Taco night just got a crispier, crunchier upgrade with these Shrimp Tostadas. Crispy baked tostada shells are piled high with juicy shrimp, creamy Mexican street corn, beans, and avocado — making this an easy weeknight dinner that’s meal prep–friendly, picky-eater approved, and anything but boring.
1poundlarge shrimp40–50 count, peeled, deveined, and patted dry
3tablespoonsolive oildivided
1tablespoonhoney
½teaspoonchili powderplus a pinch, divided
½teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspoonpaprika
1 ½teaspoonskosher saltdivided
½teaspoonblack pepperdivided
2tablespoonsfresh lime juicedivided, plus more for serving
1tablespoonsalted butter
115-ounce can corn, rinsed and drained
2tablespoonsmayonnaise
2tablespoonschopped fresh cilantroplus more for serving
2green onionsfinely chopped
2tablespoonsCotija cheeseplus more for serving
10corn tortillas
115-ounce can refried black beans, rinsed and drained
½teaspoonground cumin
2ripe avocados
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Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, honey, ½ teaspoon chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Set aside to marinate for 10–15 minutes while preparing the remaining components.
1 pound large shrimp, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon paprika
Heat the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally but letting it sit undisturbed at times so it can char. Once the corn begins to pop and develop color, transfer it to a large bowl and let cool for 5–10 minutes to release steam.
1 tablespoon salted butter, 1 15-ounce can corn, rinsed and drained
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lime juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and a pinch of chili powder. Pour over the cooled corn and toss to combine. Just before serving, fold in the chopped cilantro, green onions, and 2 tablespoons Cotija cheese.
Place the tortillas in a single layer on one or two large baking sheets. Brush both sides with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake for 14-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crisp, lightly browned, and no longer soft in the center.
10 corn tortillas
Heat the remaining olive oil in a large cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Let excess marinade drip off the shrimp, then add them to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until lightly caramelized on the first side, then flip and cook for 1–2 minutes more, until cooked through and the tails begin to curl. Squeeze 1 tablespoon of lime juice over the shrimp before serving.
Add the black beans to a medium bowl along with 1-2 tablespoons water and the cumin. Microwave for 20–30 seconds, then mash until mostly smooth and spreadable.
1 15-ounce can refried black beans, rinsed and drained, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
In a separate bowl, mash the avocados with the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper until smooth.
2 ripe avocados
To assemble, spread about 2 tablespoons of the mashed beans onto each tostada. Top with mashed avocado, shrimp, and street corn. Finish with cotija cheese, additional chopped cilantro, and an extra squeeze of fresh lime juice, if desired.
2 tablespoons Cotija cheese
Notes
Street corn texture: For the creamiest texture, let the corn cool for a few minutes before stirring it into the mayonnaise mixture. Adding very hot corn can loosen the dressing slightly. If you’re short on time, you can mix it while hot and refrigerate to chill — the flavor will still be great.
Shrimp marinating time: Marinate the shrimp for 10-15 minutes only. Longer than that can make the shrimp overly sticky due to the honey.
Shortcut options: To simplify the recipe, use canned black beans as-is or swap in flavored canned beans. Store-bought guacamole and premade tostada shells can also be used to significantly cut down on prep time without sacrificing flavor.