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Ultimate Game Day Loaded Nacho Bar with Ground Beef

loaded nacho bar with ground beef - featured image
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Perfectly seasoned, never-greasy ground beef anchors this customizable nacho bar. With crisp chips, melted cheese, and a toppings bar, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for game day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 large bag (13–16 oz) restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup pico de gallo
  • 1 cup guacamole
  • ½ cup pickled jalapeños
  • ½ cup black olives, sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it apart, until fully browned.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in beef broth and apple cider vinegar, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.
  3. Line a plate with a triple layer of paper towels. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cooked beef to paper towels. Let sit for 2-3 minutes to absorb excess grease. Transfer beef back to skillet or a bowl and fluff with a fork.
  4. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Arrange tortilla chips in a single, even layer.
  5. Sprinkle seasoned ground beef evenly over chips. Scatter shredded Mexican blend and pepper jack cheese on top. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  6. Remove from oven and let rest for 2 minutes. Add fresh toppings: sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, pickled jalapeños, black olives, cilantro, and green onions. Squeeze lime wedges over the top.
  7. Serve immediately with extra toppings on the side.

Notes

Don’t skip draining the beef on paper towels—it keeps chips crisp. Use thick, restaurant-style chips. Let nachos rest 2 minutes after baking so cheese sets. Cook beef and prep toppings up to 24 hours ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: nachos, game day, ground beef, loaded nachos, party food, appetizer, Mexican

Find it online: https://islatable.com/ultimate-game-day-loaded-nacho-bar-with-ground-beef/