Cast Iron Skillet Nachos
Your trusty skillet takes these nachos from stovetop to oven to table. Delicious and easy to make, these will make everyone happy.
Equipment
- 8-inch or larger 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. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the center.
- Make the seasoned beef. Cook the ground beef in a cast iron skillet on medium heat, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Then, add chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Keep cooking until the beef is browned and fully cooked. After that, put the cooked beef on a plate and get rid of any extra grease from the skillet. Finally, use a paper towel to wipe the skillet clean.
- Assemble the nachos. Place a single layer of corn tortilla chips in the now-empty skillet. Then, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese over the chips. Evenly distribute the cooked beef, diced red onion, sliced black olives, and sliced jalapeños over the cheese and chips. Repeat with another layer of chips, cheese, and toppings.
- Bake. Place the skillet in the preheated oven. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until the cheese is thoroughly melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve. Remove the skillet from the oven. Top the nachos with fresh toppings such as chopped green onion, guacamole or diced avocado, and pico de gallo or diced tomato. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Notes
To get the best flavor and melt, you can mix different types of cheese. Cheddar is good, but adding Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack can give it a nice kick.
Try buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself. It melts better and tastes delicious.
Adjust the amount of jalapeños and add hot sauce if you want your nachos to be very spicy. If you prefer milder flavors, use pickled jalapeños, as they are usually less spicy than fresh ones.
You can also add or skip any toppings you want.
If you use lean ground beef, as the recipe suggests, you shouldn't need to drain any grease, which makes it easier.