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    Recipes » Bread

    Tostada Shells

    Published: Nov 5, 2019 · Modified: Feb 12, 2021 by Marissa Stevens · 34 Comments

    Gluten FreeVegetarianVegan

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    a stack of homemade tostada shells on parchment paper

    Make homemade Tostada Shells in minutes with this easy recipe! They're so snappy crisp that you'd never guess that they're baked not fried. And a technique that may surprise you means they are evenly cooked and never have curled edges.

    tostada shells stacked

    Those tostada shells piled into plastic sacks that you'll find on grocery store shelves have never appealed to me. How long ago were they fried? But, until now, I'd had mixed results making them at home.

    Jump to:
    • Pro Tip!
    • Serving Ideas
    • How to Make Tostada Shells
    • Recipe Video
    • Tostada Shells
    • 💬 Comments

    Pro Tip!

    Here's the trick: You invert an oven-safe wire rack over corn tortillas that are brushed with oil and arranged in a single layer on a baking sheet. The result: flat and perfectly crisp tostada shells. I can't take credit for the technique, it comes from the clever people at Cooks Illustrated. But I can verify that it works beautifully, though I did need to adjust the recipe.

    They called for baking the corn tortillas for 15-18 minutes, which led me to not one, but three batches burned to a crisp (I won't bore you with the details. 😉 ). These go from heavenly crisp to inedibly burned in a matter of seconds, so you need to keep a vigilant eye. I found that the best method was hot and fast, in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for a total of 8 minutes, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through.

    Serving Ideas

    Use these to make Pork Carnitas Tostadas, Chicken Tostadas, or mix and match toppings like Homemade Refried Beans, Carne Asada, Chicken Tinga, Pico de Gallo, and Easy Salsa Guacamole. They make a quick and satisfying meal and are a great way to feed a hungry crowd with toppings served family style.

    How to Make Tostada Shells

    Step 1: Arrange 12 corn tortillas in single layers on 2 baking sheets (6 tortillas per sheet). Brush tortillas on each side with avocado or other high heat oil.

    brushing corn tortillas with oil

    Step 2: Invert an oven-safe wire rack over tortillas in each baking sheet.

    inverting a wire rack over corn tortillas in a baking sheet

    Step 3: Bake in the upper and lower thirds of a 450˚F oven for a total of 8 minutes, switching and rotating baking sheets after 4 minutes.

    baking tostada shells in upper and lower thirds of oven

    Step 4: Remove from oven and let cool. Serve.

    Recipe Video

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    stacked tostada shells

    Tostada Shells

    Marissa Stevens
    It's easy to make snappy crisp baked tostada shells at home!
    5 from 15 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 13 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 12 tostada shells
    Calories 97 kcal

    Equipment

    • 2 rimmed baking sheets
    • 2 oven safe wire racks
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 6-inch corn tortillas
    • ¼ cup avocado oil or other high heat oil

    Instructions
     

    • Arrange oven racks to upper and lower-thirds of oven. Preheat oven to 450˚F.
    • Arrange corn tortillas in a single layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets, 6 per sheet. Brush one tortilla on both sides with oil; repeat with remaining tortillas.
    • Invert an oven safe wire rack over the tortillas on each baking sheet. Bake on upper and lower-third oven racks for 4 minutes. Switch and rotate each baking sheet and bake for 4 minutes more, or until crisp and golden brown. (Note that the tortillas will continue to crisp once they're out of the oven so keep a careful eye to not overcook.)
    • Remove from oven and let cool. Serve as desired.

    Notes

    1. Use tortilla shells made simply with corn, lime, and salt - no preservatives.
    2. Store leftover tostada shells at room temperature in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to one week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 48mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Cinco de Mayo, crispy, easy, gluten free, quick, vegan, vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lee says

      April 23, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      I made It my way with your Idea
      2 flower tortillas no oil
      I used instant pot trivets to hold them down
      middle oven 8minutes then turn 4 minutes at 450

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 27, 2023 at 9:26 am

        Hi Lee! I'm glad you found the recipe helpful.

        Reply
    2. Stephanie says

      August 14, 2022 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was genius. Worked like a charm, thank you!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 15, 2022 at 2:27 pm

        So glad you enjoyed these, Stephanie!

        Reply
    3. Jennifer says

      October 26, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Love the inverted rack! All perfect tostadas👍🏼 Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 27, 2021 at 10:13 am

        That's wonderful to hear, Jennifer! So glad you enjoyed these!

