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Savory Loaded Beef Nachos with Jalapeño Cheese Sauce

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A quick and easy recipe for game day featuring seasoned ground beef layered with crispy tortilla chips and a smooth, spicy jalapeño cheese sauce. Perfect for sharing and crowd-pleasing with bold flavors and creamy texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (use gluten-free flour for GF option)
  • 1 cup whole milk (or dairy-free milk if needed)
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 2 small jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped (keep seeds for extra heat)
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 large bag tortilla chips (thick and sturdy variety recommended)
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (optional)
  • Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until translucent.
  2. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
  4. Season with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat the beef evenly with spices. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain excess fat if needed.
  5. In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons flour, stirring constantly to form a roux, about 2 minutes without browning.
  6. Gradually pour in 1 cup whole milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Continue whisking until sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes.
  7. Reduce heat to low and stir in shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, chopped jalapeños, cayenne pepper (if using), and salt to taste. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
  8. Spread a layer of tortilla chips on a large oven-safe platter or baking sheet.
  9. Spoon half of the seasoned beef evenly over the chips. Drizzle half of the jalapeño cheese sauce on top.
  10. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, black olives, and green onions evenly over the layer.
  11. Repeat with another layer of chips, beef, and cheese sauce.
  12. Optional: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Warm assembled nachos for 5-7 minutes until cheese sauce is bubbly. Watch carefully to avoid burning chips.
  13. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh cilantro and dollops of sour cream if desired.

Notes

Drain excess beef fat for a cleaner bite. Whisk roux constantly to avoid lumps in cheese sauce. Adjust jalapeño seeds and cayenne pepper for desired heat level. Layer ingredients to keep chips crispy. Cheese sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef nachos, jalapeño cheese sauce, game day snacks, loaded nachos, spicy cheese sauce, easy nachos, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/savory-loaded-beef-nachos-with-jalape-n-o-cheese-sauce-easy-recipe-for-game-day/