Easy BBQ Chicken Tostadas
BBQ Chicken Tostadas are a quick and easy dinner recipe that is sure to be a family favorite, especially on busy nights. Shredded chicken, your favorite barbecue sauce, and cheese piled on corn tortillas plus a few minutes of prep time – what’s not to love?! Plus, they are gluten free!
Originally published on Oct 20, 2016
Guys, you know I always keep it real with you, and today is no exception.
As a food blogger, it’s pretty much impossible for me to look at a recipe from a cookbook or another website or blog and just make it as-is. The creative juices are always flowing, and somehow it is beyond me to leave well-enough alone.
So my food blogger tendencies make me a pretty crappy cookbook reviewer. But I have to tell you about the The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook written by my friend Mary of Barefeet in the Kitchen.
However, before I tell you about the cookbook, let’s talk about her BBQ chicken tostada recipe…
Barbecue Chicken Tostadas
Anything that combines barbecue sauce, chicken, and cheese is going to be a winner. This dish was no exception. First, though, you need some chicken…
- Make extra baked or grilled chicken breasts.
- If you are preparing roast chicken or slow cooker roast chicken, you can always make two.
- Grab a rotisserie chicken from the store.
- Mary suggests cooking a big bunch of boneless, skinless chicken in your slow cooker to use all week.
How to make Barbecue Chicken Tostadas:
- Now that you have your cooked chicken, shred it.
- Toss the shredded chicken in your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Pile the barbecue chicken on the tostada shells.
- Cover with cheese and bake.
- Before serving, drizzle on some more barbecue sauce.
It’s as simple as that. And let me tell you, they will be eaten just as quickly as they were made!
Recipe Tips:
- You can get store-bought tostada shells. But if you have corn tortillas, you can brush them lightly with little oil and bake for three or four minutes on each side. Works perfectly!
- You can make them with mozzarella, as per Mary’s original recipe. But they are equally delicious using sharp cheddar or pepper Jack cheese.
- Also, the recipe in the cookbook calls for green onions on top after baking. I skipped them because my boys don’t like them.
Why do I love The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook?
This cookbook is perfect for those crazy weeknights when you want to make a delicious and nutritious dinner for the family. But you have to work with the time you’ve got before heading out the door or tackling homework.
And sometimes when you have no time, you also have to work with what you’ve got in the kitchen because you can’t get to the store. I love that the recipes in The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook are incredible as written, but also can provide a jumping off point for wherever your inspiration takes you.
The chapters are broken down into how long it takes to prepare each recipe. There’s even a chapter for recipes that only require a few minutes of hands-on time, and then they are left alone to bake, simmer, or slow cook.
Plus it’s got sides, staples, and simples sweets. One extra bonus with all of the recipes in the book as well as on Mary’s site is that she gives gluten free options for everything, including flour substitutions in the baked goods!
What recipes are in The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook?
- For my little fish lovers, I made the Sweet and Spicy Salmon with Broccoli. It had so much flavor with just a few simple ingredients. I did steam the broccoli a bit before putting it in the oven because my family likes it a little softer.
- For taco night, I swapped chicken in for the Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Recipe (Hubby can’t eat much pork), and it was amazing. Plus, I was only making a couple of pounds of chicken and the recipe is for four pounds of pork. So I kept half of the seasoning mixture aside which I used on some ground beef for another round of tacos.
- And the Chocolate Chip Pound Cake is to-die-for! Mary’s gluten free substitutions are so spot-on that I actually used the ratios in this pound cake recipe to convert another recipe I found into this Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Cake.
Guys, I have so many stickers and post-its for other recipes I will be trying soon. Everything from Sweet Chipotle Chicken Bites and Korean Beef with Quick Asian Pickles to Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf and Never-Fail Blondies (I’m thinking of adding white chocolate chips and toffee bits).
