Description
Loaded Nachos are piled high with crispy tortilla chips, seasoned taco meat, melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, grilled corn, and fresh summer toppings. This crowd-pleasing appetizer is perfect for game day, parties, or casual family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large bag (12–14 oz) sturdy restaurant-style tortilla chips
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef, ground turkey, or 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning (or 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1/2 cup grilled summer corn kernels
- 1 cup fresh pico de gallo or diced Roma tomatoes, drained
- 1 large ripe avocado, diced or 1 cup fresh guacamole
- 1/2 cup pickled or fresh jalapeño slices
- 1/3 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 1/4 cup pickled red onions
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Brown the ground beef or warm the black beans in a skillet. Drain excess fat if needed, stir in the taco seasoning with 1/4 cup water, and simmer for 3 minutes until thickened.
- Spread half of the tortilla chips onto the prepared baking sheet. Top with half of the seasoned meat or beans, half of the grilled corn, and half of both cheeses.
- Repeat with the remaining tortilla chips, followed by the remaining meat, corn, and the rest of the Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses to create a second layer.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and immediately top with pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeños, pickled red onions, sour cream, and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
Layering the nachos twice ensures every chip gets toppings and melted cheese. Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest melt, and add the fresh toppings after baking to keep them crisp and vibrant.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg