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Easy Nachos

Easy nachos with layered tortilla chips, melted Mexican cheese, and visibly stacked toppings. Ground beef is seasoned and layered for loaded nachos that broil until bubbly.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 950

Ingredients
  

tortilla chips
  • 1 large bag tortilla chips
Mexican cheese blend
  • 3 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
ground beef
  • 1 lb ground beef
taco seasoning
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
black beans
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
jalapeños
  • 1 sliced jalapeños
tomatoes
  • 1 diced tomatoes
black olives
  • 1 sliced black olives
sour cream
  • 1 sour cream
guacamole
  • 1 guacamole
salsa
  • 1 salsa
fresh cilantro
  • 1 fresh cilantro
lime wedges
  • 1 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook the seasoned beef
  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, then add the taco seasoning and cook according to package directions. Keep it moving so the beef browns evenly and the seasoning clings.
Layer and broil
  1. Spread the tortilla chips on a sheet pan in an even layer. Aim for a single layer so the cheese melts and reaches every chip.
  2. Sprinkle half the shredded Mexican cheese blend over the chips. You should see a light, even blanket before adding the toppings.
  3. Add the seasoned beef, black beans, and sliced jalapeños over the cheese layer. Distribute them so every chip spot gets some filling.
  4. Top with the remaining shredded Mexican cheese blend. Cover fully so the next broil produces visible cheesy coverage.
  5. Broil for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch closely so the edges start to brown but don’t burn.
Finish and serve
  1. Remove from the oven and immediately top with diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Add toppings right away so they sit fresh over the hot cheese.
  2. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Cut the limes to squeeze over each portion for a bright finish.

Notes

For crunch, keep the tortilla chips as dry as possible and broil just until bubbly—no longer than 5 minutes. Store leftovers covered in the fridge up to 2 days, though chips will soften. Freezing is not recommended because the toppings and chips lose texture. For a lighter option, use lean ground beef and a reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend to cut calories without changing the layered broil method.