Taco Bell Spicy Tostada (baked, vegetarian, gluten-free)

Taco Bell Spicy Tostada recipe with step by step photos. Spicy, delicious, crunchy Taco Bell Spicy 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, tomatoes, and chipotle sauce. The 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, Taco Bell uses pinto beans in all their recipes. 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 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 tbsp of Taco Bell sauce, I prefer hot or mild.
4. Top with shredded cheese.
5. Finish it off with chopped tomatoes and a drizzle of Chipotle Sauce.

Enjoy!

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Taco Bell Spicy Tostada

Spicy, delicious, crunchy Taco Bell Spicy Tostada is made on a baked tostada, not fried.

5 from 11 votes

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican-Inspired

Diet Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Vegan option

Servings: 10 tostadas

Calories: 240kcal

Ingredients

for the chipotle sauce

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 chipotle peppers
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp water add another tbsp if need me

for the refried beans

• 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1/2 white onion chopped
• 15 ounce can organic pinto beans roasted chili & lime
• 1/4 cup Taco Bell mild sauce
• 1 tsp taco seasoning

for the baked tostadas

• 3 tbsp avocado oil
• 9 corn tortillas

for the add-ons

• 1 tomato chopped
• 1 cup medium cheddar shredded
• 3 cups shredded lettuce
• 9 tbsp Taco Bell Sauce I prefer Hot/Mild

Build your Spicy Tostada

• 1 baked tostada prepared above
• 1 large dollop refried beans prepared above
• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 tbsp Taco Bell sauce, preferably hot/mild
• 2 tbsp shredded cheese
• 1 tbsp chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp 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 tbsp 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 186mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1244IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 2mg

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