Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable)
Layered casserole of seasoned beef, tortilla chips, melted cheeses and zesty toppings, ideal for game night or weeknights.
# 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, optional, for topping
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 375°F and allow it to fully preheat while preparing other ingredients.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and chopped onion, breaking the meat into crumbles, until beef is no longer pink and onion has softened, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in taco seasoning, rinsed black beans, undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, allowing flavors to blend. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
04 - Arrange half of the crushed tortilla chips evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the chips. Evenly sprinkle with half of the shredded cheeses. Repeat layering with remaining tortilla chips, beef mixture, and cheeses.
05 - Transfer baking dish to oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and lightly golden.
06 - Remove casserole from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Top with sour cream, black olives, green onions, cilantro, and fresh jalapeño slices as desired. Serve immediately.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- The gooey cheese and crisp chips create a texture combo you'll crave every time.
- You can toss in extra beans or veggies with no fuss, making it an easy fridge-clearer for busy days.
02 -
- If the chips are crushed too finely, the base goes soggy — aim for rough pieces about the size of a quarter.
- Adding the cheese in two layers stopped it from clumping and ensured every bite was deliciously gooey.
03 -
- Letting the casserole rest five minutes before serving helps everything set and makes scooping way less messy.
- Try a homemade taco seasoning mix to control the salt and spice — it makes a big flavor difference and takes just a minute.