Not going to lie, this is the best nachos recipe ever. It’s an exciting appetizer layered with savory Mexican ingredients. But it also leaves plenty of room to add all the creative nacho toppings your heart desires.
There’s nothing quite like a tray overflowing with nachos for an entertaining and playful appetizer. The base starts with everyone’s favorite – crunchy tortilla chips. The chips then get layered with all the savory Mexican fixings you can imagine – spiced meat, gooey cheese, beans, pickled jalapenos, avocado chunks, salsa – you name it!
It’s one of my favorite finger foods to make given how much I love Mexican cuisine. So if you (and any friends or family) love Mexican food as much as I do, this ultimate nachos recipe ought to be on the dinner table soon. Along with a chilled margarita of course.
What’s Needed For the Ultimate Nachos
This is a basic formula for a solid tray of loaded nachos – tortilla chips, meat, cheese, beans, and simple, fresh taco toppings. It may seem like a lot, but once you start adding everything onto the sheet pan, it’s a cinch. Here’s what you’ll need.
- Ground Beef: Beef is my default for a classic nachos recipe. But you can also use ground pork or chicken if you’re not big on beef. Alternatively, shredded or diced meats taste amazing as well (which I’ve listed out later in this post).
- Taco Seasoning: I’m an advocate for homemade taco seasoning. It’s so easy to mix yourself, with ingredients you’re confident in.
- Beans: Nachos often use refried beans to mix in with the ground meat, making it easier for scooping with a tortilla chip. But if solid black or pinto beans are more your jam – go for it!
- Tortilla Chips: Any type of chips works here – whether it be corn, plantain or cassava chips. Just make sure to grab a bag that’s close to 13 ounces so that there’s an even amount of ingredients.
- Cheese: The key here is to use shredded cheese for the perfect melted, gooey texture. But the type of cheese is up to you. I personally like a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack.
- Pickled Jalapenos: This is completely optional, but I do find that pickled jalapenos add a deliciously tart and moderately spicy contrast.
- Fresh Toppings: I’m using a combination of diced tomatoes, red onion, avocados, and sour cream. But keep reading for more fun and tasty ideas!
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Nachos For a Party!
Some of the best appetizers don’t require a lot of effort. And this ultimate nachos is one of them. The only cooking you need to do is to saute the ground beef and refried beans. Then everything else goes into the oven for baking as you prep the fresh toppings. But first, get your oven preheated to 400°F (200°C).
Cook the ground beef. Add the ground beef to a skillet over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add the taco seasoning and cook for 5 extra minutes until it’s browned.
Cook the refried beans. Add the refried beans and water to the skillet and stir everything until combined.
Layer on a sheet pan. First, spread out the tortillas on a rimmed sheet pan, and layer on the ground beef mixture, cheese, and jalapenos. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges of the tortilla chips are golden.
Add the toppings. Immediately add the diced tomatoes, onion, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. Your nachos recipe is ready to serve!
A Few Tips For The Best Nachos
- Avoid soggy nachos by making these on the fly. As the tortilla chips sit under the cheese and juicy meat, they’ll slowly soften and become soggy over time.
- Make sure to have an even amount of ingredients. Nothing is worse than grabbing a tortilla chip that barely has any toppings on it. Let alone no cheese or beans. So when you’re layering everything on top, keep an eye out for any missing spots that need to be filled with extra toppings – especially the cheese!
Make Your Nachos Even Better With These…
Mexican favorites! Swap the ground beef for shredded carnitas, or add spoonfuls of fruity salsa for a refreshing twist. Treat this tray of nachos as a blank canvas and let your creative juices flow!
- Switch up the meat. Aside from ground beef, you can also add diced up carne asada, or shredded carnitas and barbacoa. Just keep in mind you’ll need to make these the day before to save time!
- Add more pickled ingredients. Aside from jalapeños, pickled red onions are a great way to add a sweet punch of sour and tangy flavor.
- Spoon on your favorite salsas. Aside from pico de gallo or blended red salsa, try adding some fruits into the mix! My mango salsa or mandarin orange salsa are always hits.
Complete Your Mexican Spread
Whether it’s Cinco de Mayo or fiesta night for dinner, I’ve got tons of Mexican recipes to round out your table spread. Here’s a few favorites that you can’t go wrong with.
You can never ever go wrong with a tray of loaded nachos. Especially when it comes to a party (like the Super Bowl!). Once you make it, let me know how everyone likes this recipe in a comment below!
Ultimate Nachos Recipe
There’s nothing quite like a tray overflowing with the best nachos loaded with savory Mexican ingredients for an entertaining appetizer!
- Alternatives for refried beans: swap in pinto beans or black beans.
- Alternatives for tortilla chips: use cassava chips or plantain chips.
Calories: 632kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 1088mg, Potassium: 665mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 749IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 281mg, Iron: 4mg
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