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Pork Carnitas Tostadas are yet another way to enjoy slow cooker pork carnitas. When I’m not making Pork Carnitas Tacos with carnitas, it’s likely that we’re having these tostadas instead.
The trick to assembling a perfect tostada is to stack the crispy tortilla with just enough toppings so that you can lift it to your mouth and take a bite without everything toppling off.
I’m terrible at it.
I’m the same at a salad bar, building a mountain of lettuce, cucumbers, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots, green peas, corn, mushrooms, pickled beets and croutons that no mere mortal could balance all the way back to the table without a rolling rogue tomato or two. So when you assemble these, try to be realistic. Or don’t.
When I decided to bake the corn tortillas instead of frying them, I wasn’t sure if they’d be crispy enough. They were. These Tostada Shells are made with a method that might surprise you. They are perfectly flat and you’d never guess that they’re baked not fried.
If you happen to have leftover slow cooker pork carnitas in your refrigerator and a little tub of homemade refried beans (like we’ve had this week), you can whip these Pork Carnitas Tostadas up in about 15 minutes for lunch or dinner, serve alongside my Rice Cooker Mexican Rice or Mexican Cauliflower Rice for a light and hearty meal. Or even for breakfast – you could top them with an egg! (If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you already know that I want to top everything with an egg.) And for more leftover carnitas inspiration, check out my Pulled Pork Quesadillas and Pulled Pork Nachos!
Easy Carnitas Tostadas
Video
Ingredients
- 8 tostada shells
- 2 cups refried beans from a can or homemade
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or more
- 2 cups slow cooker pork carnitas or other pulled pork
- 1/4 cup leftover cooking liquid from carnitas or stock optional
Suggested toppings:
- shredded jack cheese
- slices avocado
- thinly shredded green cabbage
- cherry tomatoes halved
- sour cream
- chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
For the Carnitas
- Start by making Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas.
- If carnitas has been refrigerated, warm it by adding olive oil to a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add cold carnitas, cook and stir until it has warmed through and edges have crisp. Add cooking liquid or stock to moisten as desired.
For the Tostada Shells
- Make homemade Tostada Shells or use your favorite store bought shells.
For the Refried Beans
- Make Homemade refried beans or your favorite canned refried beans.
- Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over low heat, adding water or stock if beans are dry.
How to Assemble Carnitas Tostadas
- To assemble tostadas, spread each tostada shell with 1/4 cup refried beans and top with 1/4 cup carnitas. Layer with desired toppings and serve.
Notes
- Important note on timing! I like to prepare the carnitas, refried beans and tostada shells a day in advance of serving these so that prep and cooking come together easily. When calculating how much time you’ll beed, be sure to read through the whole recipe and decide ahead of time if you’ll make your own tostada shells and refried beans. Note that you’ll want to make the carnitas a day in advance or at least very early the morning you plan to serve these tostadas.
- Nutrition information is for 2 tostadas per person and does not include toppings.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Haha! I’m the same way when I go to a salad bar. I end up balancing everything in a precarious way…but I can’t resist all the good stuff! I’m the same way with tostadas. There are just many good things that need to go on top. 🙂 This version looks insanely good, and I’m totally on board with making a batch of these soon!
Love to hear that, David! Thank you!
This would be one dinner that would fly off the table at our house Marissa! They look totally delicious. I’m thinking they’d be great for the Super Bowl this year!
woohoo! I hope you’ll give these a try, Mary Ann!
I love the simplicity of your recipes! Thank you for sharing, you’re making my life easier!
What a sweet comment! Thanks, Stephanie. 🙂
I was just googling for tostada ideas using carnitas….and LOOK at the post that came up! 🙂 Made me so happy! Thanks for the idea!!! N x
haha, I love it Nagi! And re-reading this post I’m cracking up thinking of how you and I have the habit of overstuffing things. 😉
Marissa, I could have written this post! I did a whole series on using Pork Carnitas! And not only that, you reheat the carnitas the RIGHT way – on the stove, not under the broiler which dries them out and you just don’t get the same crispy golden bits. YOU KNOW YOUR CARNITAS! Hip hip hurrah!
I saw these on IG and had to come over and check them out some more! They look amazing!
Thanks so much, Sonali!
Ok I can almost taste these through your picture! It may be difficult to eat piled high but they look so beautiful that way. Your recent posts are inspiring me to make carnitas.
Thanks Christina! I think you should, it won’t disappoint I promise!
These are a total mouthful…but in the best way!
Thanks, Joanne. xo
Oh gosh…that first photo got me! These look delicious! Nice recipe!
Thanks, Annie!
Hehe topping just enough is definitely a talent. I’m so bad at that and I often put too much on them! 😛
I love this idea and what is better than dinner in 15 minutes! I think I’d have trouble spilling all that when I took the first bite but that’s what forks are made for, right?
Thanks, Maureen. And, you’re right, maybe next time I should try a fork! 😉
I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever succeeded at eating a tostada by hand without everything going EVERYWHERE. Forks are officially our tostada-eating default now. 🙂 These sound delicious! You have to love the richness of carnitas.
We need to switch to forks – no joke, the tostada pictured here ‘had a great fall’ when my husband took a bite. We got a good laugh out of it, but forks would certainly make for less mess. 🙂
oh these tostadas look fabulous!!! I am the same way at the salad bar! I don’t know why but I try to pile on as much as humanly possible. . I think it’s because I’m too lazy and don’t want to get up again 😛
I’m so glad I’m not alone! 😉 Some people seem to have so much restraint!
These carnitas look delicious! Wish I had some now…
Thanks, Norma!
I wish I was having this for lunch instead of a protein bar…
Thanks, Shashi! I wish I could make them for you!