Tostadas with Refried Beans

The best Vegan Tostadas. Crispy tortillas layered with homemade refried beans and fresh veggies. A satisfying and easy to prep meal.

Close up of a layered tostada with refried beans spread on a tortilla with avocado, tomatoes, cilantro and onions on top.

Snack or meal, Tostadas are a favorite standalone treat. Crispy tortillas layered with refried beans and all the delicious toppings. And now, I’m sharing my favorite easy way to prep and enjoy them, so you can experience the magic too.

If this is your first time learning about Tostadas, they are the name given to dishes in Mexico that include a crispy toasted tortilla. The exciting part is that you can customize that tortilla however you want.

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Treat

  • Easy to make with simple pantry staples
  • A great lunch or easy snack idea to assemble
  • Easy to prep in advance
  • High in plant-protein thanks to the refried beans
  • A fun way to add in more veggies
  • Completely vegan, gluten-free and nut-free as written

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Corn Tortillas: To keep this recipe gluten-free we are using corn tortillas. You can also purchase commercially prepared tostadas as well.
  • Refried Beans: Make them fresh yourself or use a store-bought brand you really enjoy. Please note, not all refried beans are vegan. Make sure to read the ingredients or choose brands that offer vegetarian friendly options.
  • Avocado: Provides some healthy filling fats to our meal. You can always replace with a different vegan crema, sauce or vegan cheese of your choosing.
  • Vegetables: I love to use fresh sliced tomatoes, but you can add pickled cabbage, onions or corn on top.
  • Salsa: Use salsa or hot sauce to really help boost the flavor of your tostadas.
  • Cilantro: Adds a bit of freshness to each bite and helps marry all the ingredients together.

How to Make Vegan Tostadas

Pan Fry Tostadas

You can make tostada shells 2 ways, pan frying or baking in the oven. If pan frying, heat up about 1/4 inch high of oil in a pan and when hot add in your tortilla and cook for 20 to 30 seconds on both sides until golden. Place on a paper towel and continue until your tortillas are done.

Baked Tostadas

Preheat your oven. Coat both sides of your corn tortillas with oil. Place on a lined baking sheet and bake first for 5 minutes. Flip your tortillas then bake for another 4 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool while you prep your toppings.

Assemble Your Tostadas

Spread a layer of refried beans overtop of your crispy tortilla (tostada). Then, decorate your tostada with your prefered toppings.

Tostadas Toppings

Vegetarian Tostadas do exist, but are not as common in Mexico. However, by making it yourself you can experiment with as many vegan toppings as you like. Consider any of the below toppings:

Close up view of the top of a tostada covered in avocado, refried beans, tomatoes and cilantro.

Expert Tips

  • Allow the baked tortillas to cool for a few minutes before adding toppings. When they come out of the oven they will be slightly soft, so letting them have a minute or two to cool before topping will help crisp them up more.
  • If you are really pressed for time or can’t make your own Homemade Refried Beans, use store bought refried beans.
  • Adjust the toppings as you like them. Feel free to use your favorite toppings or diced vegetables over top your tostada. It’s yours to decorate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make homemade refried beans?

You can make them with fresh beans or canned beans. Use your cooked beans and add them to some sauteed onions and garlic then lightly mash until they are the consistency you like. For a full detailed recipe, you can find it in this recipe post.

Are tostadas gluten-free?

Tostadas are usually gluten-free as the shell is usually made using a corn tortilla. However, you can find versions made with wheat. Always double check ingredients if purchasing premade tostada shells.

Can this be made in advance?

You can make the refried beans, tostada shells and prep the toppings in advance. The refried beans will keep in the fridge for 5 days. Store the tostada shells in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Avoid assembling until it is time to enjoy. Prep a lunch box with all the toppings arranged like a lunchables. Keep the tostadas in a sandwich bag and when ready to eat, just assemble.

View of a tostada with a bite in it sitting on a speckled plate.

How to Eat Tostadas

Tostadas aren’t the most dainty food. Being piled high with ingredients, it can get messy very quickly if you aren’t careful.

My biggest tip when it comes to eating one is to hold it between both your hands and take a small bite from the edge. Once you bit into it, you can start taking similar small bites at each new edge you create. Taking smaller bites helps to reduce the chance of your tostada splintering and breaking.

If all else fails, just crack the tostada in half. Having an edge does help make it easier to eat.

More Vegan Lunch Ideas to Try

Print
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Close up of all the tostada layers including refried beans, avocado, cilantro, tomato and pickled onions.

Vegan Tostadas with Refried Beans

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  • Author: Catherine Perez
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

The best Vegan Tostadas. Crispy tortillas layered with homemade refried beans and fresh veggies. A satisfying and easy to prep meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups Refried Beans
  • 1 tbsp Avocado oil or high heat oil of choice
  • 8 Corn tortillas
  • 12 avocados
  • Lettuce, chopped
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Salt as needed

Instructions

  1. To bake your tostadas, preheat an oven to 400F. Brush a little high heat oil over both sides of your tortillas and place on a lined baking tray then place in the oven to bake for 5 minutes. Flip the tortillas and bake for another 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and allow them to sit and slightly cool for 3-5 minutes. They will continue to harden as they cool.
  2. Reheat your refried beans as desired.
  3. Spread your crispy tortilla with a few spoonfuls of refried beans, then garnish with the avocado, diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro or any other toppings as desired. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

If pan frying your tortillas, heat up about 1/4 inch high of oil in a pan and when hot add in your tortilla and cook for 20 to 30 seconds on both sides until golden. Place on a paper towel and continue until your tortillas are done. 

Allow the baked tortillas to cool for a few minutes before adding toppings. When they come out of the oven they will be slightly soft, so letting them have a minute or two to cool before topping will help crisp them up more.

If you are really pressed for time or can’t make your own Homemade Refried Beans, use store bought refried beans.

If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then let me know what you thought in the comments below! And if you loved it, don’t forget to rate it too. Feel free to follow on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for the latest nutrition tips and recipe videos.

 Catherine

This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase from those links. I only recommend and share products that I know, trust and personally use myself!

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