Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (2024)

Recipes | Appetizers | | Loaded Nachos

Author by Amanda Davis on Updated on

5 from 2 votes

Loaded Nachos are a popular game day recipe packed with healthy ingredients and cheesy goodness!

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Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (1)

We love nachos on this blog; with recipes like these filet mignon steak nachos and our rotisserie chicken nachos.A big plate of Loaded Nachosis a popular game day recipe packed with healthy ingredients and cheesy goodness! Load up a platter with your favorite fresh nacho ingredients usingthis easy recipe.

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (2)

LOADED NACHOS

Football season is upon us now, and that means game day appetizers! I don’t know about you, but I love all the party food munchies this time of year. I can’t get enough of them!

Honestly, I could skip dinner and just eat appetizers instead, or in this case, Loaded Nachos…which is exactly what my family did the other night while we were watching college football.

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (3)

They were a huge hit with my kids and husband! And best of all, they’re so easy to make…under 30 minutes start to finish!

There are affiliate links in this post. That means if you buy something from that link, I will earn a small commission, but it won’t cost you anything additional.

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (4)

TO MAKE THESE LOADED NACHOS, YOU WILL NEED:

  • 1 party size bag of tortilla chips
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
  • 1 cup refried beans, preferably homemade
  • 1 15.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups shredded cheese, mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack
  • 2 2.25 oz cans of sliced black olives
  • 1 cup corn, cut from the cob, or frozen, thawed
  • 3 green onions, chopped, green parts included
  • jalapeño, mini yellow, orange, red peppers, sliced into rounds
  • 2 cups chunky salsa or pico de gallo, excess liquid drained
  • 1 avocado, chopped

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (5)

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU WILL FIND USEFUL:

  • Cheese grater
  • Parchment paper
  • Stonewarebaking sheet
  • Skillet

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE

These Loaded Nachos are covered with everything but the kitchen sink! I layered each layer of tortilla chips with taco meat, homemade refried beans, black beans, a mix of shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, sliced olives, and corn. Then I added sliced Jalapeno peppers, colorfulmini pepper rounds and chopped green onions on top before putting it in the oven. I added the drained salsa / pico de gallo and avocado chunks as soon as it came out of the oven.

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (6)

You can certainly use one of those taco spice seasoning packets to make your taco meat, or canned refried beans, but using the homemade version is much healthier, and tastier too, in my opinion!

Here’s what your baking sheet will look like after the first layer of chips.

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (7)

Here’s the tray ready to go in the oven!

Don’t they look good?! These Loaded Nachos are sure to be a big game day party favorite!

If you’re looking more more nacho recipes check out these rotisserie chicken nachos. So good!

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (8)

MORE GREAT GAME DAY RECIPES YOU’RE SURE TO ENJOY:

Salsa Verde…tangy Salsa Verde is quite versatile, great with chips and nachos, or over burritos and enchiladas!

Mexican Corn Salad…this easy and delicious15-minute corn salad can be eaten with chips or as a side dish!

Taco Pasta Salad… an easy crowd favorite! Perfect for a potluck or BBQ!

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (9)

Loaded Nachos

Loaded Nachos are a popular game day recipe packed with healthy ingredients and cheesy goodness!

5 from 2 votes

IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 6 -8

Author: Amanda Formaro

Ingredients

  • 1 party size bag of tortilla chips
  • 1 lb hamburger meat
  • 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
  • 1/3 - 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup refried beans preferably homemade
  • 1 15.5 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups shredded cheese a mix of Cheddar and Monterey Jack
  • 2 2.25 cans of sliced black olives drained
  • 1 cup corn cut straight from the cob, or frozen, thawed
  • 3 green onions chopped, for garnish
  • jalapeño mixed yellow, orange, red mini peppers, sliced in rounds for garnish
  • 2 cups chunky salsa or pico de gallo drained of excess liquid
  • 1 avocado cut into chunks

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • Brown ground beef; drain excess fat.

  • Add homemade taco seasoning and water to ground beef. Bring to a boil and cook for two minutes.

  • Line stoneware baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Place first layer of chips on baking sheet.

  • Layer taco meat, refried beans, black beans, cheese, olives, and corn.

  • Repeat layer.

  • Top with chopped green onions, jalapeño, and mixed peppers.

  • Cook in oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

  • Top with drained salsa / pico de gallo and chopped avocado when the nachos come out of the oven.

  • Serve warm.

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Follow on Pinterest @AmandaFormaro or tag #AmandasCookin!

Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (10)

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Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis is the entrepreneurial mom of four grown children and four step children. She and her husband, Chef Antoine, love to cook together creating recipes for this blog. Amanda also make kid's crafts and creates decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!

