Description
This Loaded Nachos recipe features seasoned ground beef, black beans, crunchy tortilla chips, and a melty cheddar cheese topping, baked to perfection and finished with fresh vegetables and optional sour cream and salsa. It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main course perfect for parties or casual dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef 97% lean
- ½ cup white onion finely chopped
- ½ cup green pepper finely chopped
- ⅛ cup water
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix (1 packet)
- 15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained, heated
Nachos Base
- 11 ounces tortilla chips (use ¾ of a bag)
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
Toppings
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 jalapeños, sliced
- 2 to 3 green onions, sliced
Optional Toppings
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the loaded nachos.
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, finely chopped white onion, and green bell pepper. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until the beef is fully cooked and the juices run clear.
- Add Seasoning and Beans: Pour in ⅛ cup water and stir in 1 ounce taco seasoning mix. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add the heated, rinsed, and drained black beans. Mix everything thoroughly and remove from heat.
- Layer the Nachos: In a 9×13 inch baking dish or pan, spread half of the tortilla chips evenly. Top with half of the beef and bean mixture, then sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat these layers with the remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese.
- Bake the Nachos: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven carefully.
- Add Fresh Toppings and Serve: Immediately top the nachos with diced cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and green onions. Serve with optional dollops of sour cream and salsa on the side.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
- Use low-fat cheddar cheese or substitute with a Mexican cheese blend to vary flavor and fat content.
- Vegetarian option: replace ground beef with a plant-based substitute or extra beans.
- Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the cheese melty and the chips crisp.
- Leftover nachos can be reheated in the oven at 350° F for 5 minutes to restore crispness.
