Easy Homemade Tostada Shells Recipe

Last Updated on July 7, 2024 by Catrina

If you love tostadas as much as I do, then you might be wondering how to make these delicious crispy tortillas at home. Making homemade tostada shells is easy! Here I show you two cooking methods…how to make fried and baked tostada shells at home in less than 15 minutes!

Tostadas are a family favorite here at my house. They make for an easy weeknight meal that is not only fast to put together but also totally customizable with your favorite toppings. I usually buy my tostadas from the grocery store, but lately, I have started making my own tostada shells at home! Making these at home has a couple advantages: 

• I can put slightly stale or leftover corn tortillas to good use (chilaquiles is another great recipe for using up stale corn tortillas).
• I can control the cooking process by deciding whether to bake or fry the shells

What does the word “tostada” mean exactly?

Tostada, essentially means “toasted”. In Spanish, this word is used to describe any food that is toasted, from pan tostado (toasted bread or simply toast) to nuez tostada (toasted nuts). But the word tostada by itself almost inevitably refers to a toasted tortilla.

What ingredients do you need to make homemade tostadas?

You only need 2 ingredients to make perfectly crispy tostada shells at home: 

• Corn tortillas
• Oil

Be sure to check the recipe card for specific quantities. 

Substitutions and variations

Tortillas

Tostadas are traditionally made with corn tortillas, not flour tortillas, so there really isn’t a substitute that you can make here. The size of the tortilla, however, can be varied. I usually use a tortilla about 6 inches in diameter. You could use a smaller or larger corn tortilla if desired. 

Oil

If you are frying your tostada shells, then I would recommend a mild frying oil like canola or vegetable oil. If you are baking your tortillas, use a cooking oil spray. I typically use a canola oil spray, but you can use whatever you have on hand. If you don’t have spray cooking oil, you can lightly brush the corn tortillas with oil before baking.

Flavors and spices

If you want to add a bit more oomph to your tostadas, you could up the flavor by adding spices like chili powder, garlic power, dried onion, cumin, or a mix of spices to your corn tortilla. You could add these spices prior to baking or as soon as they come at the of the hot oil for the fried version.

How to make homemade tostadas step-by-step

Making your own tostadas at home is easy! Here I will show you 2 methods for making tostadas, both methods will have your homemade tostadas on your table in under 15 minutes!

Fried version

Start by heating your oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add one corn tortilla to the oil and allow to fry for 15-20 seconds. Flip the tortilla and cook the second side for another 15 seconds or until golden brown. Using tongs or a spatula, remove the fried corn tortilla from the hot oil and allow any excess oil to drain off before placing the tortilla on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any remaining oil. Repeat this process for each additional tortilla. Allow the homemade tostadas to cool before using.

Baked version

Start by pre-heating your oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking oil and place the tortillas in a single layer on the baking sheet. It is important not to overlap the tortillas so they bake evenly into a crunchy tostada shell. Lightly spray the tops of the tortillas with cooking oil. Once the oven is preheated, bake the corn tortillas for 10 minutes, or until crispy. The tortillas might puff up and should be a slightly toasty brown color. You will want to keep an eye on these since each oven cooks differently!

Remove from the oven and serve warm or at room temperature. 

It’s hard to tell in the above pictures which is the uncooked and baked version of these tortillas. The frying method will produce a more golden brown color than the baked method.

FAQs

How do I store homemade tostadas?

Once your tostadas have cooled to room temperature, simply place them in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Store them on the counter or at room temperature for up to 1 week. Personally, I prefer to store my tostadas in a plastic airtight container to help prevent the tostadas from breaking.

What can I use tostadas for?

What you can do with a tostada is only limited to your imagination. Here in Central Mexico, we eat tostadas with a variety of toppings. Picadillo, chicken tinga, homemade refried beans, or guacamole are some of our favorites.

You can layer on the ingredients like warm refried beans, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and salsa for the ultimate all-in-one meal.

If you are having a get-together, why not create a tostada bar and allow guests to build each tostada with their favorite Mexican toppings? This is an easy variation on a taquiza or taco buffet.

What’s great about tostadas is that they can accommodate all sorts of different diets. Carnivores can make ground beef or chicken tostadas. Why not use up that leftover rotisserie chicken in your fridge for a quick tostada topping? 

Vegetarians and vegans can easily make their tostadas with pinto, Peruvian, or black beans and other plant-based ingredients. 
Some Mexican dishes, like huevos rancheros or huevos motuleños, use a fried corn tortilla (or tostada) as the base of the recipe. Layer the tostada with refried beans, cheese, a fried egg, and salsa to create this traditional breakfast food. The best toppings are whatever your favorites are. Just let your imagination go wild! 

Related recipes

If you are short on inspiration for your tostadas, check out the recipes below for some ideas!

Homemade salsa

No tostada is complete, in my humble opinion, without a delicious homemade salsa to turn up the heat! Check out these easy salsa recipes that you can make at home!

Did you enjoy making your own tostadas at home? I would love to hear how your tostadas turned out in the comments below!

(The below nutrition label is included as a courtesy. Our terms and conditions explain our nutrition policy.)

Homemade fried tostada shells

Homemade baked tostada shells