The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Buy Every Single Time I Go

When I was preparing for the arrival of my second child, meal planning took on a whole new level of importance. I was exhausted from the pregnancy, working full-time, and taking care of a kindergartener who was home from school for much of the year due to the pandemic. As a result, I was always looking for easy, nutritious dinner ideas that also felt fun.

One of my family’s favorite staple dishes at the time was a riff on a no-fuss Bon Appétit recipe for chickpea and chorizo tostadas that I paired with a creamy lime-cilantro yogurt base and rudimentary slaw. It was an easy lift for a tired, nauseous pregnant person and easy to multiply for weekly meals. For that reason, it also became one of my top freezer-friendly postpartum dishes.

It was almost perfect. The problem was that we’d never finish the larger bag of grocery store tostadas. The shells staled quickly, and we’d have to toss any that remained and buy a fresh package for our next meal. So when I discovered Maizada Corn Tostadas at Dollar Tree, it was the perfect solution to my problem.

Why I Love Dollar Tree’s Maizada Tostadas

At just $1.25 for a package of 22 tostadas, these crispy corn discs are the ideal number for two family meals (62.5 cents per meal with no waste!) and have since become a pantry staple. I now typically buy at least two packages every time I shop.

The tostadas have just the right amount of crunch without being too fragile. They hold up well under hefty toppings, and their neutral corn flavor complements rather than overpowers, making them the perfect canvas for bold and subtle flavor combinations.

This affordable find simplified my postpartum meal prep and opened up a world of quick and delicious dinner possibilities. Using tostadas in the one dish got me into the mindset that I could top them with almost anything to make a meal.

While they shine in our beloved chickpea and chorizo creation, they’re equally fantastic as a base for melted cheese and leftover chili, rotisserie chicken and veggies, carnitas or pulled pork, seasoned ground chicken or beef, and even for breakfast with scrambled eggs and avocado. I keep a few pantry staples on hand for busy weeknights—canned beans, corn, tuna, and salsa—and they can all be quickly transformed into a meal with these tostadas as the base. 

Other Ways To Use Dollar Tree’s Maizada Tostadas 

While these corn discs excel in their traditional role, I’ve also found some creative uses for them. Crumbled up, they make an excellent crunchy topping for soups or salads. I’ve broken them into large pieces and used them to make nachos and chilaquiles, and I’ve even served them with salsa and guac in a pinch when we were craving a crunchy snack.  

At $1.25 per pack, the value of these tostadas is unbeatable. The quality rivals more expensive brands I’ve tried, and they add a wonderful crunch and a bit of fun to any meal. If you’re meal-prepping for a significant life change or just looking to shake up your dinner routine, I cannot recommend tostada dinners enough. These Dollar Tree tostadas will be the backbone of your family’s favorite meals for years to come.