Loaded Nachos with Seasoned Beef
Crispy tortilla chips topped with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, sour cream, and fresh toppings. Ready in under 20 minutes for an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer or casual dinner.
- Total time
- 18 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 624
- Protein
- 34g
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 6 cups tortilla chips
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 whole jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro or scallions, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Place a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and wait 1 minute until hot. Add the ground beef in a single layer, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon into walnut-sized pieces as it cooks, about 5 minutes, until no pink remains.
- 2
Pour off excess grease through a fine-mesh strainer, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan to coat the beef, then return the beef to the skillet.
- 3
Sprinkle 1.5 teaspoons chili powder and 1 teaspoon cumin over the beef, then stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant and evenly coated, so the spices bloom and distribute throughout the meat.
- 4
Spread 6 cups tortilla chips in a single even layer across a large ovenproof serving platter or baking sheet, so chips are close but not stacked.
- 5
Scatter the warm seasoned beef over the chips, distributing it evenly across the surface.
- 6
Sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese over the beef in an even layer, so most chips are covered or nestled near cheese.
- 7
Set the broiler to high and position the oven rack 6 inches below the heating element. Broil the nachos for 2 to 3 minutes, watching continuously, until the cheese melts and begins to bubble at the edges.
- 8
Remove from the broiler and drizzle 0.5 cup sour cream across the top in a zigzag pattern so it pools in a few spots.
- 9
Scatter jalapeño slices and 0.25 cup chopped cilantro or scallions across the top for color and freshness, then serve immediately while cheese is still melted.
Tools you’ll need
- 12-inch skillet
- wooden spoon
- fine-mesh strainer
- large ovenproof serving platter or baking sheet
- oven with broiler
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