Name: Simple beef nachos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil; 500 g 1 lb minced beef; 1 onion; 4 mushrooms; 1 chilli; 1 teaspoon powdered cumin; 400 g 13 oz can chopped tomatoes; 125 ml beef stock; 400 g 13 oz can kidney beans; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 200 g 6½ oz tortilla chips; 120 g grated cheddar cheese; Sour cream; 1 tomato chopped

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Beef Nachos are a quick and tasty dish of tortilla chops with a topping of spicy mince and cheese. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

What could be more appealing than a pile of warm tortilla crisps heaped with spicy beef and cheese?

These simple beef nachos are perfect for a family night in. Quick to make and perfect for a delicious lunch or dinner they are a real crowd pleaser.

This post is an entry for the #MeatMatters Challenge, sponsored by Simply Beef and Lamb. Learn more about the benefits of cooking and eating beef and lamb along with recipe ideas and inspiration here: https://simplybeefandlamb.co.uk

I received a £10 gift card to buy the ingredients for my meal and might win a prize for taking part.

Beef nachos in a bowl beside a green napkin

How to make simple beef nachos

First make the spicy beef to top the nachos. A lean ground beef will give the best flavour. The key to tasty nachos is to ensure the beef is full of flavour. This gives a lovely spicy base to your nachos which in combination with melted cheese and tortilla chips becomes a taste sensation.

Chop up some onions and mushrooms and add these to a pan with some oil. Cook until soft then add cumin and a chopped chilli. Chilli paste works well if you can’t find a fresh chilli. Cook until the mince is brown.

Add a tin of tomatoes, some beef stock and some kidney beans. Simmer for around twenty minutes until the sauce is thick.

Layer some tortilla chips in a bowl and grate some cheese over the top. Put the bowl under a grill until the cheese melts.

Top with the mince mixture and add different toppings for flavour.

If you want to make a large batch of nachos layer the tortilla chips on a baking tray, grate over some cheese and add the mince. Pop into the oven for fifteen minutes.

Simple beef nachos on a plate with sour cream on top

What to serve with beef nachos

The great thing about beef nachos is that you can vary the toppings and get a new dish every time you make it.

Great toppings are fresh tomato salsa, guacamole, sour cream and lime wedges. If you want a more fiery flavour add some sliced red or green jalapeno peppers.

beef topping tortilla chips in a bowl with sour cream on top.

Are beef nachos healthy?

Choosing a lean ground beef will add more flavour and reduce fat content. Beef is naturally rich in protein which helps muscle building and tissue repair. It is also a source of iron which helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.

The addition of beans into your nachos provides more protein and also fibre which helps you feel full.

Crunchy tortillas taste fabulous but can be high in fat and calories. Using baked tortillas will make the dish more healthy. Why not make your own? Simply slice tortillas into triangles, drizzle with oil and bake for 15-20 minutes at 180C.

Top with a cheese that is full of flavour. A mature cheddar or spicy cheese works well grated over the top. Instead of grated cheese try topping the tortilla crisps with a cheese sauce.

Nachos are a great base for a load of vegetables which will add towards your five a day. Pile on shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, sliced avocados or even olives for extra flavour.

Beef nachos recipe

Simple beef nachos

A delicious pile of spicy minced beef topping cheese covered tortilla crisps. These can be made in thirty minutes and are great for a quick lunch or dinner.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Serving Size 4 people

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
500 g 1 lb minced beef
1 onion
4 mushrooms
1 chilli
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
400 g 13 oz can chopped tomatoes
125 ml beef stock
400 g 13 oz can kidney beans
1 tablespoon lime juice
200 g 6½ oz tortilla chips
120 g grated cheddar cheese

For the topping

Sour cream
1 tomato chopped

Instructions

Chop the onion and the mushrooms.
Heat the oil in the saucepan and add the onions and mushrooms.
When soft add the beef, cumin and chopped chilli.
Cook until the mince is browned
Add the tomatoes, stock and kidney beans. Simmer for about 30 minutes
Place the tortilla chips in a bowl and sprinkle the cheese on top.
Place under a grill until the cheese melts
Top the tortillas with the beef mixture, chopped tomatoes and sour cream

Notes

If you are making a large batch it is simpler to layer the tortilla crisp and cheese on a baking tray and top with the mince. Put in the oven for fifteen minutes until the cheese melts.

Can I make the recipe in advance?

Yes, the spicy beef can be made in advance. This will let the flavours develop. Properly stored the beef will last three to four days in the refrigerator but I prefer to make it the day before.

When you are ready to make the nachos ensure the beef is reheated thoroughly.

Why not pin the recipe for later?

14 Comments

I do love nachos and this recipe is so easy and adaptable!

This sounds tasty. I’ve only ever put cheese and salsa on tortilla chips when making nachos. I need to be more adventurous. And I’ve just bought some meatballs this morning, for a dish I’m planning to cook this weekend for the #MeatMatters challenge, so look out early next week for my post

Alison Maclean says:

April 8, 2019 at 7:24 am

Look forward to seeing your recipe

Reply

That’s a tasty comfort food dish, great for midweek dinners. Since my DH went vegetarian, I don’t often cook meat, and didn’t apply for this BritMums campaign. My younger one loves tacos with sweet peppers, cheese, mince and salsa, but perhaps I should try to cook nachos for him.