Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable)
Layered Tex-Mex bake with seasoned beef, chips, melted cheeses and zesty toppings—ideal for game night or family dinners.
# 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
# Steps:
01 - Set oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion; cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add minced garlic to skillet and cook 1 minute. Stir in taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes for flavors to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
04 - Layer half of the tortilla chips in prepared baking dish. Spread half of the meat mixture over chips, and sprinkle with half of both cheeses. Repeat with remaining chips, meat mixture, and cheeses.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
06 - Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Top with sour cream, black olives, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Every bite, from cheesy tops to crunchy chip layers, feels like a plate of loaded nachos without the fuss.
- It comes together quickly enough for a weeknight, but looks impressive enough for your hungriest friends on game day.
02 -
- Once, I learned the hard way that overcrushing chips turns this into mush; gentle hands only!
- Letting the casserole rest before cutting gives cleaner slices and a better bite.
03 -
- I once forgot to season the beef—don’t skip that, or the flavors just don’t pop.
- A quick broil at the end amps up those crispy cheese edges everyone fights over.