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Home Mexican Recipes

Ripper Beef Nachos

By:Nagi
Published:22 Jan '16Updated:18 Feb '20
127 Comments
Recipe v Video v

Not just another beef nachos….the 5 minute, all-natural nachos cheese sauce is what makes this a RIPPER nachos! Plus, my “rules” for how to construct the perfect nachos. 🙂

Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

My Rules for How To Make the Perfect Nachos

Rule #1: The Nachos Cheese Sauce ensures even coverage of cheesy goodness on every single chip which you simply can’t achieve just by using grated cheese. Unless you use an inordinate amount of it! Remember: A corn chip without cheese on it is just a chip – not nachos!

Beef Nachos - made this for book club, everyone went WILD over it!! The cheese sauce is what makes it!!!

Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

Rule #2: Hot and cold must be separated. Never dump cold guacamole and sour cream on top of hot melted cheese. It will set instantly. Nobody wants nachos with cold cheese. So serve cold toppings on the side!

Rule #3: Use a sturdy corn chip. Now is not the time to use no-brand corn chips! Nobody likes soggy chips and nobody likes chips that break when you score one that is gloriously loaded!

(PS Please note, my hands are extra swollen and puffy in this photo because it was a stinking hot, humid day in Sydney and I have no air conditioning!!! 😉 )

(PPS Oh my. I forgot to put the Pico de Gallo on. Shock horror, I skipped the veggies.)

Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

Rule #4: Freshly grated cheese will melt better….just sayin’….

Rule #5: Homemade seasoning for the beef is better than store bought….just sayin’…..

Rule #6: Build the nachos in single layers to ensure that you don’t end up with a pile of corn chips with no toppings. No one’s interested in plain corn chips at a time like this!

Rule #7: Don’t overbake! The trick is to just melt the cheese and warm the nachos all the way through without burning the corn chips (or – gasp, shock horror – the cheese!).

Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

Extra Rules

Rule #8: Nachos must not be made when alone. Too dangerous.

Rule #9: Beer and/or wine (preferably both) must be present.

Rule #10: No cutlery.

Now that we’re all clear on the rules, here’s the recipe! 😉 – Nagi x

What are YOUR Nachos Rules? Tell me below, and I’ll add them to my list!!! 😉

PS For something a little different, try this Nachos Pie! It’s everything you know and love about nachos – in pie form!

Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

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Ripper Beef Nachos - The secret to the ultimate nachos is a 5 ingredient, 5 minute Nachos Cheese sauce!

Ripper Beef Nachos

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 35 mins
Dinner, Game Day, Party
Tex-Mex
4.98 from 40 votes
Servings8 -12
Tap or hover to scale
Print
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The nachos cheese sauce takes 5 minutes to make and will take your nachos to the next level, ensuring even coverage of cheese goodness over every chip! You can substitute the homemade Nachos Seasoning with 1 packet store bought taco seasoning.

Ingredients

Beef

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 onion , finely chopped
  • 1 lb / 500g ground beef (mince)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp water

Nachos Seasoning

  • 1 tsp each onion powder (Note 1), dried oregano, salt
  • 2 tsp each dried cumin powder , paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper , or to taste

Nachos

  • 14 oz / 400g corn chips , good quality (Note 2)
  • 2 cups grated cheese (cheddar, tasty, gruyere, Monterey Jack)
  • 1 quantity Nachos Cheese Sauce , warm (Note 3)

Sides/Garnish

  • Sliced scallions / shallots
  • 1 quantity Proper Guacamole , Restaurant Style
  • 1 quantity Pico de Gallo (Note 4)
  • Sour cream

Instructions

  • Beef: Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook until translucent. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go. Once beef is cooked, add Nachos Seasoning, tomato paste and water. Cook for a further 2 minutes, then set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
  • Spread half the corn chips in a single layer on a baking tray. Drizzle over about 1 cup Nachos Cheese Sauce (see KEY TIPS in Note 3), top with 1/2 the Beef and 1/2 the grated cheese ensuring most of the Cheese Sauce is covered.
  • Spread over remaining corn chips, drizzle over remaining Nachos Cheese Sauce, Beef and grated cheese, again ensuring all the Cheese Sauce is covered.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with sliced scallions/shallots if using and with Guacamole, Pico de Galloand Sour Cream on the side.

