Sweet Smoky BBQ Chicken Tostadas (Printable version)

Crispy tostadas with tender smoky BBQ chicken, fresh toppings, and creamy drizzle for a satisfying Tex-Mex meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (rotisserie or grilled)
02 - 1 cup smoky BBQ sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Tostadas

05 - 8 corn tostada shells

→ Toppings

06 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
07 - 1 cup chopped tomatoes
08 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
10 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
11 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
12 - 1/3 cup sour cream

→ Optional Garnishes

13 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
14 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange tostada shells on a baking sheet and warm for 5 minutes until crisp.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, honey (or brown sugar), and smoked paprika. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through and evenly coated, about 5 minutes.
03 - Arrange toasted tostada shells on serving plates. Evenly divide the BBQ chicken mixture over each shell.
04 - Layer each tostada with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, red onion slices, shredded cheese, avocado slices, and fresh cilantro.
05 - Drizzle sour cream over each tostada. Add jalapeño slices and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The sweet smoky BBQ chicken comes together in one pan and tastes like you spent hours babysitting a grill.
  • Tostadas are the ultimate build your own meal, so picky eaters and adventurous ones can share the same table happily.
  • Using rotisserie chicken means dinner lands on the table in under forty minutes without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • Do not skip warming the tostada shells because cold shells are more prone to cracking and have a stale texture that ruins the whole experience.
  • If your BBQ sauce is very thick, add a splash of water or broth to the chicken mixture so it does not dry out while warming.
  • Assemble right before eating because even the sturdiest shell will soften under the saucy chicken and juicy toppings within minutes.
03 -
  • Spread a thin layer of mashed avocado directly on the shell before adding chicken to create a moisture barrier that keeps the base crispy longer.
  • Taste your BBQ sauce before adding the honey because some sauces are already quite sweet and you do not want cloying results.

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