Baked Nachos (Printable)

Classic Tex-Mex nachos with crispy chips, seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and a vibrant array of fresh toppings. Great for any gathering.

# 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
18 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
19 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1 avocado, diced
21 - 1/2 cup sour cream
22 - 1/2 cup salsa

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking apart with a spoon, about 5 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and 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 cheeses. Layer remaining chips, beef, and cheese.
06 - Bake in the 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 cilantro and avocado. Serve hot with sour cream and salsa on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan and one baking sheet meaning minimal cleanup maximum flavor
  • The beef mixture gets a head start on the stove so the spices bloom beautifully before baking
  • You can customize the toppings based on what your friends actually like instead of picking things off
02 -
  • Layering chips beef and cheese twice prevents sad naked chips at the bottom
  • Adding fresh tomatoes and cold toppings after baking keeps them from getting mushy
  • The beef mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to three days
03 -
  • Buy thick restaurant style chips instead of thin ones to prevent soggy disasters
  • Shred your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded it melts so much better
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