Sweet Smoky BBQ Chicken Tostadas (Printer-friendly)
Crispy corn tostadas piled with sweet smoky BBQ shredded chicken, fresh toppings, and creamy drizzle.
# What You 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 and lightly toasted.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, honey or brown sugar, and smoked paprika. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is heated through and evenly coated, about 5 minutes.
03 - Arrange the warmed tostada shells on serving plates. Divide the BBQ chicken mixture evenly among the shells.
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 sweetness of honey balanced with smoky paprika creates a BBQ flavor that tastes like you spent hours over a grill.
- Everything comes together in under forty minutes which makes this one of my favorite weeknight wins.
02 -
- Do not skip warming the shells because cold tostadas are dense and chewy rather than shatteringly crisp.
- Stir the chicken constantly while it heats because BBQ sauce can scorch quickly once it starts bubbling.
03 -
- Taste your BBQ sauce before adding honey because some brands are already extremely sweet and you do not want cloying results.
- Shred the chicken while it is still slightly warm because cold chicken fights back and you will end up with uneven chunky pieces instead of beautiful strands.