The easiest way to turn leftovers into something totally crave-worthy
There’s something about BBQ season that just feels like summer – warm evenings, a little smoky aroma in the air, and plenty of good food to go around. But if you’re anything like me, you almost always end up with leftover grilled chicken tucked away in the fridge. Instead of reheating it for yet another plate of BBQ, why not turn it into something fresh, crunchy, and completely satisfying?
Enter BBQ Chicken Tostadas: a quick, flavor-packed recipe that transforms leftover chicken into a totally new meal. These tostadas have everything you want in a weeknight dinner: they’re sweet and smoky from the BBQ sauce, tangy from the lime crema, and perfectly crunchy thanks to the crispy tostada base.
Tips & Twists
- No tostadas? Bake or air-fry small corn tortillas until crispy.
- Want it cheesy? Add shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack under the chicken before baking for that gooey, melty bite.
- Make it spicy. Mix a dash of chipotle powder or hot sauce into your crema.
- Meal prep hack: Store leftover crema and salsa separately in the fridge, they’ll make any lunch feel fresh and flavorful in seconds.
Ingredients
- Leftover shredded BBQ chicken
- ½ red onion, diced
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Juice from 1 lime (give or take)
- ¼–⅓ cup BBQ sauce, plus 1 tablespoon for the crema
- Tostadas or crispy baked tortillas
- ¼ cup sour cream
How to Make BBQ Chicken Tostadas
- Preheat your oven.
Set it to 350°F. You’ll want it hot enough to reheat the chicken and crisp up the tostadas without drying them out. - Prep your toppings.
Dice the red onion and Roma tomato, then toss them together in a small bowl with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. This simple topping adds a bright, zesty contrast to the rich BBQ flavors. - Build your base.
Place the tostadas on a baking sheet and scoop a generous spoonful of your leftover BBQ chicken onto each one. Drizzle with a little extra BBQ sauce to keep things juicy. - Bake until bubbly.
Pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes, just until the chicken is warmed through and everything looks a little caramelized on top. - Make your crema.
While the tostadas bake, stir together sour cream, 1 tablespoon of BBQ sauce, and a squeeze of lime juice. It’s creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet—the perfect drizzle to pull everything together. - Assemble and enjoy!
Once the tostadas come out of the oven, top them with the tomato and onion mixture. Drizzle over your BBQ lime crema and, if you’re feeling fancy, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or a few pickled jalapeños for some kick.
These BBQ Chicken Tostadas are my favorite kind of meal: easy, family-friendly, and totally satisfying. A little sweet, a little smoky, and full of texture, they’re the perfect excuse to fire up the oven (or air fryer) and reinvent your BBQ leftovers into something special.
Because around here, we don’t waste good food — we upgrade it.
