Beef Nachos with Jalapeños and Melted Cheese (Printable Version)
Crunchy tortilla chips layered with seasoned ground beef, spicy jalapeños, and gooey melted cheese.
# What You Need:
→ Meat
01 - 9 oz ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1-2 fresh jalapeños, thinly sliced
→ Seasonings
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp chili powder
08 - 1/2 tsp paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Main Components
11 - 7 oz tortilla chips
12 - 7 oz shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 3.5 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Optional Toppings
14 - 3.5 oz sour cream
15 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - 1 small tomato, diced
17 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5–6 minutes.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute, then remove from heat.
05 - Arrange half the tortilla chips on a large, oven-safe platter or baking sheet. Distribute half the beef mixture, half the jalapeños, and half the cheeses evenly on top.
06 - Repeat with remaining chips, beef, jalapeños, and cheese to create a second layer.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with optional toppings: diced tomato, red onion, cilantro, and dollops of sour cream. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They come together in under an hour and taste like you've been planning this all day.
- The layers mean every bite has beef, cheese, and heat mixed together perfectly.
- You can have people help build them, which somehow makes eating together feel more fun.
02 -
- The chips will absorb moisture as they sit, so serve these the moment they come out of the oven—waiting even five minutes costs you that crucial crunch.
- Layering is everything; if you dump all the toppings on at once, the bottom chips stay bare and sad while the top ones get overwhelmed.
03 -
- Make sure your baking sheet or platter is oven-safe before you assemble; catching this mistake mid-bake is a lesson you only learn once.
- Brown the beef the day before if you're cooking for a crowd—everything actually tastes better when the flavors have time to sit with each other overnight.