Festive Ground Beef Tostadas
A Red and Green Holiday Feast
Festive Ground Beef Tostadas are a flavorful, slightly spicy, and saucy ground-beef delight simmered with enchilada sauce, chipotle peppers, and classic Mexican seasonings. This is perfect as a DIY tostada bar for your next gathering!
One thing I love about this recipe is how flexible it is. You can make the tostada meat on the stovetop, you can simmer it in the slow cooker, or you can prepare it ahead of time and freeze it to reheat when you need it.
It’s a recipe that holds well, reheats beautifully, and works great for serving a group, especially when people are eating at different times throughout the day like in households with a new baby, someone recovering from illness, or families going through a difficult life event.
If you are looking for a dish to bring a friend in need, this is it. Pair it with some tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole.
This works because people can eat it as a snack or as a meal. Bring extra lettuce for those that may be avoiding carbs!
A Thoughtful Gesture For The Holidays
This is a wonderful dish to drop off to someone who could use a little holiday comfort. It’s festive, nourishing, and easy for people to assemble whenever they’re ready to eat.
This is the perfect combination of thoughtful and practical.
Whether you’re planning a big holiday dinner, a relaxed December 26th gathering, or just want something cozy and colorful for the season, these Ground Beef Tostadas fit right in. And if you want to elevate the whole experience, offer a variety of salsas and toppings so everyone can customize their plate.
Feliz Navidad Tostada Night, A Festive (and Easy!) Holiday Meal Idea
I decided to make these Ground Beef Tostadas because the red, white, and green colors felt so festive for Christmas, and once I saw everything together I instantly thought, “Why not turn this into a full Feliz Navidad theme?”
What started as a simple tostada idea spiraled into a whole menu that would be perfect for a casual holiday gathering, a family movie night, or even a post Christmas party.
I’m having my family over on December 26th, and while I originally planned on doing pizza and pierogies, I’m now seriously considering switching it up and serving a fun, semi Americanized Mexican spread because the colors and flavors just fit the season so well.
Here are the other recipes that I was thinking about serving with these Festive Ground Beef Tostadas
- Crispy Chicken Tacos
- Homemade Guacamole
- Homemade Salsa
- Buttery Quesadillas with Warm Salsa
- Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Unique Ingredients
This Goya Adobo Seasoning is what I use in this recipe. I use it in a lot of cooking as it is an all purpose seasoning.
You can find it in most stores or on Amazon.
This tomato bouillon with chicken is another ingredient that I keep on hand in my pantry. It is great in soups and stews as well.
I like the flavor it adds to these Beef Tostadas.
These are the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce that I use, but there are many brands on the market. Pay attention to the label as some will be labeled “HOT.”
When they say that they are hot, trust the can, they are! When they do not say hot, they still have some spice to them, but they will not burn your mouth.
Festive Ground Beef Tostadas Recipe
These Ground Beef Tostadas feature seasoned ground beef simmered on the stovetop with enchilada sauce, chipotle peppers in adobo, green chilies, and warm spices until rich and savory. The mixture can be made ahead, cooked in the slow cooker, or frozen for later making it perfect for busy holiday cooking or easy entertaining. Spoon the saucy beef over crisp tostada shells and finish with shredded lettuce, Cotija cheese, sour cream, and your favorite salsa for a festive, build-your-own meal.
Ingredients
- FOR THE BEEF:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 1 (14 oz) can red enchilada sauce
- 1 (7 oz) can chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce (mild or spicy per preference)
- 1 small can diced green chilies
- ½ cup water (plus more as needed)
- 2 teaspoons Goya Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning con pimienta (or to taste) *pictured in post of you are not familiar
- 2 to 3 teaspoons tomato bouillon with chicken *pictured in post before recipe card
- 2 teaspoons onion powder (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking oil of your choice (a couple of teaspoons)
- FOR SERVING:
- 1 package tostada shells
- Crumbled Cotija cheese (or cheese of choice)
- 3 to 4 cups shredded lettuce
- Sour cream
- Salsa (The Tipsy Housewife salsa recommended, linked in the post before the recipe card)
Instructions
- Sauté the Onion. Add a couple teaspoons of cooking oil to a large skillet. Add diced onion and cook until softened.
- Brown the Beef. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook fully, breaking it into a fine crumble as it cooks.
- If using very lean beef, you may not need to drain.
- If using 85% or lower, drain the excess fat.
- Season the Beef. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, Goya Adobo seasoning, tomato chicken bouillon, black pepper, and remaining dried seasonings. Sauté everything together for about 3 minutes.
- Add Sauces and Simmer. Add the red enchilada sauce, diced green chilies, and the entire can of chipotle peppers in adobo. Add 1/2 cup water.
- Every can of chipotles is different, if the mixture seems too thick, add another 1/2 can of water.
- There should be enough liquid to lightly simmer, but it should not be soupy.
- Simmer the Beef Mixture. Bring to a simmer, leave uncovered, and cook on low for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should mostly evaporate and the beef should become rich, savory, and saucy, not dry.
- Crockpot Option. Brown the meat and onions first, then transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, then switch to Warm for serving.
- Assemble the Tostadas. Warm tostada shells if desired. Top each shell with the beef mixture, then set up a toppings bar so everyone can choose their own additions. Recommended toppings: shredded lettuce, sour cream, Cotija cheese, and salsa.
Notes
- This beef mixture freezes beautifully if you want to make it ahead.
- Add more or less chipotle depending on desired heat level.
- This dish is naturally festive with its red and green colors, perfect for a casual Christmas season meal.