The Best Nacho Recipe Ever (2024)

Whether you’re looking for the tastiest Cinco de Mayo recipes for your Mexican fiesta or hoping to have a crowd-pleasing menu for game day, these loaded sheet pan nachos are a no-brainer, guaranteed to be a showstopping dish at any gathering.

Not only does this massive plate of nachos offer layers of traditional shredded cheddar, but they’re also dripping with rich, melty homemade nacho cheese, leaving no chip behind!

Besides its healthy dose of cheese, our best nacho recipe ever has many other goodies nestled throughout! These mouth-watering nachos are piled high with refried beans, taco-seasoned ground beef, tangy sour cream, diced tomatoes, green onions, and sliced black olives on a bed of white corn chips smothered in melted Monterey Jack and cheddar.

Recipe

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread out the tortilla chips on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Then sprinkle with the Monterey Jack cheese.

2. In a small bowl, mix the refried beans with garlic powder and onion powder. Then spoon the refried beans onto the chips.

3. Wash and dry the produce. Using a small serrated paring knife, halve your cherry tomatoes. Dice the scallions, separating the whites from the greens. Discard the whites or set them aside for later use.

4. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink.

5. While beef is cooking, mix taco seasoning according to package instructions. Drain off the fat and return to the stovetop. Add the taco seasoning mixture and simmer until the sauce thickens about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare your homemade nacho cheese sauce. (See recipe below for directions.)

6. Spoon the nacho cheese sauce over the tortilla chips. Place the nachos into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the shredded cheese is fully melted.

7. Remove from the oven and top with the taco-seasoned ground beef, sour cream, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, and green onions. Serve with other desired toppings if you wish, such as fresh avocado, hot sauce, salsa, lime, guacamole, or sliced jalapeños. Devour immediately!

Directions

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. Allow the butter to melt, and then add the flour. Using a whisk, whisk the butter and flour together to create a roux. Continue to cook until a bubbly reaction occurs.

2. Slowly whisk the milk into the butter and flour mixture. Continue to cook, constantly whisking, allowing the milk to come to simmer. Once the mixture thickens, turn the heat down to low and add the cheese, followed by the salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.

3. Stir the shredded cheese until it transforms into a melty cheese sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of milk and stir until it loosens to your desired consistency. Remove sauce from heat.

Recipe Notes

Do I Have to Use Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce?

Absolutely not! But, we think that’s what makes these nachos truly stand out from the rest, making them the best nachos ever! You could opt to use a jar of store-bought queso dip for convenience. But we love how our nacho cheese sauce is made with real, simple homemade ingredients. And the best part is, it only takes five minutes to whip up!

Why Bake the Nachos with the Cheese First?

If you were wondering, baking the nachos without the ground beef and the rest of the toppings prevents the chips from getting soggy. The layers of melted cheese act as a barrier between the chips and the toppings, which means more crunch for you!

What to Serve with Nachos

These loaded nachos will easily feed a hungry crowd! But if you’re wondering what else to serve at your fiesta, here are some excellent dishes to complement cheesy nachos:

1. 3-Ingredient Chicken Tacos Perfect For A Busy Weeknight
2. How to Make a California Burrito at Home
3. How To Make Smooth Guacamole Dip For Your Next Get-Together
4. Our Frozen Strawberry Margarita Recipe
5. The Best Sweet And Spicy Pineapple Salsa

Related Reading

1. 11 Recipes For the Perfect Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
2. Game Day Seven Layer Dip
3. Two-Ingredient Keto Tortilla Chips For Ultimate Keto

Recipe By: Brittany Baxter