Beef Nacho Platter Delight (Printer-friendly)
A savory mix of seasoned beef, tortilla chips, melty cheese, and fresh garnishes ready to share.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef Mixture
01 - 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp chili powder
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - ¼ cup tomato sauce
→ Chips & Cheese
10 - 8 oz sturdy tortilla chips
11 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Toppings
13 - ½ cup sour cream
14 - 1 cup fresh tomato, diced
15 - ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
16 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
17 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
18 - 1 avocado, diced
19 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef for about 4 minutes. Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Mix in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Incorporate tomato sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - Spread half of the tortilla chips evenly on a large baking sheet or ovenproof platter. Layer with half of the beef mixture, then half of the combined cheeses. Repeat layers with remaining chips, beef, and cheese.
05 - Bake assembled layers for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
06 - Remove from oven and top with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeño slices, avocado, and chopped cilantro.
07 - Drizzle sour cream over the top or serve on the side. Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It feeds a crowd without making you feel like you're stuck in the kitchen, which is honestly the dream when people show up hungry.
- The contrast between crispy, melty, fresh, and tangy hits every craving at once—there's something for every bite.
- You can prep this in two dishes if your platter isn't huge, and nobody minds eating from multiple layers.
02 -
- If you assemble these more than a few minutes before baking, the chips will start breaking down from the moisture in the beef—so preheat your oven and have everything ready before you start layering.
- Monterey Jack really does melt better than a third cheddar would, and that one detail changes the whole texture from clumpy to creamy.
- Cold sour cream and diced avocado right before serving are non-negotiable; they're what keep this from tasting one-note and heavy.
03 -
- Toast your spices in the fat for one full minute after adding them—this prevents that raw, slightly bitter powder taste that ruins otherwise perfect nachos.
- Use an ovenproof platter or baking sheet so you can take the whole thing straight from oven to table without transferring; it stays hot longer and looks way more impressive that way.