The perfect appetizer or main course, these nachos are easy to make and can be customized with your favorite toppings. You’ll love the crispy tortilla chips, melted cheese, and delicious toppings.
Table of contents
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make. One dish, no fuss, and just a few minutes in the oven.
- Can be customized with your favorite toppings
- Delicious. Crispy, melty, spicy, and topped with the best seasoned ground beef.
🧂 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy skillet appetizer.
- ground beef
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- oregano
- ground cumin
- onion powder
- black pepper
- kosher salt
- corn tortilla chips
- medium cheddar cheese
- diced red onion
- sliced black olives
- pickled or fresh sliced jalapeño
- Chopped green onion
- Guacamole or fresh diced avocado
- Pico de gallo or fresh diced tomato
🥣 Equipment
8-inch or larger cast iron skillet
🍴Instructions
Step One: cook the beef
In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook the beef and seasonings. Break up the meat as it cooks. When the meat is done, remove it to a plate. Drain any excess grease. Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
Step Two: top and bake
Put a layer of chips in the skillet. Sprinkle with cheese and add olives, onions, and jalapenos. Repeat with another layer.
Bake the nachos until the cheese is melted.
Step three: garnish and serve
Garnish your dish with any desired fresh toppings and serve it immediately.
🥫 Storage instructions
Leftover nachos do not store well. However, you can easily cook the ground beef and use only part of it to make a smaller portion of nachos. Any leftover beef will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days and you can make another batch or use it in a salad.
🔍 FAQs
Yes… but observe them, and broil one layer at a time. I prefer to bake them.
Yes, you can use any kind of cheese you like. Just remember that it will melt differently, so adjust your time accordingly. Monterey Jack is very good!
I love fresh jalapenos for their color and heat. But if you don’t like spicy food, you’ll prefer pickled.
👩🏻🍳 Expert tips
- Buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. It melts better, and the flavor is delicious.
- If you pre-chop your toppings, you can make this recipe very quickly. It’s just the thing to have ready to cook on Friday evening.
📘 Related Recipes
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📖 Here’s the recipe
Equipment
- cast iron skillet
Ingredients
Seasoned Ground Beef
- ½ pound ground beef 85% lean or leaner
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
To Assemble the Nachos
- 11 ounces corn tortilla chips
- 3 cups medium cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup pickled or fresh sliced jalapeño
Fresh Toppings
- Chopped green onion
- Guacamole or fresh diced avocado
- Pico de gallo or fresh diced tomato
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425° with a rack in the center.
- Make the seasoned beef. Cook the beef and seasonings in a cast iron skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as you go. When the meat is cooked through, remove to a plate. Drain any excess grease. Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
- Assemble. Place a single layer of chips in the now-empty skillet. Sprinkle generously with cheese and the cooked meat, and add olives, onions, and jalapenos. Repeat with another layer.
- Bake. Bake the nachos at 425° or 7-9 minutes until the cheese is thoroughly melted.
- Garnish. Top with any desired fresh toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
Hello! Waiting for this to come out of the oven however I wasn’t sure when to add back the ground beef. Was I supposed to layer in the beef while laying the chips? It smells great! Can’t wait!
Excellent post.
Thanks