Julie Clark
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Beef Nachos
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Get ready for game day with our family-friendly easy Beef Nachos recipe! Perfect for Super Bowl gatherings or a cozy night in. Learn how to create the best homemade nachos with lean ground beef, black beans, fresh toppings, and our easy-to-follow tips.
Our family likes to spend winter evenings with a fun family game night. And these Beef Nachos are just what we love for a cozy night in or for a game day special. Loaded with lean ground beef, melted cheddar, and a burst of fresh toppings, this 20 minute sheet pan dinner is a game changer.
We’ll guide you through each step to ensure your nachos come out perfectly every time. This ground beef nacho recipe is an easy, delicious win!
Ingredients Needed
About the key ingredients for loaded nachos:
- Ground beef. A lean ground beef works best so the fat doesn’t make the chips soggy.
- Tortilla chips. Don’t use thin and crispy chips. They will break easily and may burn quickly in the oven. Choose a tortilla chips that is heavy and thick so it can hold up all of the toppings. Santitas chips are low cost and have a nice texture. On the Border is our favorite brand for snacking. Tostitos is a great option, too.
- White onions or red onions are great in this recipe.
- Black beans. This adds protein and helps the ground beef mixture go further.
- Taco seasoning. Season with one packet of store-bought taco seasoning, or 3 tablespoons of homemade seasoning.
- Cheddar cheese. Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese rather than pre-shredded cheese, which often doesn’t melt as well
How to Make Beef Nachos
- To a sauté pan over medium heat add the ground beef, onion, and green bell pepper. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- Add the water and taco seasoning to the sauté pan. Stir for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the beans to the sauté pan. Mix until everything is combined. Remove the sauté pan from the heat. Set aside.
- To a 9×13 baking dish add half of the tortilla chips. Top with half of the meat mixture. Top the meat mixture with half of the cheese. Repeat with the remainder of the chips, meat mixture, and cheese. Then bake at 350ºF for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Tips for the Best Baked Nachos
- The Type of Tortilla Chips: I mentioned this earlier, but choose a hearty corn tortilla chip, one that can hold up to the weight of the meat, cheese and toppings.
- Line the Baking Sheet: Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This will give you an easy clean-up for busy weeknights.
- Layer the Chips. Make at least two layers of tortilla chips and toppings. That way everything will be distributed evenly.
- Serve Immediately: Nachos are best enjoyed right out of the oven when they’re warm and the cheese is perfectly melted.
- Dips on the Side: Serve with bowls of salsa and sour cream on the side, so everyone can customize their plate and the chips won’t get soggy.
What to Serve with Nachos
We have a few side dishes that would pair well with baked beef nachos.
- Arroz Blanco. A mild flavored rice that could even be used as a topping for the nachos.
- Corn on the Cob. So delicious and lightly sweet!
- Fresh Guacamole. This is always a hit and one of the first side dishes to go when eating nachos.
- Mexican slaw. This is light and fresh as a topping or side to the corn tortillas.
Recipe Variations
- Add a layer of refried beans rather than black beans.
- Switch up the ingredients to include your favorite toppings: pico de gallo, fresh guacamole, nacho cheese sauce or green chiles.
- Try different cheeses such as Monterey Jack cheese or Pepper Jack cheese.
- This is a great recipe to use up leftover taco beef.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these nachos ahead of time?
No. Baked nachos are best served immediately so the nachos don’t soften or get soggy. You can prep the toppings and make the meat in advance, but assemble and bake right before serving.
How can I make my nachos spicier or milder?
For more spice, add a ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the taco seasoning. If you’d like the nachos milder, leave off the jalapeños.
What are the best substitutes for ground beef in nachos?
Use ground turkey, ground chicken or double the amount of black beans and leave out the meat all together for a meatless nachos recipe.
Beef Nachos
Get ready for game day with our family-friendly easy Beef Nachos recipe! Perfect for Super Bowl gatherings or a cozy night in. Learn how to create the best homemade nachos with lean ground beef, black beans, fresh toppings, and our easy-to-follow tips.
Servings 8
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 97% lean
- ½ cup white onion finely chopped
- ½ cup green pepper finely chopped
- ⅛ cup water
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix 1 packet
- 15 ounces black beans 1 can rinsed and drained, heated
- 11 ounces tortilla chips use ¾ of a bag
- 3 cups cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
- ¼ cup black olives sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 2 jalapeños sliced
- 2 to 3 green onions sliced
Toppings:
- 1 cup sour cream optional
- 1 cup salsa optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- To a large skillet over medium-high heat add the ground beef, onion, and green bell pepper. Cook beef for 5 to 8 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- Add the water and taco seasoning to the sauté pan. Stir for 2-3 minutes. Add the beans to the sauté pan. Mix until everything is combined. Remove the sauté pan from the heat. Set aside.
- To a 9×13 baking dish or baking sheet, add half of the chips. Top with half of the beef mixture. Top the beef mixture with half of the cheese. Repeat with the remainder of the chips, beef and bean mixture, and cheese.
- Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until the cheese melts. Remove the baking dish from the oven.
- Top the nachos with fresh tomatoes, black olives, fresh cilantro, jalapeno slices, and green onions (or whatever your favorite toppings are). Serve the nachos, dollops of sour cream and salsa.
Notes
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Refrigerate the leftover nachos in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The chips will get a little soggy, but they still hold up very well. They are excellent reheated in an air fryer to crisp the chips back up.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
- The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the chips. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 617kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1020mg | Potassium: 687mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1340IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 411mg | Iron: 4mg
I know it sounds dumb, but what is the best way to eat them, by fork or hand? I never order them in a restaurant, because it seems so messy, yet seem to be something to eat by hand.