Beef Nachos with Jalapenos and Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Crispy tortilla chips loaded with savory seasoned beef, melted cheese, and spicy jalapenos. Perfect for sharing and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Seasoning

01 - 10.5 oz ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Assembly and Toppings

10 - 7 oz tortilla chips, thick-cut
11 - 5 oz shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 3.5 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
13 - 2 fresh jalapenos, thinly sliced
14 - 2 spring onions, sliced
15 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, quartered
16 - 2 oz sour cream
17 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook while breaking up the meat until browned and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 additional minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange tortilla chips in an even single layer on a large oven-safe platter or baking sheet.
06 - Spoon the seasoned beef mixture evenly across the tortilla chips.
07 - Sprinkle cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the beef. Distribute sliced jalapenos across the cheese layer.
08 - Bake for 7-10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling at the edges.
09 - Remove from oven. Top with sliced spring onions and quartered cherry tomatoes.
10 - Serve immediately with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy chips and juicy beef creates this perfect textural balance that keeps everyone reaching for just one more bite.
  • You can customize the heat level with jalapenos to suit anyone from spice-shy friends to those hot pepper enthusiasts who carry hot sauce in their bags.
02 -
  • Never add the fresh toppings before baking or youll end up with wilted, sad-looking garnishes that have lost both their color and textural appeal.
  • Building nachos in layers rather than piling everything on top ensures you dont end up with bare chips underneath and over-loaded ones on top.
03 -
  • Pat the ground beef dry with paper towels before cooking to promote better browning rather than steaming, which makes all the difference in flavor development.
  • Create a thin barrier layer of cheese directly on the chips before adding the meat to prevent them from getting soggy too quickly.

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