Loaded beef nachos
A plate of comfort food
Some dishes are simply crowd-pleasers. Loaded beef nachos are one of them.
They’re generously loaded and perfect for sharing. Or not sharing at all. For example, when you’re settling in on the couch with a good movie and craving something warm from the oven. This is one of those dishes that works just as well as an appetizer as it does for dinner. We like to make ours with well-seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, fresh toppings, and of course a generous spoonful of sour cream.
The origin of nachos
Did you know that nachos started as a spontaneous creation by a Mexican cook? Ignacio Anaya worked at a restaurant in a Mexican border town. When a group of American women arrived late one evening, he put together a dish using what he had left in the kitchen: tortilla chips, melted cheese, and pickled jalapeños. He called it Nacho’s Especiales, after his nickname. Today, nachos have become a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine. And yes, we completely understand why.
Seasoned ground beef
While many people reach for a store-bought seasoning mix, we prefer to make our own. That way, we know exactly what’s in it and can adjust it to our own taste. For the beef, we start by cooking red onion and garlic, then season everything with cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano. This creates a mildly spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients. Diced tomatoes and bell peppers help keep the beef mixture nice and juicy.
The secret
Let’s be honest, cheese is one of the secrets to a great tray of nachos. Want every bite covered in melted cheese? Don’t just sprinkle cheese over the beef, add some underneath as well. We like to use cheddar cheese as the base together with the tortilla chips. The seasoned beef mixture goes on top, followed by another layer of shredded cheese for that delicious golden-brown finish from the oven. Just 15 minutes at 400°F and they’re ready to serve.
Toppings make all the difference
As soon as the nachos come out of the oven, we add a few fresh toppings. Think thinly sliced green onions, some jalapeños for those who like a little heat, and of course a generous spoonful of sour cream to bring everything into balance. Serve them with homemade guacamole or pico de gallo. Loaded beef nachos are perfect for a casual get-together, but they’re just as satisfying as a meal on their own.
Loaded beef nachos
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
Loaded beef nachos are layered with seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, and fresh toppings for the ultimate Tex-Mex appetizer.
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag corn tortilla chips
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 bunch green onions, sliced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cook the ground beef over medium-high heat in a splash of olive oil until browned. Add the finely chopped red onion and minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the ground cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Dice the tomatoes and bell pepper and add them to the beef mixture. Cook briefly while stirring.
- Cover the bottom of a baking dish or roasting pan with half of the tortilla chips. Arrange the cheddar cheese over the chips, tearing the slices into pieces or grating fresh cheddar.
- Spoon the beef mixture over the chips and cheese. Tuck the remaining tortilla chips in between the beef mixture.
- Finish with a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese and bake for about 15 minutes.
- Top with sliced green onions, jalapeño pepper, and the sour cream before serving.
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
