chicken tostadas with a drizzle of ranch
- Healthier version using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
- Low-carb option served over lettuce instead of shells
Make It a Chicken Tostada Bar
This is one of my favorite ways to serve this meal, especially when everyone wants something a little different.
Set out:
- Chicken
- Beans
- Cheese
- Your favorite toppings
Let everyone build their own.
What to Serve with Chicken Tostadas
Round out the meal with:
- Mexican rice
- Cilantro lime rice
- Black beans
- Corn salsa
- Street corn pasta salad
- Mexican street corn dip
- Tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, or queso dip
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Store all components separately
- Reheat chicken in the microwave or skillet
- Do not store assembled tostadas
Once they’re assembled, they’re meant to be eaten right away.
FAQs about Chicken Tostadas
Chicken Tostadas at Home
These chicken tostadas are the perfect meal for busy weeknights when you need something quick, satisfying, and full of Mexican flavor. With simple ingredients, melty cheese, and layers of flavor piled onto crispy shells, this chicken tostada recipe makes an easy weeknight dinner the whole family can enjoy. Let everyone build their own tostadas, and you’ve got a simple meal that feels fun, fresh, and always hits the spot.
Pin this recipe for later!
Quick Chicken Tostadas Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken (boneless skinless breasts or thighs) cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 8 tostada shells
- 16 oz refried beans heated
- ¾ cup Colby Jack cheese shredded
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes finely diced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 lime cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325ºF. Arrange tostada shells on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Set aside and start the chicken while the oven preheats.
- Add the chicken to a skillet and cook over medium heat in olive oil. Cook for 7 minutes or until the juices run clear. You want an internal temperature of 165° F.
- As you cook the chicken, break it into smaller pieces.
- Add the water and taco seasoning. Stir until the chicken is coated.
- Turn the skillet down to low.
- Bake tostada shells for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- To your tostadas, in order spread on a layer of heated refried beans, add ¼ cup chicken, and sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Top with the lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.
- You can add a dollop of sour cream on top.
Notes
Favorite Toppings for Chicken Tostadas
- Refried beans
- Seasoned chicken
- Shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, cotija cheese)
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Red onion
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt for a healthier option
- Fresh cilantro
- Fresh lime juice (lime wedges)
- Hot sauce
- ​Salsa verde
- Pico de gallo
- ​Green chiles
- Green onions
What to Serve with Chicken Tostadas
- Mexican rice
- Cilantro lime rice
- Black beans
- Corn salsa
- Street corn pasta salad
- Mexican street corn dip
- Tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, or queso dip
