Crispy Beef Tostadas with Pico De Gallo and Lime Crema

Craving something crunchy, savory and fresh all at once? These beef tostadas deliver big flavor with every bite. A crispy tortilla base is topped with seasoned ground beef, sautéed green peppers and onions and a blanket of melted cheese. Then comes the best part-a bright, chunky pico de gallo and a cool, zesty lime crema that ties everything together.

This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner that feels like a fiesta. The tostadas are baked until golden and crispy, then loaded with toppings for a satisfying meal that’s sure to become a favorite. Serve with extra lime wedges for a burst of citrus.

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Ingredients

1.5 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Long Green PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Tex-Mex PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Mexican Cheese BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in top position (use top and middle for 4 servings). Wash and dry produce. Halve, core and thinly slice green pepper crosswise into strips. Halve and peel onion; thinly slice one half. Finely chop remaining half until you have 2 tablespoons (for 4 servings, thinly slice both halves; finely chop a few slices until you have 3 tablespoons). Dice tomato. Zest and quarter lime.
2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and Southwest Spice Blend; cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 3-4 minutes (it will finish cooking in the next step). If there is excess grease, carefully pour it out.
3. Add green pepper and sliced onion to pan with beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender and beef is cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Add Tex-Mex paste and 1/4 cup water (1/3 cup for 4 servings). Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Season with pepper. Cover to keep warm.
4. While beef mixture cooks, drizzle tortillas with 1 tablespoon oil (2 tablespoons for 4 servings); brush or rub to coat both sides. Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer. Gently prick each tortilla in a few places with a fork. (For 4 servings, divide tortillas between two sheets; toast on top and middle racks, flipping tortillas and swapping rack positions halfway through.) Toast on top rack, flipping halfway, until lightly golden, 4-5 minutes per side. Tortillas brown quickly-keep a close eye.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine tomato, chopped onion, juice from half the lime and a pinch of salt and pepper. In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of lime zest to taste. Stir in water 1 teaspoon at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt.
6. Remove baking sheet with toasted tortillas from oven; carefully sprinkle with Mexican cheese blend and Monterey Jack. Return to oven and bake until cheese melts, 1-2 minutes. Divide cheesy tortillas between plates and top with beef mixture and pico de gallo. Drizzle with crema. Serve with remaining lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour?

Yes, corn tortillas work well. They may be smaller and crisp up nicely. Adjust baking time as needed.

How do I make this recipe dairy-free?

Use dairy-free sour cream and cheese alternatives. The rest of the ingredients are naturally dairy-free.

Can I prepare any components ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the beef mixture and make the pico de gallo and crema in advance. Toast and top the tortillas just before serving.