Easy Ground Beef Tostadas with Homemade Adobo Sauce

I love these ground beef tostadas for an easy weeknight meal! This is an easy dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Each year, we buy a quarter beef from a family friend. Having high quality beef in the freezer is a huge win for me! But, it means that we end up eating a lot of the same things; spaghetti, beef tacos, hamburgers and sliders! I developed this ground beef tostada recipe to add a fun twist to our typical taco night. 

Mexican food is ALWAYS welcome in our home, and lucky for me, it’s usually quick enough that I can pull off on busy weeknights. This beef tostadas recipe is savory, a bit spicy and just perfect for family dinner. Instead of using a traditional taco seasoning packet, I simmered the ground beef in a fragrant sauce made with enchilada sauce, adobo sauce, lime juice and spices. The result? A rich, smoky beef taco filling that my family absolutely loved!

Now, I know that tostadas are basically just flat taco shells, but hear me out! You eat them differently than a taco, and there’s extra room to pile them up with the best tostada toppings, so we thought this recipe was a good change from our normal beef tacos. 

​Ingredient Substitutions

This ground beef tostada recipe is versatile, and there are plenty of substitutions! I think the best recipes are the ones where you can use what you already have. Here are a few suggestions!

• You do not have to buy tostada shells! You can make your own using corn tortillas. Just pan fry them in shallow oil, or bake on a baking sheet until crispy. You can also use flour tortillas if that’s what you have. 
• Feel free to substitute ground turkey, ground pork or ground chicken for a leaner option. 
• If you can’t find the canned chipotles in adobo, substitute one tablespoon of ground chipotle powder. 
• Substitute any neutral tasting oil for the olive oil.
• Feel free to use fresh garlic cloves instead of the garlic powder. You will need one minced clove.

If you’re like me and you have a ton I ground beef to use, I have more suggestions! Try out this Meat Pie recipe, Big Mac in a Bowl recipe, Beef Rice Skillet, Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders with Garlic Butter and my Beef Pan Fried Noodles with Garlic and Cabbage! 

Serving Suggestions

You can top these Adobo Beef Tostadas however you like. I love to top them with the authentic Mexican topping tacos; a squeeze of lime, some chopped white onion, cilantro and Mexican crema or queso fresco.

But, they’re perfect with other toppings, like pico de gallo, salsa verde, lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, homemade taco sauce, and sour cream!

​For extra protein, add warmed up black beans or a thin layer refried beans to the tostada before you add the meat! 

For side dishes, I recommend my Cilantro Lime Brown Rice, Cilantro Lime Slaw or these delicious creamy Esquites. I especially recommend the coleslaw! The light, acidic bite of the slaw nicely balances the deep, smoky flavor of the adobo beef.

I think these ground beef tostadas are also great as an appetizer! If you go that route, consider adding tortilla chips, fresh salsa and queso dip!

Storing Leftover Ground Beef 

If you have leftover taco meat, store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days! You may need to add a splash of water to the beef when reheating to help the sauce loosen back up. 

I recommend storing the taco meat in separate containers from any leftover tostada toppings. 

Having leftovers is definitely not a bad thing. Leftover taco meat is awesome on nachos or in a rice bowl!