        Reply
    4. Calene says

      May 04, 2020 at 8:25 am

      Can't wait to try... can not find any of those ugly ones in the stores. I have been looking at how to do this... and they are pretty similar. Yours caught my eye... what doe the wire rack inverted over the top do? What am I not seeing?

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 04, 2020 at 8:45 am

        Hi there, Calene! The inverted rack keeps the tortillas flat as they crisp up. It's not essential, but definitely makes the tostadas easier to assemble and eat. Hope you love these!

        Reply
    5. Katerina says

      November 14, 2019 at 1:51 am

      5 stars
      What a fabulous trick, Marissa! I've never made tostadas or any kind of flat crispy breads at home before but I love knowing what's in the food I eat and I swear the kids would love these! Great idea for some weekend baking - thank you!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 14, 2019 at 11:04 am

        My pleasure, Katerina! I hope you and your kids love them!

        Reply
    6. annie@ciaochowbambina says

      November 12, 2019 at 11:51 am

      5 stars
      A great technique for perfectly crispy shells! Thank you for trying and trying and trying and trying, and sharing! Brava!!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:27 am

        It's so satisfying to finally get it right, lol! Thank you, Annie!

        Reply
    7. Kelly | Foodtasia says

      November 12, 2019 at 5:20 am

      5 stars
      These are fabulous, Marissa! I use lots of tostada shells - I eat them like giant nachos! What an easy and healthy way of making them. Brilliant tip!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:49 am

        Giant nachos!? I love how you think, Kelly. Thank you!

        Reply
    8. Neil says

      November 10, 2019 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      How easy are these tostada shells? Fantastic! And I just got a brand new oven today. Can't wait to give this technique a go! Homemade is always best isn't it?

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:49 am

        Always fun to get a new oven! I think you'll love these, Neil!

        Reply
    9. Valentina says

      November 09, 2019 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      What a fabulous technique. So easy. I will definitely be trying this. Now I want a tostada! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:50 am

        Love to hear that, Valentina. Thank you!

        Reply
    10. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

      November 08, 2019 at 2:53 am

      5 stars
      You're so adventurous! I've never baked any kind of tortilla and other thin crispy breads. Well, technically I rarely eat them, but this stack looks so appetizing that It'd disappear in no time, I swear! 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:51 am

        Ha! Love it. Thanks, Ben!

        Reply
    11. Cheyanne says

      November 07, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      OMG!!! I love this!! I bake corn tortillas all the time to make tostadas, but I've never tried the wire rack on top trick!!! This is brilliant!!! You can bet I'll be doing this next time!!! So so so clever! Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:51 am

        Wish I could take credit for the idea - it really works beautifully! Thanks, Chey!

        Reply
    12. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      November 07, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      I'm also never that excited about the ones in bags at the grocery store, Marissa! But now that I know the secret technique, I'm going to be making chicken tostadas pronto! These look fab!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:52 am

        woohoo! You know I love to hear that, Katherine. Thank you!

        Reply
    13. Kevin says

      November 07, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      How simple and easy to make these homemade! Genius idea on how to keep them nice and flat!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:52 am

        Thanks so much, Kevin!

        Reply
    14. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      November 07, 2019 at 5:02 am

      5 stars
      My local markets used to sell tostada shells, but for some reason they stopped carrying them Marissa. Never thought to make them myself. I'm so glad you shared this recipe! Pinned and I'll be trying for sure!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:53 am

        That's wonderful, Mary Ann! I hope you and your family love them.

        Reply
    15. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      November 07, 2019 at 4:25 am

      5 stars
      Easy peasy and so crispy! And now I'm craving some tostadas! Heck, I bet I'd eat these all on their own...forget the toppings! Hope you have a lovely weekend ahead, my friend 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:53 am

        Thanks so much, Dawn!

        Reply
    16. David @ Spiced says

      November 06, 2019 at 4:35 am

      5 stars
      I love tostadas! They're such a fun way to mix up taco night. And anything (anything!) can be used to top a good tostada. Excellent tip with the wire rack, Marissa. I'll have to file that one away in the 'kitchen hacks' folder in the old noggin. 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:53 am

        Love it, David! Thanks so much.

        Reply
    17. angiesrecipes says

      November 05, 2019 at 11:30 am

      They turned out fantastic! Your kitchen counter is so tidy while mine so chaotic!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 13, 2019 at 11:54 am

        Well it's tidy when we're shooting recipe videos anyway. 😉 Thanks, Angie!

        Reply

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