This tasty Mexican Sopes Recipe uses ground beef, refried beans, avocado, lettuce, and cheese to create the popular street food of Mexico. It's one of the best dinner ideas if you're looking to make a simple and traditional Mexican meal.
It's sure to become a family favorite! If you're searching for a plant-based Mexican meal, check out our Vegan Chili Con Carne.
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Why You'll Love Mexican Sopes Recipe
- You can be creative - Since the fillings can be changed up, you can have them any way you crave.
- Endless combinations - From spicy shredded chicken to filling beans and fresh veggies, the options are limitless.
- All your favorite Mexican flavors - familiar flavors make these a hit with even picky eaters.
- Easy to assemble - Set up a toppings bar so everyone build their own.
- Great for using up leftovers - Use any taco meat or roasted corn in your fridge in these.
- Make-ahead friendly - Prep the sopes ahead, then warm and top when you're ready to eat.
What Are Sopes?
Mexican sopes are flat, round corn cakes that are typically topped with meat and cheese. This recipe will teach you how to make an authentic version of the sopes. You'll learn how to make the dough, as well as what to fill it with.
The origins of Sopes are from central Mexico and this dish can be found all over the country, where it serves as an appetizer, breakfast, or an accompaniment for the main meal.
Mexican Recipes
Mexican recipes are packed with bold flavors and often use simple, affordable ingredients you probably already have at home. Many dishes are quick to make or can be prepped ahead for busy nights. They're also super customizable, which makes it easy to please picky eaters.
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
- Mexican Crockpot Chicken
- Chicken Taco Stuffed Shells
Ingredients for Sopes
- Corn masa harina - This is the base for your sopes (find it in the Latin foods aisle).
- Warm water - Mixrs with the masa to form the dough.
- Ground beef - You can also use your favorite protein or meatless option.
- Taco seasoning - Store-bought or homemade.
- Refried beans - Adds creaminess and flavor.
- Shredded lettuce - Adds a fresh, crunchy topping.
- Cherry tomatoes - Diced up for juicy bursts of flavor.
- Avocados - Adds a creamy flavor and some healthy fats.
- Queso fresco - Crumbled over the top for a salty, creamy finish.
- Vegetable oil - For frying the sopes.
- Salsa - Use your favorite kind, spicy or mild.
Best Kitchen Tools for Making Mexican Sopes
To make these delicious homemade Mexican Sopes, you'll need a few helpful kitchen tools. I've linked my favorite versions below - just tap any image to check them out on Amazon!
From the tortilla press that gives sopes that perfect shape, to a nonstick skillet for crisping it up, these essentials help everything come together.
👉 Tap any image below to shop for these on Amazon!
How to Make Sopes
1. Mix the Masa - In a medium mixing bowl, mix together corn flour masa and warm water. Add a little water at a time while mixing with your hands. The dough shouldn't be sticky. More like a bread dough texture.
2. Shape the dough - Divide the dough into equal sized small balls. Take piece of the dough with water on your hands and make small circular patties using your palms. Then pinch the edges to make a bowl shape.
You can also use a tortilla press to make the patties.
3: Fry the sopes - Heat oil to 350 degrees F. Use a food thermometer for checking the oil. Place the sope dough bowl side down into the and oil fry about 2 minutes or until a light golden color. Flip and do the same for the opposite side. Remove from the oil and set on a plate lined with paper towels.
4. Cook the beef + heat the beans - Pan fry the ground beef in a cast iron skillet or hot griddle on medium-high heat until browned. I love to get my beef from ButcherBox where I get 100% grass-fed beef directly to my door. Another yummy recipe we made with ground beef is Texas Toast Sloppy Joes.
Add in taco seasoning. Stir well. Heat refried beans in a microwave safe bowl.
5. Build your sopes - Take the sope and place some refried beans on it. Then add the ground beef mixture.
6. Add your toppings - Now for the fun part, the toppings! Sprinkle on some shredded lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado, and a spoonful of your favorite salsa.
Tips for Ground Beef Sopes
Tip 1: Let the masa dough rest for a few minutes before shaping it. This makes it easier to work with.
Tip 2: After lightly frying, shape the edges while the sopes are still warm. That's how you get the raised edges that hold in the toppings.
Tip 3: Don't overload these with toppings. A base of beans, some meat, a sprinkle of cheese, and salsa is plenty to make them delicious.
FAQs for Beef Sopes
You don't want to store assembled sopes. You can store the corn patty and the toppings separately. You can store each ingredient in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can use chopped up chorizo, ground turkey or shredded chicken.
Pico de gallo, salsa verde, guacamole, cilantro, sour cream, Mexican crema, and lime.
Mexican Inspired Ground Beef Recipes
If you love the bold flavors of Mexican food, you'll want to try these other easy ground beef favorites! Check out this hearty Mexican Stuffed Pepper Casserole, a cheesy Mexican Ground Beef Casserole, saucy Ground Beef Enchiladas, or fun and kid-friendly Mexican Totchos. They're all quick, family-approved, and full of flavor!
What I love the most about this homemade sopes recipe is how they are crunchy on the outside and filled with tasty beef and toppings on the inside. So skip going to your favorite restaurant, save some money, and cook up a delicious Mexican meal at home!
📖 Recipe
Mexican Sopes Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn masa harina
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 packets taco seasoning
- 1 - 15 oz. can refried beans
- 1 cup lettuce
- 6 cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 avocados diced
- ½ cup queso fresco crumbled
- ¼ cup vegetable oil for frying
- salsa for topping
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together corn masa and warm water. Add a little water at a time while mixing with your hands. The dough should not be sticky. More like a bread dough texture.
- Divide the dough into equal sized small balls. Take piece of the dough with water on your hands and make small circular patties using your palms. Then pinch the edges to make a bowl shape.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees F. Use a food thermometer for checking the oil. Place the sope dough bowl side down into the oil and fry for about 2 minutes or until light golden color. Flip and do the same for the opposite side. Remove from oil and set on a plate.
- Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned. Add in taco seasoning. Stir well. Heat beans in a microwave safe bowl.
- Take the sope and place some beans on it. Add the ground beef.
- Top with lettuce, queso fresco, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.
Notes
- Let the masa dough rest a few minutes before shaping. It gives the dough time to hydrate and makes it easier to handle.
- Shape the edges right after frying while the sopes are still warm. That's how you get those little walls to hold in all the toppings.
- Don't go overboard with toppings. A layer of beans, some meat, cheese, and salsa is plenty-and easier to eat!
Michele says
These were delicious and easier to make than I thought. Best of all, the whole family loved them!
Beth says
I've never heard of sopes before but they look like the perfect street food. I;m going to give this recipe a try soon.
Kathleen says
Wow, these look fabulous. What a great recipe and I am looking forward to making these for my family.
Jyoti Behrani says
Sopes recipe is great!! They were yummy and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe and the clear instruction!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I've never heard of sopes before but I can see that my family will love these. Making them for dinner tomorrow - can't wait!