10 Favorite Mexican Torta Sandwiches

For sandwich lovers who are fond of Mexican dishes the word Torta elicits nothing but happy thoughts. This Mexican sandwich can have lots of different fillings but always satisfies those big hunger cravings. Stock up on bolillo rolls and check out our 10 favorite Torta recipes.

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What is a Torta?

A Torta is a Mexican sandwich that is right up there with the taco for most beloved Mexican street food. Meant to be eaten on the go, usually for lunch, torta shops line the streets of every Mexican city and its fillings can vary depending on where you go.

No matter the filling they are always a big, beautiful, messy sandwich made on different types of bread from a soft telera roll to crunchy French baguettes. Depending on the type of torta they can have different types of cheese but almost always shredded lettuce, refried beans, tomatoes sliced nice and thin, and a heaping of sliced onions.

Make Tortas Your Go-To For Busy Weeknights

A good torta recipe can also be a lifesaver for an easy weeknight meal when you have a house full of starving people and are short on time. As long as you have the main filling prepared you can whip up one of these recipes at the drop of a hat.

I stock up on French rolls, creamy avocado, cooked pork leg (or other fillings), and red sauce at my local Mexican grocery so I can have everything I need to make homemade tortas when the craving hits. Keep reading for ten of our favorite torta recipes.

Our 10 Favorite Torta Recipes

1. Carne Asada Torta with Roasted Poblano Salsa

This Carne Asada Torta is truly incredible: roasted poblano salsa swaps in for the traditional beans making it lighter than a traditional torta— but just as delicious. Many Latin grocery stores carry cooked, sliced carne asada making this sandwich even easier!

A torta cut in half with sliced steak, avocado, tomatoes, and poblano sauce wrapped in brown paper with a bow around it.

2. Easy Torta Ahogada from Isabel Eats

Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, Torta Ahogada literally translates to “drowned torta”. This recipe from Isabel Eats is filled with mouthwatering carnitas and drowned in a red chile and tomato sauce. It’s one of the best Mexican sandwiches you’ll ever eat!

A drowned torta on a terracotta plate with meat and sliced red onion on a baguette covered in tomato sauce. — Image by Isabel Eats

3. Turkey and Black Bean Torta

Not all tortas are served hot. This is a simple cold Turkey Torta with thinly sliced roast turkey, sliced avocado, and garlic and oregano-marinated tomatoes all on long Mexican rolls called Bolillo rolls.

A torta being assembled with a bolillo roll cut in half and avocado being spread on one half of the roll and black beans.

4. Torta Cubana

Even though the name suggests this is a Cuban sandwich, it is actually as Mexican as it gets. The sandwich is not named after the country of Cuba, but actually after the street in Mexico City, Calle Republica de Cuba, where it was created.

A torta de Cubana on a wood table with a piece of parchment paper in between the two halves of the sandwich.

5. Pambazos from Muy Delish

A Pambazo is a chorizo and potato torta made on a particular soft roll of the same name. This mouth watering recipe from Muy Delish is covered in a delicious guajillo salsa and crisped to perfection over medium heat. Irresistible!

A chorizo and potato torta with red onions and cream on a white plate with shredded lettuce and a soft roll. — Image by Muy Delish

6. Torta de Milanesa

Crispy panko-breaded chicken milanesa tucked inside a crusty roll with pickled fennel and carrots. The bottom half of the roll is swathed in a creamy basil and lime mayonnaise.

A fried chicken sandwich on a white plate with a smaller white plate behind it with pickled carrots on it and a white cup.

7. Cemita Sliders

This plant-based version of a Cemita Poblana sandwich swaps classic milanesa for fried plantain and the sesame bun for brioche slider rolls. Perfect if you’re watching your saturated fat.

A slider sandwich with fried plantains on a slider bun sitting on a blue plate with a black and white towel behind it.

8. Coconut Shrimp Torta

This Coconut Shrimp Torta is a super easy Mexican-style sandwich with baked coconut shrimp, refried black beans, and a baby kale, fig, scallion, and bell pepper salad all on toasted bread. Serve with a chilled glass of wine for a relaxing weeknight meal everyone will love.

A shrimp torta on a baguette sitting on a cutting board with a glass of white wine in the background and another 1/2 sandwich.

9. Chicken Chile Verde Torta with Goat Cheese

A phenomenal chicken sandwich that is one of our family’s favorite easy Mexican recipes, loaded with all the spicy, bright flavors of Mexico.

A chicken torta with melted cheese on a plate with a pile of tortilla chips behind it and a blue glass in the picture.

10. Smoky Chipotle Turkey Tortas

Easy as can be, this recipe for Smoky Chipotle Turkey Tortas uses leftover holiday turkey or rotisserie chicken and is ready in 30 minutes. With refried black beans, Oaxaca cheese, and a fresh sprinkle of arugula and radishes this Mexican-style sandwich is the prefect weeknight meal.

A turkey torta on a piece of parchment paper with a jar of Mexican crema and a package of Oaxaca cheese.

More Authentic Mexican Recipes You’ll Love!

Tortas Are Our Go-To Meal When We’re Short On Time

What’s your favorite type of torta? Let me know by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!