Print

Best Game Day Loaded Nacho Bar with Ground Beef Recipe

loaded nacho bar with ground beef - featured image
Print Recipe

This loaded nacho bar with ground beef is the ultimate game day crowd-pleaser, featuring seasoned beef, melted cheese, and fresh toppings on sturdy tortilla chips. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for feeding a crowd without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup beef broth or water
  • 1 large bag (about 13 ounces) restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup fresh pico de gallo or salsa
  • 1 cup guacamole
  • 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • Optional: diced fresh tomatoes, shredded lettuce, hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper over the beef. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Pour in beef broth, scrape up browned bits, and simmer for 2-3 minutes until liquid mostly evaporates. Remove from heat.
  4. Spread half the tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle half the cheddar and half the Monterey Jack over the chips. Spoon half the seasoned beef over the cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, cheese, and beef.
  5. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  6. Remove from oven. Immediately scatter pickled jalapeños and black olives over the top. Let rest for 2-3 minutes. Dollop sour cream, pico de gallo, and guacamole across the surface. Sprinkle with cilantro and green onions. Squeeze lime wedges over everything.
  7. Serve immediately with extra toppings on the side.

Notes

Shred your own cheese for best melt. Layer chips and cheese in two rounds to ensure every chip gets toppings. Let nachos rest 2-3 minutes before adding cold toppings to prevent sogginess. Keep extra chips on the side for fallen toppings. Leftovers are best stored separately and reheated with fresh chips.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded nachos, ground beef nachos, game day nachos, nacho bar, sheet pan nachos, easy nacho recipe

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/best-game-day-loaded-nacho-bar-with-ground-beef-recipe/