Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable Version)
Layered beef, tortilla chips and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack, baked until bubbly and finished with cilantro and green onions.
# What You 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, optional for topping
→ 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
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and chopped onion, breaking the meat apart, until beef is browned and onion is softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add minced garlic to skillet; sauté for 1 minute. Stir in taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Cook and simmer 3 to 4 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and black pepper.
04 - Arrange half of the crushed tortilla chips in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon half the meat mixture over chips and sprinkle with half the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Repeat with remaining chips, meat, and cheeses.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
06 - Remove casserole from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Top with sour cream, black olives, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired. Serve while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- No fancy skills needed—it’s all about simple layers and big flavors.
- Leftovers (if you manage to have any) somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
- Piling on too many chips at the bottom turns them mushy, so use a light hand when layering.
- Tasting the meat mixture before baking is crucial for balancing salt and spice.
03 -
- Freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly than pre-shredded.
- Layer the chips on top closer to serving for the crunchiest results.