Description
A hearty, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring ground beef, tortilla chips, and melted cheese, ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 2 large bags tortilla chips (about 10–12 cups, sturdy/restaurant style)
- 3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced
- ½ cup jalapeños, sliced
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
Instructions
- Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the jalapeños and green onions. Measure out the cheeses.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Break up the meat and cook until no longer pink and onions are soft (5-7 minutes). Drain most grease, leaving about a tablespoon.
- Add minced garlic to the beef mixture and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Reduce heat to low. Add half the tortilla chips to the skillet in a single layer. Spoon half the beef mixture over the chips, then sprinkle with half the Mexican blend cheese. Repeat layers with remaining chips, beef, and cheese.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and cook on low heat for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and chips are warm. Do not turn up the heat.
- Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top. Add black olives, jalapeños, and tomatoes if using. Drizzle with sour cream and scatter green onions over everything.
- Serve immediately while hot and melty.
Notes
Use sturdy ‘restaurant style’ chips to prevent mushiness. If your skillet is not oven-safe, you can transfer the nachos to a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pan. Add wet toppings like sour cream and tomatoes after removing from heat to prevent sogginess. Leftovers do not freeze well.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
Keywords: nachos, ground beef, one pan dinner, weeknight meals, easy dinner, cheesy nachos, family friendly, quick meals