Beef Nachos with Jalapenos (Printable)

Tortilla chips topped with seasoned beef, melted cheese, and fresh jalapeños for a spicy Tex-Mex treat.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 9 oz ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
10 - 2 tablespoons water

→ Nacho Assembly

11 - 7 oz tortilla chips
12 - 5 oz shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 2 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 2–3 fresh jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced
15 - 2 tablespoons sliced black olives
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ To Serve

17 - Sour cream
18 - Salsa
19 - Guacamole
20 - Lime wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned, about 4–5 minutes.
03 - Add onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
05 - Add tomato paste and water. Mix well and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet or ovenproof platter.
07 - Evenly distribute the beef mixture over the chips.
08 - Sprinkle cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly on top.
09 - Scatter jalapeño slices and black olives (if using) over the cheese.
10 - Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
11 - Remove from oven. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The seasoned beef has this incredible smoky depth that makes regular nachos taste flat by comparison
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but feels like something from a TexMex restaurant
  • The way the two cheeses meld together creates this perfect pullapart texture everyone fights over
02 -
  • Soggy nachos happen when chips overlap too much, so spread them in one layer
  • The beef mixture needs to cool slightly or it will melt the cheese too fast
  • Adding cold toppings like sour cream right after baking creates perfect temperature contrast
03 -
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for cleanup that takes literally two seconds
  • Squeeze fresh lime over the whole platter right before serving for brightness

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