Baked Nachos with Ground Beef (Printable)

Crispy chips loaded with seasoned beef, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, and creamy toppings.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 pound ground beef
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce

→ Nachos Base

11 - 8 ounces tortilla chips

→ Cheese

12 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
15 - 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
17 - 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños, fresh or pickled
18 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - 1 avocado, diced
21 - 1/2 cup sour cream
22 - 1/2 cup salsa

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until completely browned, breaking apart with a spoon, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange half the tortilla chips on a large baking sheet or oven-safe platter. Top with half the beef mixture and half the combined cheeses. Layer remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese.
06 - Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with cherry tomatoes, black beans, olives, jalapeños, and red onion.
08 - Garnish with fresh cilantro and diced avocado. Serve immediately while hot with sour cream and salsa on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on one sheet, so cleanup is almost too easy for something this satisfying.
  • You can taste every layer, from the seasoned beef to the sharp cheese and cool toppings, all in one bite.
  • It scales up or down without fuss, perfect whether you are feeding two or ten.
02 -
  • Do not skip the layering step, putting all the chips down first leaves the bottom ones bare and sad.
  • Use two types of cheese, the cheddar brings flavor and the Monterey Jack makes everything gooey and cohesive.
  • Add the fresh toppings only after baking, or the tomatoes will turn soggy and the avocado will brown.
03 -
  • Shred your own cheese from a block, pre shredded cheese has coatings that prevent it from melting as smoothly.
  • Taste the beef mixture before layering and adjust the salt or spice, it is your last chance to fix the seasoning.
  • Serve immediately after topping, nachos wait for no one and they taste best when the contrast between hot and cool is still sharp.
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