Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable)

Layered Tex-Mex casserole of seasoned beef, crunchy tortilla chips and melted cheddar, topped with cilantro and jalapeños.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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, to taste
09 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Dairy

10 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream (optional, for topping)

→ Chips

13 - 5 cups tortilla chips, lightly crushed

→ Toppings

14 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional)
15 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Fresh jalapeños, sliced (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F and allow it to preheat fully before starting assembly.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion, breaking up the meat, until beef is no longer pink and onion is softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Incorporate the taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, to blend the flavors. Season with salt and black pepper.
04 - Arrange half of the tortilla chips evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon half the beef mixture over the chips and scatter with half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Repeat with remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheeses.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and lightly golden on top.
06 - Remove dish from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Add sour cream, black olives, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeños to taste. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get the nostalgic flavors of nachos in an easy, no-fuss weeknight casserole.
  • People go back for seconds, even if they were skeptical at first—something about the gooey cheese and crispy chips never fails.
02 -
  • Once I tried layering the chips on top—big mistake! The chips ended up chewy instead of crispy.
  • Letting the casserole rest those extra five minutes before adding toppings keeps it from falling apart on your plate.
03 -
  • Let everything cool just enough so those stringy cheese layers don’t burn your tongue—you'll taste more flavor, too.
  • Always taste the filling before layering; the seasoning is everything and easy to tweak before baking.

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