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Comments

  1. Harriet says

    It’s 8.30 am here and I already have cravings for Nachos – I think I will have these tonight. Thanks

    Reply

  2. 2pots2cook says

    Perfect, colorful, creative ! Great ! Thank you !

    Reply

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Loaded Nachos Recipe: make a giant plate of nachos for the game! (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep loaded nachos from getting soggy? ›

* Bring refrigerated toppings to room temperature before piling them onto the warm chips. * To prevent the chips from getting soggy, sprinkle grated or crumbled cheese on top and bake them in the oven for a few minutes. When melted, the cheese will act as a buffer between the chips and toppings.

What do loaded nachos contain? ›

Pre-shredded cheese is coated with an anti-caking powder that prevents it from melting to its gooiest potential. Pico de gallo (store bought or fresh), guacamole, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, diced onions and tomatoes, and fresh cilantro are classic fresh nacho toppings to sprinkle over top.

What is the secret to good homemade nachos? ›

One layer of chips and toppings is good. A double layer is better. For maximum crunchy-to-gooey texture, start with a layer of chips that completely covers the bottom of your tray. Then, slather it with any toppings that need to be hot and/or melted, like beans, shredded meat, and cheese.

How do you keep loaded nachos crispy? ›

Cook at a higher heat, limit ingredients and amounts that are loose (refried beans, chili, etc. When stacking the nachos, add ingredients to each stack watching the amount. I like to keep my nachos from getting soggy in the oven by using a preheated oven and cooking them on a high heat for a shorter amount of time.

In what order do you assemble nachos? ›

A great way to serve nachos to a larger party is to layer them, baking in between each layer. Start with a base of tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, jalapeño, and any warm fillings like meats and veggies. Once the cheese melts, remove from the oven, add another layer, and repeat.

What is the secret to crispy nachos? ›

Limiting the number of ingredients baked with the chips is the key to crispiness. Top chips with no more than two or three toppings. Choose from items such as black beans, refried beans, chopped grilled chicken, seasoned ground beef (browned and drained), or chopped jalapenos.

What is the best cheese to melt for nachos? ›

A: While you can technically use any type of cheese for nachos, some cheeses work better than others. The best options include Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Queso Blanco.

What is the fully loaded nachos rule? ›

“Because we have a rule here that if you order one nachos to share, one person cannot eat all of the fully loaded nachos.” Tim pretends to be surprised by the waiter setting ground rules but is called out by his date.

What to serve with loaded nachos for dinner? ›

The best side dishes to serve with nachos are salsa, guacamole, cream cheese gravy, sloppy joes, refried beans, pico de gallo, lazy enchiladas, crispy chicken wings, Spanish rice, chicken burrito bowl, tostilocos, ranchero sauce, pineapple salsa, chicken tortilla soup, blooming onion, turkey chili, taco casserole, and ...

How do you thicken cheese sauce for nachos? ›

Use butter and all purpose flour! It works pretty well. Heat the flour and butter (approximately equal quantities) and start adding the cheese sauce onto it. Keep stirring as you add the sauce and stop when you think you've achieved the right thickness.

How can I spice up my nachos? ›

If you feel like revving up your nacho game, try topping them with grilled shrimp, doused in lime juice and some chipotle chili powder. Add grated Monterey Jack, sliced avocado, some seeded and sliced jalapenos and queso fresco to top it off.

Is it better to make nachos in the oven or microwave? ›

Here's a fact: If you put a plate of tortilla chips topped with cheese in the microwave and zap them until the cheese melts, the cheese will melt way before the tortilla chips have the chance to take on any color or toasted flavor. With nachos baked in the oven, the chips toast while the cheese melts.

What is the best combination for nachos? ›

Nachos Are Best Served With:
  • Chicken Burrito.
  • Halloumi Fajitas.
  • Quesadillas.
  • Mexican Salad.
  • Homemade Guacamole.
  • Mexican Black Beans.
  • Black Bean Burrito.
  • Corn Ribs With Macha Mayo.

What toppings do you put on nachos? ›

Toppings
  1. large tomato, finely chopped.
  2. avocado, finely chopped.
  3. 1/4 c. fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
  4. 1/4 c. thinly sliced scallions.
  5. Sour cream and hot sauce, for drizzling.
Apr 8, 2024

How do you serve nachos as a meal? ›

Nachos are typically served as a snack or an appetizer. You'd serve a meat, and vegetables, maybe a soup for the dinner. If you're going with them as the main dish, put the meat right in them… steak, ground beef, cooked with Mexican spices, or chicken, even fish.

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