Description
This Ultimate Nachos recipe features a perfect combination of seasoned ground beef, creamy refried beans, crispy tortilla chips, and a blend of melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Topped with fresh diced tomatoes, red onions, avocado, and a zesty kick from pickled jalapenos and cilantro, these nachos make an ideal snack or appetizer for any occasion. Ready in just 30 minutes, this crowd-pleaser can be baked quickly to achieve gooey, bubbly cheese perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Beans
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 (16-ounce/454g) can refried beans
- ¼ cup water (divided into ¼ cup for beef seasoning and ¼ cup for beans warming)
Chips and Cheese
- 1 (13-ounce/368g) bag tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded cheese (mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack)
Toppings
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos
- 3 roma tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 1 avocado, diced
- â…“ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and crumbled. Drain any excess fat thoroughly to avoid greasy nachos.
- Season the Beef: Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and ¼ cup of water to the cooked beef. Stir well to combine and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until the beef is evenly seasoned and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Warm the Refried Beans: In a small saucepan, combine the refried beans with ¼ cup of water. Heat over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth and warmed through.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled nachos.
- Assemble the Nachos: On a large baking sheet, evenly spread out the tortilla chips. Evenly top the chips with the seasoned ground beef, warm refried beans, and shredded cheese mixture.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted completely and is bubbly.
- Add Pickled Jalapenos: Carefully remove the nachos from the oven and sprinkle the top with ¼ cup of pickled jalapenos to give it a spicy, tangy flavor.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Garnish with diced roma tomatoes, diced red onion, diced avocado, dollops of sour cream, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro leaves for freshness and color.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the nachos hot for the best texture and flavor. Enjoy your ultimate loaded nachos as a snack or party appetizer.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more pickled jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce.
- Use low-fat cheese or reduced-fat sour cream for a lighter option.
- If you prefer, you can crisp the tortilla chips in the oven for 5 minutes before assembling to make them extra crunchy.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but toppings like avocado are best added fresh each time.
- To make it vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with seasoned cooked lentils or a meat alternative.
