Taco Bell Spicy Tostada recipe with step-by-step photos. Spicy, delicious, crunchy Taco Bell Tostada is made on a baked tostada, not fried.
As of August 13, 2020 - Taco Bell will be revamping its menu. I was super sad to see two of my favorite items on their "discontinued" list, including my long-time favorite 7 Layer Burrito and Spicy Tostada. I'm sure a lot of us Desis will be able to relate as many of us love the Taco Bell Vegetarian Menu.
Thankfully, I already have a recipe for their 7-Layer Burrito on my blog which actually tastes better than the real thing. So now, it's time to work on the Spicy Tostada.
What is Spicy Tostada?
A crunchy tostada that's topped with refried beans, lettuce, Taco Bell sauce, cheese, chopped tomatoes, and chipotle sauce. Essentially, these are bean tostadas. The spicy chipotle sauce is what makes this Spicy Tostada so damn delicious.
The best part is, it's only $1. So yeah, before August 13, I'll be heading to Taco Bell and loading up on the Spicy Tostada.
How to make Baked Tostadas?
For this recipe, I opted to bake my tostadas instead of using the store-bought fried ones for health reasons. Baking tostadas is super simple. All you do is brush both sides of a corn tortilla with avocado oil and bake it on both sides. That's it.
You can always use store-bought fried tostadas, but baking your tostadas is super easy and will save you fat and calories.
Pinto Beans or Black Beans?
Traditionally, you'll find more recipes on the Taco Bell menu using pinto beans. My suggestion is you use refried pinto beans in this recipe which can easily be found at Trader Joe's or your local grocery store.
Note - I didn't have pinto beans on hand so I ended up using black beans, however I recommend using pinto.
Can I make Spicy Tostada Vegan?
Yes!
- Simply replace the cheddar cheese with vegan cheddar cheese.
- For the Chipotle Sauce - use vegan sour cream instead of regular sour cream.
That's it!
Taco Bell Spicy Tostada is:
Copycat Taco Bell Spicy Tostada (discontinued August 13)
Scrumptious
Baked, NOT Fried
Delicious
Crunchy
Spicy
Gluten-Free (use GF tortillas)
Vegetarian
Vegan option (replace with vegan cheese/sour cream)
How to make Taco Bell Spicy Tostada recipe step by step?
Make the spicy chipotle sauce
1. In a food processor, add all the ingredients under Chipotle Sauce.
2. Blend. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
Prepare the refried beans
1. Heat up a pot on medium heat, once hot, add oil followed by the remaining onions you chopped up earlier. Saute for about 3 minutes – until the onions are translucent.
2. Dump all the refried pinto beans into the pot.
3. Stir the beans around.
4. Add Taco Bell Mild Sauce (their Hot Sauce works too). Mix.
5. Add taco seasoning.
6. Let the beans heat up. Once hot, turn off the stove. Your beans are ready.
Bake the Tostadas
1. Brush corn tortillas with avocado oil on both sides.
2. Place tortillas in a toaster oven at 400 degrees. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.
3. And now you have tostadas.
Build your Tostada
1. Spread refried beans over the tostada. Note - use refried pinto beans, I used black beans since I didn't have pinto on hand.
2. Top with shredded lettuce.
3. Now drizzle 1-2 tablespoon of Taco Bell sauce, I prefer hot or mild.
4. Top with shredded cheese.
5. Finish it off with diced tomatoes and a drizzle of Chipotle Sauce.
More Taco Bell recipes
Recipe Card
Taco Bell Spicy Tostada
Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Vegan optionIngredients
for the chipotle sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 chipotle peppers
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoon water add another tablespoon if need me
for the refried beans
- ½ tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ white onion chopped
- 15 ounce can organic pinto beans roasted chili & lime
- ¼ cup Taco Bell mild sauce
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
for the baked tostadas
- 3 tablespoon avocado oil
- 9 corn tortillas
for the add-ons
- 1 tomato chopped
- 1 cup medium cheddar shredded
- 3 cups shredded lettuce
- 9 tablespoon Taco Bell Sauce I prefer Hot/Mild
Build your Spicy Tostada
- 1 baked tostada prepared above
- 1 large dollop refried beans prepared above
- ¼ cup shredded lettuce
- 1 tablespoon Taco Bell sauce, preferably hot/mild
- 2 tablespoon shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon chipotle sauce prepared above
Instructions
Make the chipotle sauce
- In a food processor, add all the ingredients under Chipotle Sauce.
- Blend. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
Prepare the refried beans
- Heat up a pot on medium heat, once hot, add oil followed by the remaining onions you chopped up earlier. Saute for about 3 minutes – until the onions are translucent.
- Dump all the refried pinto beans into the pot.
- Stir the beans around.
- Add Taco Bell Mild Sauce (their Hot Sauce works too). Mix.
- Add taco seasoning.
- Let the beans heat up. Once hot, turn off the stove. Your beans are ready.
Bake the Tostadas
- Brush corn tortillas with avocado oil on both sides.
- Place tortillas in a toaster oven at 400 degrees. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.
- And now you have tostadas.
Build your Tostada
- Spread refried beans over the tostada. Note - use refried pinto beans, I used black beans since I didn't have pinto on hand.
- Top with shredded lettuce.
- Now drizzle 1-2 tablespoon of Taco Bell sauce, I prefer hot or mild.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Finish it off with chopped tomatoes and a drizzle of Chipotle Sauce.
Payal says
This was so easy to make and follow. Thank you very much for the recipe. My family devoured it all. Delicious Delicious…. Going to make it again and again….
Nikita says
This is as close as it gets for a copycat of the Taco Bell tostadas I have loved for years! A repeat recipe for sure around here, esp that chipotle sauce. Didn’t have to change a thing. Thanks!!
Kriti says
Thank you for the amazing recipe.
We all specially My kids loved it.. so it’s a win win 😊
I loved the idea of baking the tortilla 😍..rather than frying.
Thank you
Keith Anselm says
Those had been my two favorite Taco Bell items, too.
Anisha J says
I made this dish and it turned out super yummy. Used flour tortillas instead of corn because that's what I had in the pantry and it was such a filling lunch.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Brenda says
Can we not just buy them sauce chipotle already made?
honeywhatscooking says
You sure can. Use that instead, it'll be great. 🙂
Monisha Rosenfeld says
Love this recipe!
Have celiac disease so I used food for life gluten free brown rice wraps for the base!
So yummy and really love all of these recipes especially because I cant enjoy the taco bell orignals since they arent gluten free.
Everyone needs to try any of these recipes they are all great!
Megan says
Thanks so much for this recipe! At first I was so sad to hear that Taco Bell was getting rid of their Spicy Tostadas, but you made my day with this bomb recipe! Great job!
Hema says
Love this!!!! Sooo flavorful!
Janki says
This looks delicious and I can't wait to try it out! I'm so sad that Taco Bell is discontinuing these recipes!
Rita says
Wow so glad you came out with this since Taco Bell is discontinuing their spicy tostada next month. Loved that it was baked and healthy too. My husband loved the chipotle sauce on this!