Healthy Chicken Tostadas
Posted: 01/06/26
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These 20-minute healthy chicken tostadas are a simple Mexican recipe packed full of authentic flavors! The tasty chicken tinga is quick to make and is a great easy weeknight meal, loaded up with all your favorite toppings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This baked chicken tostada recipe is a great option when you are craving Mexican food, but you are short on time. Chicken tinga is the basis of these tostadas and it comes to together so quickly and easily for a punch of flavor!
- These healthy chicken tostadas are great for picky eaters – put all the fixings in the middle of the table and let people build their own!
- The main thing that makes these tostadas healthier than other versions, is that the tortillas are baked rather than fried. They are still crunchy, but don’t contain the oil and fat of the fried variety. The tinga sauce doesn’t have any added sugar in and there is not a processed ingredient in sight! Each loaded tostada comes in under 300 calories.
Chef’s Tips
- Be sure to use corn tortillas, not flour for this recipe!
- All of the ingredients are gluten-free, just be sure if you or someone in your family is sensitive to gluten you get a GF tortilla.
- Loaded up with chicken tinga and refried beans, these tostadas are a meal by themselves. But, if you want to add a side or two vegetable fries would be delicious, as would our Cucumber Salsa, Mexican Street Corn Salad, and our Roasted Chili Corn Salsa.
- If you have any leftover chicken, keep it covered in the fridge for 2-3 days, it’s great to serve on a salad for lunch the next day!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a tostada and a taco?
There are definitely similarities between these two Mexican dishes, but the main difference is, is that tacos are folded and easy to eat with your hands, where as tostadas are built on a flat tortilla. A taco is a traditionally a snack food. The tortillas for the base of a tostada are traditionally fried.
How do you eat chicken tostadas?
Tostadas are a traditional Mexican street food and are meant to be eaten with your hands – they are messy and fun to eat! I won’t blame you if you reach for a knife and fork though!
More Mexico-inspired Dinners You’ll Love
- Vegan Birria Tacos
- Instant Pot Burrito Bowls with Chicken
- Creamy Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas
- Homemade Gluten Free Chili
- Low Carb White Chicken Chili
- Taco Pie Recipe with a Pre-made Pie Crust
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Healthy Chicken Tinga Tostadas
These healthy chicken tostadas are perfect for any night of the week, served with refried beans and your choice of toppings!
tostadas
Ingredients
Tinga Sauce
- 1 ½ cups salsa
- 1 chipotle pepper
- ½ tablespoon adobo sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Chicken
- 1 ½ cups cooked shredded chicken
Tostadas
- 1 can refried beans
- 8 corn tortillas
- oil to brush tortillas
- 2 avocados
- 1 Lime juiced
- Salt
TOPPINGS
- Fresh salsa to top
- Shredded lettuce to top
- Shredded cheese or crumbled queso fresco to top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Brush both sides of tortillas with a little avocado oil or spray with spray oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on a baking sheet. Bake 10-16 minutes total until lightly browned on edges and tortilla feels stiff, flipping every 5 minutes
- Blend all tinga sauce ingredients in a high speed blender. Once smooth, combine the sauce with the chicken in saucepan over medium heat, stirring until warmed through.
- For the guacamole, mash the avocado and add lime juice and salt to taste.
- Microwave the beans until warm and stir well.
Assembly
- Spread 1/4 cup beans on each Tostada, and sprinkle with salt. Then add about 1/3 cup of the chicken, followed by a sprinkle of shredded lettuce, 2 tablespoons of guacamole, and a sprinkling of salsa then shredded cheese.
Notes
Make it gluten-free: All of the ingredients are gluten-free, just be sure if you or someone in your family is sensitive to gluten you get a GF tortilla.
Leftovers: If you have any leftover chicken, keep it covered in the fridge for 2-3 days, it’s great to serve on a salad for lunch the next day!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 296kcal | Protein: 15g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Total Carbs: 30g | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Net Carbs: 20g | Vitamin C: 9.7mg | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 1146mg | Potassium: 598mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2.1mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
that sauce sounds fantastic . . i’m going to give it try for my next taco night (or tostada night 😉
Let us know what you think, Jennifer. 🙂
Love tostadas. These look amazing and so perfect!
Thank you, Jean!
I love how you’ve made such an appealing dinner (so beautiful, so healthy) and also made it so easy for us. Thank you! Love this!
Thank you!
Honestly, I think baked tortillas are better anyway. Less greasy.So this works so well for me!
We are so glad it can work for you!
These sound so easy and delicious! My family will love them. 🙂
We hope so!
I haven’t made tostadas in forever! These look so awesome, I love that they’re healthier! I can’t wait to try this recipe – I’m sure my kids will love it too 🙂
Yum! Thanks for the positive review. Let us know what your kids think of them!
I’m pinning & saving this one. These look perfect 🙂
Yay!
Tuesdays are for…tostatadas! Pinned this recipe and will make next Tuesday!
YESSS.
What a perfect change up for Taco Tuesday! Love that sauce – can’t wait to try that!
Thank you, Renee!
This looks so easy and delicious!
Thank you!