Baked Nachos with Ground Beef (Printable)

Crispy chips topped with seasoned beef, melted cheese, black beans, jalapeños, and fresh garnishes in 30 minutes.

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 400°F and allow to fully preheat.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until fully browned, breaking apart with a spoon, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in chili powder, 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, 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 cherry tomatoes, black beans, olives, jalapeños, and red onion over the hot nachos.
08 - Garnish with cilantro and diced avocado. Serve hot with sour cream and salsa offered on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite delivers crispy, cheesy, meaty satisfaction without the sogginess of microwave nachos.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in minutes when company arrives.
  • Layering the ingredients means no one gets stuck with plain chips at the bottom.
  • Leftovers reheat surprisingly well for breakfast with a fried egg on top.
02 -
  • Layer your nachos instead of piling everything on top, or the bottom chips stay naked and boring.
  • Add tomatoes and avocado after baking, not before, or they turn into hot mush.
  • Use a rimmed baking sheet so cheese doesn't drip into your oven and smoke up the kitchen.
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly before layering so it doesn't make the chips soggy before they hit the oven.
03 -
  • Shred cheese from a block instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts smoother and tastes better.
  • Warm your tortilla chips in the oven for a few minutes before layering to ensure maximum crispness.
  • Taste your beef mixture before layering and adjust the salt and spice, it's your last chance to fix it.
  • Use two types of cheese for better flavor and melt, one sharp and one creamy.
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