These crowd-pleasing Skillet Nachos are loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, and cheese, then baked until bubbly in a cast iron skillet. Topped with your favorite fresh toppings, they’re perfect for game day gatherings, movie nights, Cinco de Mayo, and more!
This easy beef nachos recipe features a fiesta of taco-seasoned ground beef, tender black beans, and creamy cheddar cheese piled on top of crunchy tortilla chips and baked to melty, crispy perfection in a cast iron skillet.
Sure, you could use a baking sheet, but your cast iron skillet retains heat so the cheese melts evenly, the tortillas crisp up around the edges, and the beef and beans are hot and delicious all the way through.
These beef and bean skillet nachos are perfect when you need a quick, kid-friendly dinner or you’re looking for a low-effort appetizer to impress party guests. I mean, who doesn't love nachos?!
When I make these nachos for a family meal, I'll chop up some avocado, cilantro, peppers, radishes, and tomatoes to scatter over the top, but there are no rules! I encourage you to customize your skillet of nachos with toppings that everyone will be excited about eating.
Why you'll love this recipe
- It couldn’t be any easier! These nachos are as simple as browning the beef, assembling the nachos in a cast iron skillet, and baking, all in under 20 minutes.
- It’s adaptable. You can mix and match the ingredients to accommodate dietary restrictions, personal topping preferences, and portion sizes for smaller or larger get-togethers.
- It’s a restaurant-quality appetizer or entree. These nachos are the perfect Tex-Mex-inspired party appetizer, but you can also make this a well-rounded, weeknight meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients you'll need
- Ground beef – I typically use 93% lean ground beef but feel free to use ground beef with a higher fat content (80/20 or 70/30). Just drain the grease before adding the taco seasoning and water to the skillet.
- Taco seasoning – To season the ground beef, a packet of taco seasoning works, but homemade taco seasoning is always the better choice for flavor.
- Water – It helps create that saucy consistency when mixed with the ground beef and taco seasoning that authentic beef taco meat is known for.
- Tortilla chips – These wouldn’t be nachos without them!
- Black beans – Black beans are a great way to bulk nachos up with plant-based protein and fiber, but they’re not a necessity if you don’t like them.
- Cheddar cheese – I typically use Cabot lactose-free cheddar, but you can use any regular or low-fat cheddar cheese, preferably shredded from the block.
- Optional garnishes – I love topping these beef and black bean nachos with chopped avocado and cilantro, but you know best how you like your nachos. Keep reading for more tasty topping ideas.
How to make nachos in a cast iron skillet
Step 1: Cook and season the meat. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is browned and no longer pink. Then, add the taco seasoning and water and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid thickens.
Step 2: Assemble the nachos in a skillet. Spread a layer of tortilla chips in a large cast iron skillet, covering the bottom evenly. Then, top the tortilla chips with the ground beef, followed by a layer of black beans and shredded cheese.
Step 3: Bake, garnish, and serve. Transfer the skillet to a 400℉ oven and bake until the cheese is melted evenly (about 10 minutes). Top the nachos with freshly chopped avocado, cilantro, and your favorite taco toppings, and dig in!
Recipe tips
- No cast iron skillet? That’s okay. You can assemble and bake these beef nachos in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Check out this loaded chicken nachos recipe to learn more.
- Select thick, sturdy tortilla chips that will hold up the weight of the meat, beans, cheese, and toppings. It also helps if the chips are slightly curved to secure the topping and allow easy scooping.
- Be sure to spread the tortilla chips evenly in the bottom of the skillet and evenly distribute the beef, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings so you get a little bit of everything on every chip.
Variations
Switch up the meat – Swap the ground beef with chicken, turkey, or pork. You can also use leftover shredded beef, pork, or chicken. You’ll just have to heat it in a pan with taco seasoning and a splash of water or broth before piling it on top of the tortillas.
Make vegetarian nachos – Use your favorite plant-based ground “meat” or crumbled tofu instead of ground beef. You can double up on the black beans or load the skillet nachos with other veggies like roasted sweet potatoes, fajita-style peppers & onions, or corn.
Toppings – Once the nachos are finished baking, the sky’s the limit regarding the fresh topping options. This homemade salsa recipe would be perfect, or how about Texas Caviar? Here are some more tasty ideas:
- Guacamole (or diced avocado)
- Sour Cream
- Crumbled Queso Fresco
- Shredded Lettuce
- Pico de Gallo
- Fresh or Pickled Jalapenos
- Diced Onions (Green, White, or Red)
- Diced Tomatoes
- Sauteed Peppers and Onions
- Sliced Black Olives
- Sliced Radishes
- Lime Wedges (to squeeze on top)
Storing and freezing
These cast iron nachos are best served immediately directly from the sizzling hot skillet. If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, follow these storage and reheating instructions:
- Storing: Scrape off the cold topping and let the nachos cool completely. Then place them in an airtight zip-top bag or shallow container and keep them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Do not freeze.
- Reheating: Return the leftover nachos to the cast iron, sprinkle fresh cheese on top if you like, and reheat them in the oven at 250℉ for 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the beef and beans are heated through. Garnish with fresh cold toppings, and enjoy.
FAQs
The best cheese for nachos melts easily and complements the other toppings. A mixture of two or more cheeses is a great way to get the best of both worlds regarding flavor and melt-ability. Cheddar, monterey jack, Colby cheese, pepper jack, and queso Blanco are good choices.
It really depends on your desired results. For instance, this cast iron skillet recipe calls for baking the nachos at 400℉ to achieve maximum crispness, but other recipes call for baking nachos at 350°F to melt the cheese evenly without browning and crisping up the tortillas much.
First, start with a thick chip that holds up to the heavy toppings. It's also important to bake the nachos until the cheese is melted and bubbly, but not so long that the chips become soft. You can sprinkle the chips with cheese and bake them briefly before assembling the nachos with the remaining hot toppings before baking them again. Finally, add fresh toppings like diced avocado and cilantro once the nachos are out of the oven.
More Tex-Mex recipes you'll love
- Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Chipotle Cream Sauce
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Slow Cooker Mexican Picadillo
- Grilled Mexican Shrimp Salad
- Grilled Chicken Fajita Tostadas
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Cast Iron Skillet Nachos
Equipment
- Cast-iron skillet
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb 93% lean ground beef
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- ⅔ cup water
- 4 oz tortilla chips *enough to cover the bottom of the skillet
- 1 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained
- 8 oz 50% fat sharp cheddar cheese shredded from the block (can also use Pepper Jack cheese)
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro *for garnish
- 1 medium avocado *for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- In a medium-size skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
- Add taco seasoning and water and cook, stirring occasionally, another 2-3 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
- Place the tortilla chips in a large cast iron skillet, and spread out evenly to cover the bottom of the skillet.
- Top with the seasoned cooked ground beef.
- Add a layer of black beans on top of the meat.
- Sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, until cheese is evenly melted.
- Garnish with chopped fresh avocado and cilantro.
Notes
- No cast iron skillet? That’s okay. You can assemble and bake these beef nachos in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Check out this loaded chicken nachos recipe to learn more.
- Select thick, sturdy tortilla chips that will hold up the weight of the meat, beans, cheese, and toppings. It also helps if the chips are slightly curved to secure the topping and allow easy scooping.
- Be sure to spread the tortilla chips evenly in the bottom of the skillet and evenly distribute the beef, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings so you get a little bit of everything on every chip.
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