Description
This Loaded Nachos recipe combines seasoned ground beef, black beans, and melted cheddar cheese atop crispy tortilla chips, finished with fresh toppings like cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, and cilantro for a flavorful and crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef 97% lean
- ½ cup white onion finely chopped
- ½ cup green pepper finely chopped
Seasoning and Beans
- ⅛ cup water
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix (1 packet)
- 15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained, heated
Base
- 11 ounces tortilla chips (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 Oven: Preheat the oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the nachos.
- Cook 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 juices run clear.
- Add Seasoning and Beans: Stir in the water and taco seasoning mix into the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to combine flavors. Then add the rinsed and heated black beans and mix everything well. Remove the skillet from heat and set aside.
- Layer Nachos: Spread half of the tortilla chips evenly in a 9×13 baking dish. Top with half of the beef and bean mixture, then sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layering with the remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese.
- Bake Nachos: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 7 minutes until the cheese is thoroughly melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven carefully.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Immediately top the melted nachos with diced cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, fresh chopped cilantro, jalapeño slices, and green onions.
- Serve with Optional Sides: Serve the loaded nachos hot, accompanied by optional sour cream and salsa dollops for added flavor.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to keep the dish less greasy and healthier.
- For extra spice, add more jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce.
- Black beans can be substituted with pinto beans or refried beans for a different texture.
- Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts better than pre-shredded varieties.
- If preferred, you can add other toppings such as guacamole, diced avocado, or pickled jalapeños.
- Serve immediately to prevent tortilla chips from becoming soggy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
