Description
A delicious and easy-to-make recipe for The Best Nachos loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with fresh vegetables, sour cream, and salsa. Perfect for game day, parties, or any casual gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or 2 tablespoons homemade)
- 1/4 cup water
Nachos
- 1 (13-ounce) bag tortilla chips
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
Toppings
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa or pico de gallo
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the nachos.
- Cook Beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning mix and water. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens, ensuring the beef is well-coated with flavor.
- Assemble Nachos – First Layer: On a large baking sheet, spread half of the tortilla chips evenly. Layer with half of the seasoned beef, black beans, sliced black olives, diced red onion, and a mix of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
- Assemble Nachos – Second Layer: Repeat the layering process with the remaining chips and toppings, distributing them evenly to create a hearty second layer with beef, beans, olives, onions, and cheeses.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove the nachos from the oven and immediately top with diced tomato, thinly sliced jalapeño, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sour cream, and salsa or pico de gallo for a fresh and flavorful finish.
- Serve: Serve the nachos hot with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top, enhancing the zesty flavor profile.
Notes
- Customize the nachos with additional toppings like corn, pickled jalapeños, or queso for extra flavor and texture.
- For a vegetarian variation, omit ground beef and double the black beans or substitute with a plant-based meat alternative.
- Best enjoyed fresh and hot from the oven to maintain crispy chips and melted cheese texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
