Cheesy ground beef nachos make the most amazing snack, and I’ve been known to serve beef nachos, chicken nachos, and tater tot “totchos” for dinner on busy weeknights. This easy recipe for ground beef nachos has all of the flavors you’d expect on taco night, including delicious beef, cooked with beans, salsa, and taco seasoning. Add that ground taco beef to a big tray of tortilla chips, cover it with cheesy sauce, and then finish it with sour cream, guacamole, and more nacho toppings to create the perfect Tex-Mex meal or appetizer. You’ll also love using ground beef to make my Beef Enchilada Casserole recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Ground Beef Nachos
Here’s what you need to make this delicious taco night feast:
Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef for tacos (or steak mince). It’s flavorful and cooks up with less grease and more meat left in the pan. Beans: Pinto beans are my favorite, they are creamy and substantial, and help to extend the ground beef further, making this an economical taco night meal! If you’re in the UK, look for borlotti beans. You can also throw in any type of canned beans you have on hand. Just be sure to drain and rinse them first. Taco Seasoning: I make my own taco seasoning from scratch, so I always have some on hand. Salsa: I love the flavor that comes from adding chunky tomato salsa to taco beef. Plus, this shortcut means that we don’t need to chop up onions or garlic to cook with the mixture. Nacho Cheese Sauce: Store-bought nacho cheese sauce is delicious on nachos, and is what you’re served in many restaurants. Try Tostitos salsa con queso or canned cheese sauce that you’ll find near the Mexican foods at the store. Nachos can also be made with homemade cheese sauce – try my smoked queso dip!Tortilla chips: Use your favorite chips. White corn, yellow corn, triangles, circles, they all work! This recipe uses a whole 16-ounce bag, so it’s enough to feed a small crowd.Nacho Toppings: This is the fun part! Salsa, chopped herbs, veggies, and sauces like sour cream and guacamole can be added to your nachos.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Ground Beef Nachos
Start by cooking up a perfectly seasoned blend of beef and beans, then load up the best tray of nachos ever!
Toppings for Beef Nachos
What do you like on your nachos? Great, add some of that! There are no real rules when it comes to the best toppings for nachos, just add your favorites and enjoy! Here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
Salsa: Add your favorite type of salsa to your nacho tray. Try my recipes for Salsa Verde and Salsa Ranchera. Diced tomatoes, diced onions, or pico de gallo. Pickled red onionsShredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, or sliced green onionSliced black olivesFresh or canned corn. Cut the kernels off an ear of grilled corn to add to nachos, it’s so good!More Cheese! Sprinkle on some grated cheddar or Mexican blend cheese. Cotija cheese can also lend a salty, traditional finish. Jalapenos: Either fresh or pickled will add heat to the party! You can also try a few shakes of hot sauce. Sour Cream: Plain sour cream is good, but you can make it even better by turning it into a flavorful lime crema sauce instead. Use unsweetened Greek yogurt as a healthier alternative. Avocado: Slice up a ripe avocado, or turn it into my delicious homemade guacamole.
Recipe Tips
If you’re using store-bought taco seasoning, you might need to add more liquid to the pan. Many brands include starch in the mixture, which is great for thickening the sauce but can sometimes make it too thick. Homemade cheese sauce is easy to make, so if you have a few minutes to whip up a fresh batch, I highly recommend it. Instead of adding pinto beans, stir a can of refried beans into the meat. This will make the mixture delicious and creamy!Buy Sturdy Tortilla Chips that will hold up to the cheese sauce and toppings. I got these chips from Costco.I poured the cheese sauce over the top of the chips, but you can layer the chips with cheese sauce in between if you want to be sure that it coats every chip! Doing it this way will be helpful if you want to use a round tray to make a tower of nachos, rather than spreading them on a sheet pan. For easy cleanup, line the tray with foil before assembling the nachos. Make a Nacho Bar! Since these nachos aren’t baked, everyone can make their own plate. Set out chips, warm cheese sauce, the meat mixture, and all of the toppings, and let your family and friends go nuts!Make Ahead: Cook the beef and bean mixture a day ahead of time. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to assemble and serve the nachos.
Storing Tips
Nachos should be enjoyed immediately since the chips will get soggy if they sit too long with cheese sauce on them! You can keep the cooked taco beef mixture in the fridge for up to 2-3 days though. Instead of making a big tray of nachos with this recipe, you can reheat the meat in smaller portions as needed to make nachos for 1 or two people.
What To Serve With Ground Beef Nachos
I love turning nacho night into a full Mexican food feast! Let everyone choose from favorites like Grilled Shrimp Tacos, Mexican Rice, and Chicken Enchilada Soup. For Dessert, try Sopapilla Cheesecake squares, or a fresh Mexican Fruit Salad. If you really want to celebrate, make these fun Pinata Cupcakes with a surprise inside! Loaded Ground Beef Nachos are a delicious meal idea! Make these for dinner this week, or serve them up for your friends at your next football party! © Little Sunny Kitchen
