Baked Nachos Recipe

My hubs and I love nachos. But my hubs REALLY loves them and will typically order them at most restaurants. I've often tried to recreate them (not thinking it could be that hard) with much disappointment. But I finally researched a ton of recipes and created my own. And they turned out surprisingly good!!! The hubs even said we should open a business just selling nachos (of different varieties). ha! Now I'm not saying they were that good, but it will be fun to mix and match some different meats/beans/toppings in the future now that I've learned a few basics.

A few key basics (I've learned that may seem obvious to you but they weren't to me in the past):

• Use real beef (I typically cook with 100% veggie meat crumblers for things that call for ground beef)

• The type is cheese is crucial (canNOT be fat free or reduced fat)

• Flavor the meat/beans in the skillet (vs. just loading the nachos with plain cooked meat or beans from the can)

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef (cooked and drained)
1 package taco seasoning
1/4 - /1/2 cup hot water
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 - 1 can italian diced tomatoes
1 & 1/2 cup shred cheddar
1 & 1/2 cup shred monterey jack cheese
1 bag of favorite tostito chips

Optional:
Diced tomatoes
Jalepenos
pico de gallo
Sour cream
Guac


Directions:

Once you've browned and drained the meat, return it to the skillet and add in the taco seasoning, water, black beans, and tomatoes. Let them simmer for 10-15 minutes. (I only used half a can of tomatoes but feel confident an entire can would be okay too.)

I lined my cookie sheet with foil and sprayed with cooking spray first. If you had two smaller sized oven safe dishes, it might be better to fix them that way. Then you could eat directly from the hot plate and keep the nachos warmer.

Start laying your nachos:

Chips
Half of meat/bean mixture
All of shred cheddar
Chips
Remainder of meat/bean mixture
All of shred mont jack cheese

Bake 375 for 10-15 minutes until cheese melts.
Garnish with desired toppings!

This definitely made a ton of nachos, but I knew it would be our meal and I also had no idea how much it would make. We only ate about half of the pan, but the hubs is hoping they will heat up well for a late night snack! 

I would typically garnish mine with sour cream AND guac but we're having tacos one night this week (so I wanted to save my homemade guac for those). 

My picky little eaters were also both eating off of my plate tonite! So I'd say this was a win all around for my family!