Easy Baked Salsa Chicken and Bean Tostadas: Your New Favorite Weeknight Meal
Welcome to your new favorite weeknight dinner! These Salsa Chicken and Bean Baked Tostadas are a frequent star on our family’s dinner table, and for good reason. They are incredibly simple to prepare, bursting with flavor, and offer a satisfying crunch that everyone, especially the kids, will love. If you’re searching for an easy, healthy, and customizable meal, look no further.
Tostadas, in general, are a go-to in our kitchen because they are one of those rare meals I know everyone in my family will happily eat. They offer a delightful canvas for customization, allowing me to easily switch up the toppings based on what ingredients I have on hand or what everyone is craving that week. We’re big fans of various tostada recipes, including these Turkey and Spinach Oven Baked Tostadas and these Salsa Verde Pork Tostadas, but these chicken and bean versions hold a special place for their sheer simplicity and deliciousness.
Why Baked Tostadas are a Weeknight Winner
Have I mentioned how quickly these tostadas come together? They are truly incredibly convenient for a busy school night. From prep to plate, you’re looking at under 20 minutes, making them a lifesaver when time is short but you still want a wholesome, homemade meal. Beyond their speed, the appeal of baked tostadas is multi-faceted.
Traditionally, tostadas are often fried, resulting in a crispy but sometimes greasy base. While there’s nothing wrong with tradition, my method of baking the corn tortillas offers a lighter, healthier alternative without sacrificing that essential crunch. Baking allows the tortillas to crisp up beautifully in the oven, achieving that perfect texture that holds up to toppings but is still easy to pick up and eat by hand. This makes them not only lighter but also less messy to prepare and incredibly fun for kids (and adults!) to assemble and enjoy.
Opting for baked tostadas means you avoid the splattering oil and extra clean-up associated with frying. Instead, you get a consistently golden and crispy shell, providing the ideal foundation for the savory salsa chicken and bean mixture. This approach truly keeps this recipe on the healthier side, aligning perfectly with a desire for wholesome yet delicious family meals.
Looking for more easy and healthy dinner ideas? Tostadas are a great starting point, but don’t hesitate to explore other simple chicken recipes too. The key is finding meals that fit your lifestyle without compromising on flavor or nutrition.
Embracing Consistency: A Personal Journey
Before we dive deeper into the deliciousness of these tostadas, I want to take a quick detour to talk about something that’s been profoundly impacting my life: consistency.
Last year, my friend Kristen inspired me to choose a focus word for the year. My word for 2015 was “Learn,” and while I didn’t learn how to crochet as I’d specifically mentioned, I absolutely learned plenty of other things throughout the year. Most importantly, I learned a lot about myself and what it truly takes for me to be a happier and more balanced person. That was a huge “woo hoo!” moment for me.
Moving forward to the present year, my word for this year became strikingly obvious to me a couple of weeks ago: Consistency. I desperately need more consistency in my life! I’m the queen of big ideas (at least in my head), but sometimes those ideas fall short of execution because I struggle with maintaining consistent good habits, effective time management, sustained motivation, and a few other things I can’t quite pinpoint right now. The pursuit of consistency isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, day after day, and making small, steady progress.
My Consistency Goals: Actionable Steps for a Balanced Life
To put “Consistency” into practice, I’ve identified a few key areas:
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Meal Planning: Simplifying Your Week
This is monumental for me and promises to free up so much brain space and precious time during the week. When meal planning is consistent, the stress of “what’s for dinner?” vanishes. I recently invested in this menu planner and, with the enthusiastic help of my kids, I’ve successfully mapped out my meal plan for the last two weeks. They love being involved in the process, which also increases their willingness to try new foods. They say 21 days makes a habit, right? I’m definitely on my way, and adding simple, family-friendly recipes like these Salsa Chicken and Bean Tostadas to the plan makes it even easier to stick to!
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Fitness: Sustaining a Healthy Routine
I’ve been a member of my gym for almost a year now, and I’m proud to say I’ve maintained a very consistent workout schedule, which feels absolutely fantastic. My goal is to keep this momentum going strong all year long. I’ve been challenging myself more, incorporating new exercises and pushing my limits. The Fitbit my husband and I received for Christmas (we got his and hers Fitbit Charge HRs) has been an invaluable tool, helping me track my daily activity, sleep patterns, and overall progress, further fueling my motivation.
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Time Management: Maximizing Productivity at Home
Blogging and working from home can be incredibly challenging if you’re not serious and consistent about how you manage your time. At least, that’s certainly the case for me. I’m actively working on creating a flexible yet structured work “schedule” with dedicated blocks of time for writing, photo editing, social media engagement, recipe development, cooking, and administrative tasks. A major focus is to stay off social media (looking at you, Facebook!) and stop wasting precious time that could be spent productively. With the constant juggle of home life, work responsibilities, and now managing school schedules, I have to be more protective and intentional with my time than ever before.
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Gratitude: Cultivating a Positive Mindset
This goal, I believe, speaks for itself. Practicing gratitude consistently, whether through a daily journal, silent reflection, or simply acknowledging blessings, has a profound impact on overall well-being. It helps shift perspective, reduces stress, and cultivates a more positive and resilient mindset, which in turn supports consistency in all other areas of life.
Choosing a Focus Word is similar to setting New Year’s resolutions, but for me, it has provided a more holistic framework for accountability and reflection throughout the entire year. Do you have a Focus Word? Are you striving for more Consistency in your own life? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Talk to me!
If you’re also working on being more Consistent in your meal planning, just like me, then please consider adding these Salsa Chicken and Bean Tostadas to your menu this week! You and your family are truly going to love them. They’re a testament to how easy and delicious consistent home cooking can be.
Have a great week, and happy cooking!
Print Recipe
Salsa Chicken and Bean Baked Tostadas
Author: Aggies Kitchen
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 10 tostadas 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Oven
Cuisine: Mexican
These Salsa Chicken and Bean Baked Tostadas are a simple, delicious, and quick family dinner perfect for any night of the week. Baking the tortillas makes them lighter and healthier than traditional fried versions, while still delivering that satisfying crispness.
Ingredients
- 2 heaping cups shredded chicken (I often use rotisserie chicken for speed, or prepare this all-purpose slow cooker chicken)
- 1 cup your favorite jarred salsa
- 1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Pinto Beans, rinsed and thoroughly drained
- 10 corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (or cheddar, Monterey Jack)
Suggested Toppings (customize to your preference!):
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped tomato
- Chopped green onion
- Fresh chopped cilantro
- Sliced or mashed avocado (or guacamole)
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Your favorite hot sauce or a drizzle of lime juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray two baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the corn tortillas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, jarred salsa, and rinsed and drained pinto beans. Stir well to ensure the chicken and beans are evenly coated with the salsa.
- Place approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of the chicken and bean mixture onto the center of each corn tortilla. Sprinkle generously with your desired amount of shredded Mexican blend cheese.
- Bake in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 12-14 minutes, or until the tortillas are golden and crisp around the edges, and the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly.
- Carefully remove the tostadas from the oven. Serve immediately with an array of your favorite toppings!
More Shredded Chicken Ideas and Mexican-Inspired Recipes
If you love the versatility of shredded chicken, you’re in luck! It’s a fantastic ingredient for quick meals. Check out these 20 Healthy Recipes Using Shredded Chicken for even more inspiration.
For those who can’t get enough of vibrant, flavorful Mexican-inspired cuisine, be sure to follow my Pinterest board dedicated to all things fiesta food!
Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Mexican Recipes {Fiesta Food!} on Pinterest.