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Best Loaded Football Nachos with Ground Beef & Queso

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These loaded football nachos with ground beef and queso are the ultimate game day snack. With seasoned beef, creamy homemade queso, and crunchy chips, they’re quick, easy, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 ounces block Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces block sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 large bag (13–16 ounces) restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup fresh pico de gallo or salsa
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup pickled jalapeños
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
  2. Cook the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat.
  3. Season the beef: Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in beef broth and simmer for 2-3 minutes, scraping up browned bits. Remove from heat.
  4. Make the queso: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk while whisking continuously. Cook until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
  5. Melt the cheese: Reduce heat to low. Add shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese a handful at a time, whisking until melted. Stir in salt and cayenne if using. Keep warm.
  6. Layer the nachos: Spread half the tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet. Top with half the seasoned beef, half the black beans, and half the queso. Repeat with remaining chips, beef, beans, and queso.
  7. Bake the nachos: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and chips are warm.
  8. Add fresh toppings: Remove from oven. Immediately scatter pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, diced avocado, and chopped cilantro over the top. Dollop sour cream and squeeze lime wedges over everything.
  9. Serve immediately: Bring the baking sheet to the table and let everyone dig in. Provide extra lime wedges and hot sauce on the side.

Notes

For best results, shred your own cheese from a block; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. To keep chips crunchy, layer them in a single layer and don’t overbake. You can prep the beef and queso up to two days in advance and assemble just before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded nachos, football nachos, ground beef nachos, queso nachos, game day nachos, easy nachos, homemade queso

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/best-loaded-football-nachos-with-ground-beef-and-queso/