Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable View)
Layered beef, tortilla chips and melted cheddar baked with zesty tomatoes and beans for a hearty Tex-Mex crowd-pleaser.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
05 - 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
06 - 1 cup frozen corn, optional
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
08 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
09 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
11 - 1/2 cup sour cream, for topping, optional
→ Chips
12 - 5 cups tortilla chips, lightly crushed
→ Toppings
13 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives, optional
14 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Fresh jalapeños, sliced, optional
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and onion, breaking up meat as it browns, until beef is cooked through and onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute. Add taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes to combine flavors. Season with salt and black pepper.
04 - In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half the crushed tortilla chips over the base. Top evenly with half the beef mixture, then sprinkle with half of each cheese. Repeat the layers with remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheeses.
05 - Transfer to oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden.
06 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Finish with sour cream, black olives, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get all the flavors of loaded nachos in a single scoop with zero need to construct the perfect bite.
- It&aposs hands-down the main course that vanishes first at potlucks, and customizing toppings is half the fun.
02 -
- If you cover the casserole while baking, it risks steaming and losing that coveted crispy cheese top.
- Crushing the chips just enough gives the best texture—too fine and you lose the crunch, too big and they can poke through the cheese.
03 -
- Letting the casserole rest for at least five minutes after baking keeps all the cheesy layers from slipping out of place.
- Mix cheddar and Monterey Jack for flavor depth and creaminess that no single cheese can match.