Beef Nachos with Jalapenos (Printable)
Tortilla chips layered with seasoned beef, jalapenos, and melted cheese, perfect for sharing or snacking.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Mixture
01 - 9 oz ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Nachos Assembly
10 - 7 oz tortilla chips
11 - 5 oz cheddar cheese, grated
12 - 2 oz Monterey Jack cheese, grated
13 - 2 fresh jalapenos, thinly sliced
14 - 2 spring onions, sliced
15 - 1 medium tomato, diced
16 - 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped (optional)
→ To Serve
17 - Sour cream
18 - Salsa
19 - Guacamole
# Directions:
01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a spoon. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until evenly browned and fully cooked.
04 - Incorporate ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper into the beef. Stir and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange tortilla chips evenly on a large baking tray or ovenproof dish.
06 - Distribute the cooked seasoned beef mixture evenly over the tortilla chips.
07 - Scatter grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese uniformly over the beef layer.
08 - Sprinkle sliced jalapenos, spring onions, and diced tomato on top of the cheese.
09 - Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles.
10 - Remove from oven, optionally sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander, and serve immediately with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together faster than ordering delivery, with almost no cleanup.
- One pan does the beef while the oven handles the rest, so you're barely cooking while everyone's already hungry.
- The contrast between crispy chips and melted cheese is genuinely addictive.
02 -
- Undercooking the beef spices is the most common mistake—they need those two minutes sizzling in the pan to wake up, otherwise the whole dish tastes flat.
- If your chips are going soft before serving, it means either the tray wasn't hot enough or you're overbaking; bake just until cheese bubbles and pull it immediately.
03 -
- Grate your own cheese from a block instead of buying pre-shredded; it melts like silk instead of separating into a greasy mess.
- Taste the beef mixture before it goes on the chips—this is your last chance to add salt or heat, and you want it flavorful enough to carry the whole dish.