Loaded Nachos Recipe
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This Loaded Nachos Recipe is like a fiesta for your taste buds! Crispy tortilla chips are dripping with gooey cheddar cheese, juicy ground beef, black beans, sour cream, olives and jalapeños. The ultimate snack for Game Day, Movie Night, and hanging out with friends!
Recipe at a Glance
- Endless Variations: An epic cheese-pull, spicy jalapeños and juicy ground beef are just a few of the endless toppings you can add.
- Make it a Meal: Serve this recipe as a meal for lunch or dinner.
- Game Day Star: Nachos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser!
Looking for more fun snacks? Try Walking Taco Casserole, or a bite of Loaded French Fries with bacon. You'll also love this Cream Cheese Corn Dip that can be served hot or cold, depending on your snacking needs.
Notes From My Kitchen
These nachos aren't just loaded, they're over-the-top, make-you-wanna-smack-your-lips-together loaded. Make sure you use thick chips that won't break when you start piling on the toppings!
When testing, I found that bite-sized veggies work best for layering. Otherwise, the larger toppings will stay behind on the tray when the chips are served. Also, if you want a massive cheese pull, be sure to use Colby-Jack as one of the ingredients. 😜
Ingredients You'll Need
Loaded Nachos
- tortilla chips - choose thick chips, preferably made from tortillas instead of corn meal
- ground beef - use a 85/15 blend for the juiciest meat, or substitute shredded beef or shredded chicken if desired
- taco seasoning - use a packet or make your own
- beef broth - adds great flavor to the meat
- black beans - can substitute pintos or refried beans instead
- cheddar cheese - hand shredding the cheese makes it melt better
- Colby Jack cheese - you can use pepper jack or Monterrey jack if preferred
Optional Toppings
- grape tomatoes - sliced in half or diced
- diced onion - can substitute green onions or chives
- fresh jalapeño - thinly sliced, or use pickled jalapeños instead
- black olives - sliced or diced works great
- sour cream - can sub the light version or use ranch dressing
- fresh cilantro - for non-cilantro lovers, you can omit this herb, but it adds great flavor
Other topping ideas include diced avocado, pickled onions, charred corn, guacamole, radishes, and pico de gallo. Use what you have on hand, or splurge on your favorites.
How to Make Loaded Nachos
1 - Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
2 - Add taco seasoning and ¼ cup beef broth to the beef. Cook until the liquid is absorbed.
3 - Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
4 - Spoon the seasoned ground beef over the chips.
5 - Sprinkle black beans over the beef.
6 - Cover with both types of shredded cheese.
7 - Bake in a 375ºF oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
8 - Remove nachos from oven and immediately top with fresh toppings.
Debi's Top Tips
- Use Thick Chips: Look for thick and hearty chips that won't break under the weight of heavy toppings. Authentic chips, or those made from tortillas instead of corn meal are the best choice.
- Bake, Don't Microwave: For the perfect crispy chips and melted toppings, bake nachos in the oven.
- Use Fresh Toppings: Add sour cream and fresh cilantro after baking to keep things fresh and vibrant.
Variations
Customize this loaded nachos recipe to make it your own! Here are a few ideas to try...
- BBQ Chicken: Swap out traditional toppings for shredded BBQ chicken, red onions, cilantro, and a drizzle of Carolina Gold BBQ sauce.
- Breakfast or Brunch: Top your chips with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, hash brown casserole, and cheddar cheese.
- Meatless: Load up on pinto beans, corn, bell peppers, mushrooms, avocado and onions.
- Pork Carnitas: Top with pork carnitas, black beans and cheese. Finish with a drizzle of salsa verde and sour cream.
- Nacho Bar: Similar to a DIY taco bar, set out bowls of chips and toppings and let guests create their own special party food!
Serving Ideas
This loaded nachos recipe is great on its own, but here are some tasty sides that make fun combos...
- Skillet Mexican Street Corn: Charred corn is cut off the cob and slathered with mayo, cheese, and seasonings to make this mouthwatering Mexican Street Corn in a skillet!
- Fresh Salsa or Guacamole: A zesty salsa adds a burst of flavor, while guacamole is a classic match.
- Fruit Platter: Serve a platter of fruit for a colorful side that everyone loves!
- Queso Dip: For those who just can't get enough cheese, a bowl of smoked cheese dip is a perfect dipper for chips and a cheesy complement to the loaded nachos.
Storage Guide
Loaded Nachos are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, follow these tips...
- Separate Ingredients: Keep chips separated from the toppings. Store the chips in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crispy, and place the toppings in a separate airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheat: When you're ready to enjoy leftovers, reheat the toppings in the oven until warmed through. For chips, you can crisp them up again in the oven for a few minutes to bring back their crunch.
- Avoid Freezing: Nachos don't freeze well because the chips can become soggy and the cheese can change texture. It's best to enjoy leftovers within a few days.
More Snack Recipes
Enjoy these snacks alongside your nachos recipe for a fun party or Game Day celebration!
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Recipe Card
Loaded Nachos Recipe
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- sheet pan (or baking sheet)
Ingredients
- 1 large bag tortilla chips (13 ounces)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning and ¼ cup beef broth to the beef. Cook until the liquid is absorbed.
- Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
- Spoon the seasoned ground beef over the chips.
- Sprinkle black beans over the beef.
- Cover with both types of shredded cheese.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Remove nachos from oven and immediately top with desired toppings.
Notes
- Separate Ingredients: Keep chips separated from the toppings. Store the chips in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crispy, and place the toppings in a separate airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheat: When you're ready to enjoy leftovers, reheat the toppings in the oven until warmed through. For chips, you can crisp them up again in the oven for a few minutes to bring back their crunch.
- Avoid Freezing: Nachos don't freeze well because the chips can become soggy and the cheese can change texture. It's best to enjoy leftovers within a few days.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
Made these nachos for the kids last night and they went wild over them! Had to leave out the black olives but they weren't missed. Will make again.