Rice and Bean Tostadas ~
Layers of Tex-Mex toppings on crisp tortilla shells.
Kids and adults alike love this easy and simple handheld dinner!
Easy Weeknight Dinner
Between work and school schedules, travel, and family events, we’ve been running like crazy lately and burning out on restaurant food. Yesterday, we were actually at home and I was in the mood to cook dinner but didn’t want anything too time or labor-intensive. We needed quick and satisfying.
Tostada dinner to the rescue! This meal is a hit every single time.
I like these tostadas because they’re super simple to make and on the table in minutes.
Now that I think of it, this is really more of a method than a recipe. The only actual cooking involved is in the preparation of the rice and you could even bypass that step by using pre-cooked or leftover rice.
Also, since a tostada is really just a flat taco, you could technically take this recipe and turn it into tacos and no one will complain.
Ingredients for Rice and Bean Tostadas
You will need:
- 8 tostada shells
- 15-ounces canned refried black beans
- 1/2 recipe Taco Rice, or other prepared Mexican-style rice
- 16 ounces shredded iceberg lettuce
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Ingredient Notes
- Tostada Shells: Look for these in the Mexican foods section of your supermarket. If not available, you can make your own with fresh corn tortillas. Simply arrange the tortillas in an even layer on a baking sheet. Spray lightly with cooking spray and bake at 400°F for 5 minutes, or until crisp.
- Refried Beans: Personally, I prefer refried black beans but refried pinto beans are also tasty.
- Taco Rice Recipe: This is my go-to recipe for tostadas. It’s quick and easy to make with very few ingredients.
- Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is what I see most often in Mexican restaurants and it works well so we’re using it here too.
- Cheese: Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Monterrey Jack are all good choices for Tex-Mex fare.
- Tomatoes: Whatever variety you have on hand are fine, just make sure to remove the seeds and pulp.
- Cilantro: Or parsley for added color and freshness.
How to Make Rice and Bean Tostadas
STEP ONE: Arrange tostada shells on a flat work surface.
STEP TWO: Stir the refried beans until smooth. Spread 2 tablespoons of refried beans to cover the surface of each tostada shell.
STEP THREE: Spoon 2 tablespoons of prepared rice over the beans.
STEP FOUR: Top each tostada evenly with lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.
STEP FIVE: Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
More Tex-Mex Recipes You’ll Love!
- Taco Spaghetti
- Stuffed Anaheim Peppers
- Mexican Slaw
- Green Chile Rice and Black Bean Soup
- Mexican Rice and Black Beans
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Rice and Bean Tostadas
Ingredients
- 8 tostada shells
- 15- ounces canned refried black beans
- 1/2 recipe Taco Rice or other prepared Mexican-style rice
- 16 ounces shredded iceberg lettuce
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 Roma tomatoes seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Arrange tostada shells on a flat work surface.
- Stir the refried beans until smooth. Spread 2 tablespoons of refried beans to cover the surface of each tostada shell.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of prepared rice over the beans.
- Top each tostada evenly with lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.
- Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
Jacqui
We made these for a movie night with a big crowd, and it was so fun! Perfect for everyone’s taste, since you can just put your own together how you like it!
Katie
This rice and bean tostadas is incredible! Perfect Mexican recipe to mix it up on weeknights!
Claire
I didn’t try making this because I’m thinking some steps are missing and I have a question. There are no refried black beans in my area. Are these sold already SEASONED? Or is it like refried pinto beans and essentially plain bean paste?
I see no heating of anything. Not crisping up the tostada shells, no heating and seasoning of the beans or heating the rice mix…is this meant to be 100% cold with no seasoning the beans?
Don’t get me wrong, I love cold bean dip but those beans need some taco seasoning or something for me hot or cold. And tostada or taco shells need a quick bake.
Sometimes cooks leave out assumed steps so did I misunderstand?
thiswifecooks
Hi Claire ~ All the instructions are there. I used premade and already crisp tostada shells and included directions for making your own with corn tortillas in the Ingredients Notes section of the post. I also find refried black beans flavorful on their own but you could certainly add seasoning. This recipe is intended to be quick and easy and simple to adapt to personal preference. Hope this helps! 😊