Not just another beef nachos….the 5 minute, all-natural nachos cheese sauce is what makes this a RIPPER nachos! Plus, my “rules” for how to construct the perfect nachos. 🙂
My Rules for How To Make the Perfect Nachos
Rule #1: The Nachos Cheese Sauce ensures even coverage of cheesy goodness on every single chip which you simply can’t achieve just by using grated cheese. Unless you use an inordinate amount of it! Remember: A corn chip without cheese on it is just a chip – not nachos!
Rule #2: Hot and cold must be separated. Never dump cold guacamole and sour cream on top of hot melted cheese. It will set instantly. Nobody wants nachos with cold cheese. So serve cold toppings on the side!
Rule #3: Use a sturdy corn chip. Now is not the time to use no-brand corn chips! Nobody likes soggy chips and nobody likes chips that break when you score one that is gloriously loaded!
(PS Please note, my hands are extra swollen and puffy in this photo because it was a stinking hot, humid day in Sydney and I have no air conditioning!!! 😉 )
(PPS Oh my. I forgot to put the Pico de Gallo on. Shock horror, I skipped the veggies.)
Rule #4: Freshly grated cheese will melt better….just sayin’….
Rule #5: Homemade seasoning for the beef is better than store bought….just sayin’…..
Rule #6: Build the nachos in single layers to ensure that you don’t end up with a pile of corn chips with no toppings. No one’s interested in plain corn chips at a time like this!
Rule #7: Don’t overbake! The trick is to just melt the cheese and warm the nachos all the way through without burning the corn chips (or – gasp, shock horror – the cheese!).
Extra Rules
Rule #8: Nachos must not be made when alone. Too dangerous.
Rule #9: Beer and/or wine (preferably both) must be present.
Rule #10: No cutlery.
Now that we’re all clear on the rules, here’s the recipe! 😉 – Nagi x
What are YOUR Nachos Rules? Tell me below, and I’ll add them to my list!!! 😉
PS For something a little different, try this Nachos Pie! It’s everything you know and love about nachos – in pie form!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
PS Little video I made for the Nachos Cheese Sauce, also including this Nachos!
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Ripper Beef Nachos
Ingredients
Beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 1 lb / 500g ground beef (mince)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp water
Nachos Seasoning
- 1 tsp each onion powder (Note 1), dried oregano, salt
- 2 tsp each dried cumin powder , paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper , or to taste
Nachos
- 14 oz / 400g corn chips , good quality (Note 2)
- 2 cups grated cheese (cheddar, tasty, gruyere, Monterey Jack)
- 1 quantity Nachos Cheese Sauce , warm (Note 3)
Sides/Garnish
- Sliced scallions / shallots
- 1 quantity Proper Guacamole , Restaurant Style
- 1 quantity Pico de Gallo (Note 4)
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Beef: Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook until translucent. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go. Once beef is cooked, add Nachos Seasoning, tomato paste and water. Cook for a further 2 minutes, then set aside.
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Spread half the corn chips in a single layer on a baking tray. Drizzle over about 1 cup Nachos Cheese Sauce (see KEY TIPS in Note 3), top with 1/2 the Beef and 1/2 the grated cheese ensuring most of the Cheese Sauce is covered.
- Spread over remaining corn chips, drizzle over remaining Nachos Cheese Sauce, Beef and grated cheese, again ensuring all the Cheese Sauce is covered.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sliced scallions/shallots if using and with Guacamole, Pico de Galloand Sour Cream on the side.
Recipe Notes:
Hi Nagi! Saw this at 7:00 am and was instantly hungry!! Went to the store before our second snowstorm of the week!! Rules 8 and 9 are most important – plus napkins and only taking what comes on your chip! 🙂
BA HA HA! I love that of all the rules, you pick the two that really matter!! 🙂 And YES to the ettiquette of only taking what comes on your chip!!! I smack away anyone who dares to go back in to load up their chip! 😉
I think your rules should be made into a printable and hung in every kitchen!! The rules are excellent and I do believe that wine/beer is a necessity!! Also the messier you are, the more the enjoyment. I do believe that you are on a one woman campaign to make me into a blimp!! I know I have free will *whine* but I don’t with your recipes. They are just too tasty and irresistible. I am thanking you for the recipe — I’ll wait until we are having guests just as a precaution — I don’t want to say, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”
BA HA HA!! I love that! Someone should totally make a wall print for these rules!!!
Looks AMAZING NAGI! You have everything covered , no more homework for me. I am thinking of making these Nachos with plantain chips! Can’t wait.
P.S did you have friends over when you where making these? Like you said they are DANGEROUS!!!
I took photos so quickly and dashed over to a friend’s house and dumped it with her kids!!! 😉 And YES to plantain chips!!
We’re expecting about 24″ of snow here in the Wash, DC area, so I hope I’ve got everything I need to make these nachos! If not, I’ll get what I need after we dig out! 🙂 And your cheese sauce is genius with the evaporated milk.
24″ of snow??? That’s….60cm!!! That is a LOT OF SNOW! Bring on the snow fights! 🙂
Hey, I chose 5 stars but it put 4.
<3 N x
Of COURSE you would write a post about how to perfectly create nachos. Only you Nagi take your nacho game so seriously. But. I do not blame you 🙂
Great for game time happiness 🙂
I figure if you’re going to do a calorie blow out, it must be done RIGHT!!! 😉
I hereby promise to follow and respect your rules, because the outcome is just so heavenly 🙂
Two peas in a pod! 😉
I love the name of this dish!
THANK JENNIE!!! Didn’t know how else to describe it – “Beef Nachos” is just BORING!!! 😉