You know, there’s something magical about coming home to the scent of dinner already cooking—especially when it’s as vibrant and delicious as these slow cooker chicken tostadas. It’s like a fiesta in a pot, with tender chicken just begging to be piled high on crispy tostadas. I once tried this recipe on a whim during a busy week, and it quickly became a family favorite—who knew dinner could be so effortlessly delightful?
Steps
- Prepare the chicken by following the specified instructions. Heat a quarter-inch of oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for the tostada shells. Check oil readiness by dipping a shell tip in; if it sizzles, it’s hot enough.
- Add a tortilla to the skillet and cook until the bottom is golden. Use metal tongs to flip the tortilla, cooking the other side until crisp and golden. Place cooked tortillas on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining tortillas, adding oil as needed.
- Alternatively, for baked tortillas, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of the tortillas with about 2 tablespoons of oil. Arrange them in a single layer on two cookie sheets.
- Bake the tortillas for 8-10 minutes, turning them halfway through, until crisp and lightly golden. Once ready, spread each warm shell with refried beans.
- Top with prepared, shredded chicken, followed by cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and any other desired toppings. Serve immediately for best results.
Ingredients
- Crisp tortilla shells
- Refried beans (homemade or canned, with optional additions of chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and salsa)
- Slow cooker spiced chicken, shredded
- Shredded cheese
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Avocados
- Optional toppings: Chopped red or green onions, cilantro, fresh limes for juicing, cilantro lime ranch dressing, hot sauce
- Oil for frying tortillas (approximately 2 tablespoons for baking, or enough to fill 1/4 inch in a skillet for frying)
Nutritional Values
Calories 3768 | Calories from Fat 1728 | Fat 192g | Saturated Fat 80g | Cholesterol 952mg | Sodium 10312mg | Potassium 7640mg | Carbohydrates 160g | Fiber 72g | Sugar 40g | Protein 344g | Vitamin A 29848IU | Vitamin C 88mg | Calcium 1728mg | Iron 16mg
FAQ
- Can I use a different type of meat instead of chicken for the tostadas?
- Absolutely! You can substitute the slow cooker chicken with other meats like shredded beef or pork. Just ensure it’s well-seasoned to complement the other toppings.
- How do I make the tostada shells crispy?
- To achieve crispy tostada shells, heat about 1/4 inch of oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry each tortilla until both sides are golden and crisp. Alternatively, you can brush the tortillas with oil and bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until they are crisp and lightly golden.
- What are some optional toppings I can add to my chicken tostadas?
- You can customize your tostadas with toppings like chopped red or green onions, cilantro, fresh lime juice, cilantro lime ranch dressing, hot sauce, fresh salsa, or avocado. Feel free to add any other toppings you enjoy.
- Can I use canned refried beans, and how can I enhance their flavor?
- Yes, canned refried beans can be used. To enhance their flavor, heat them in a saucepan and add a few dashes of chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, along with a few tablespoons of salsa. You might also want to add a few tablespoons of water to thin them out if needed.
- What is the nutritional content of a serving of chicken tostadas?
- Each serving of chicken tostadas contains approximately 471 calories, with 24g of fat, 43g of protein, and 20g of carbohydrates. It also provides essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron.
Tips
- For extra crispy tostada shells, you can either fry them in hot oil or bake them in the oven. If frying, ensure the oil is hot enough by testing with the tip of a tortilla; if it sizzles, it’s ready. For baking, brush both sides of the tortillas with oil and bake at 400°F, flipping halfway through.
- Enhance the flavor of canned refried beans by heating them with chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a bit of salsa. If they are too thick, thin them out with a few tablespoons of water.
- To ensure the cheese melts nicely, layer it over the warm chicken right after adding it to the tostada. This will allow the cheese to melt slightly, adding a delicious texture to the dish.
- Customize your toppings based on personal preference and what you have available. Popular choices include lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and hot sauce. Feel free to get creative and add any other toppings you enjoy.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker – Essential for cooking the spiced chicken.
- Non-stick Skillet – Needed for frying tostada shells.
- Metal Tongs – Useful for flipping tortillas while frying.
- Baking Sheet – Used for transferring fried tortillas or baking them.
- Pastry Brush – For brushing oil on tortillas before baking.
- Cookie Sheets – Needed if you opt to bake the tortillas.