I sent my mom the recipe for Cheesy Southwest Beef and Potato Skillet. She loves Tex Mex, and it’s basically a kicked-up version of the Beef Potato Skillet Supper we have loved for years. There’s a photo of every recipe, and they all look mouthwatering!
Where can you get this cookbook?
Make sure you head to the bookstore or Amazon to pick up your copy of The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook. Mary also has The Weeknight Dessert Cookbook and The Weekday Breakfasts & Lunches Cookbook. You have to try the Breakfast Tostada Stacks from that book if you love these tostadas.
What goes with BBQ Chicken Tostadas?
- Bacon Barbecue Ranch Salad would pair perfectly with its blend of sweet and spice.
- Barbecue and coleslaw go hand-in-hand, so try these with this Healthy Hawaiian Coleslaw.
- For more cheesy deliciousness, Cauliflower Tots is always a good idea.
- Some people have enjoyed topping them with Mango Salsa.
- The adults can sip on a Skinny Grapefruit Margarita and maybe the kids would enjoy Mango Lava Flow Smoothies.
What are more kid-friendly chicken dinner recipes?
- Mediterranean Chicken Pinwheels
- Cheesy Chicken Foil Packs
- Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls
- Chicken Enchilada Skillet
- Instant Pot Pineapple Chicken
- Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner from The Little Kitchen
- Sweet Chipotle Chicken Bites from Noble Pig
BBQ Chicken Tostadas Recipe
This recipe has been pinned hundreds of thousands of times. With reviews and photos everywhere on social media, you know this barbecue chicken tostada recipe is a winner. It’s one of the fastest easy dinner recipes you’ll ever make, and the entire family will love it. Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store, use up leftovers, or even make a new batch in your slow cooker. Then just grab your favorite barbecue sauce, cheese, and tortillas or tostada shells for a meal that comes together in minutes.
I hope you’ll leave a comment and give it a FIVE STAR rating or share a photo on this pin on Pinterest!
Easy BBQ Chicken Tostadas
Ingredients
- 8 tostada shells or 8 corn tortillas, brushed lightly with olive oil and baked for 3-5 minutes per side, until crispy
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 1/2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce, divided
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Mary uses mozzarella in the cookbook, but I have also used cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
- 3 green onions, very thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lay out the tostada shells (or baked tortillas) on two rimmed baking sheets.
- Combine the chicken and 1 cup of the barbecue sauce in a small bowl, and stir to coat.
- Divide the chicken between the tostada shells and top with the cheese (about ¼ cup on each).
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, just until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle with the remaining ½ cup barbecue sauce. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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Caymaniancas says
This is my second recipe I have tried and I was super excited. I do think though there is a salt issue – mainly because of bbq sauce but because cheese is also added. So for further chefs of this item keep it in mind. This one was extremely salty.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Since the recipe does not call for any added salt, the salt content is going to be 100% dependent on the salt you use in cooking your chicken, or in your choice of barbecue sauce and cheese. Feel free to cut back on the cheese or don’t add any seasoning when cooking the chicken so it balances out.
Lisa says
Tasty!!!
Crissy says
These were so easy and delicious! I used cilantro instead of green onion, Monterey jack cheese and served with salad! I love short ingredient lists for recipes! Yummy!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tostadas, Crissy! Thank you for your comment and for rating the recipe.
Janesa says
An easy and great mid week recipe! We added beans and rice as sides and a great meal!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Thank you, Janesa! Your sides sound like perfect choices to make this a complete, healthy Mexican meal. 🙂
MacKenzie says
What is a good option as a side to go with it!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Hi MacKenzie,
Possible sides to serve with the BBQ chicken tostadas might be a healthy garden salad and some Spanish rice.
Sara says
Why so much sodium?
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Hi Sara,
The sodium count varies depending on the ingredients you use. The nutritional database that I use to calculate the info just uses a generic BBQ sauce. Some of them can be very high in sodium. If you’re watching your sodium, you may want to look for a low-sodium brand, or make it yourself so you can control the salt. 🙂