Recipe Notes:

1. Onion powder can be substituted with garlic powder.
2. Use sturdy corn chips, not thin ones. Otherwise they will get soggy! My favourite (I'm in Sydney, Australia) are the Nature's Earth Corn Chips from Harris Farms. Otherwise plain Doritos are fine.
3. The Nachos Cheese Sauce is my secret that takes this Nachos to the next level! It ensures even coverage of cheese on all the chips! Make sure it is warm so it's pourable.
If you make it ahead, just reheat in the microwave (easier than stove). DO NOT thin with milk or water, otherwise you will make it watery and it will make the chips soggy.
Use a pouring jug for even coverage. And lastly, try not to have any of the Nachos Cheese Sauce exposed for baking i.e. cover it as much as you can with beef, grated cheese or corn chips. Reason is that even though it is made with all-natural ingredients i.e. no processed cheese, it melts in the oven like processed cheese i.e. a skin forms and it turns brown very quickly.
4. Simple Pico de Gallo - toss together diced deseeded tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, chopped cilantro/coriander, lime juice, salt and pepper.
5. Nutrition: Sorry guys, can’t bring myself to calculate the nutrition for this! ?
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

PS Little video I made for the Nachos Cheese Sauce, also including this Nachos!

 

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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127 Comments

  1. Rebecca B says

    December 30, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    WOW absolutely delicious the whole family loved it. I made all the side dishes and along the cheese sauce and it all tied in perfectly. No need to go out for Mexican when you can make this dish at home

    Reply
  2. Jenny says

    October 21, 2022 at 12:29 pm

    I can’t eat garlic powder. Can I sub for fresh garlic? Or from a jar?

    Reply
  3. Kirsten says

    July 30, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    Made beef mince exactly as recipe, spooned it onto tortilla chips topped with the cheese sauce & cheese & served. Loved by all.

    Reply
  4. Carolyn Cross says

    June 30, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    5 stars
    Made this aptly named dish tonight. Served to 16 station staff and it was, of course, a sensation. Nagi, I use your recipes so often and can’t wait for your cookbook. Thankyou 😘

    Reply
  5. Phyllis says

    May 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Hi Nagi,
    Can you use pre shredded cheese when layering with beef. Have noted not to use pre shredded with cheese sauce.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 28, 2022 at 12:56 pm

      I always prefer to grate my own as it melts better but pre-shredded would be ok in nachos. You are correct though – do NOT use it in sauces!! N x

      Reply
  6. Courtney says

    May 24, 2022 at 11:32 pm

    Lovely, I doubled the spices and added a can of black beans and can of tomatoes. And hid some extra veggies in there, zucchini, capsicum, carrot.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 25, 2022 at 9:27 am

      Woo hoo!! Making the nachos healthy Courtney!! N x

      Reply
  7. Sarah Honey says

    May 1, 2022 at 7:59 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe. Thanks Nagi! Cheese sauce so yum – like a Mexican lasagna ! X

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 1, 2022 at 11:21 am

      Woo hoo!! I am glad you liked them Sarah! N x

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    March 18, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is a game changer for nachos! I didn’t have the can of milk called for in the cheese sauce, so used a smaller amount of milk + some of my sourdough starter (its extremely great at thickening creamy sauces). We do nachos quite often (and load up on veg to call it a balanced dinner) but have never done it this way. Nagi, your recipes never disappoint. Thank you for always providing just what we need in our lives!

    Reply
  9. Tracy says

    February 16, 2022 at 1:44 am

    5 stars
    Made this for the Super Bowl this past weekend and these Nachos were AMAZING!! Crowd favorite….that cheese sauce!!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 16, 2022 at 9:41 am

      Oh yes….CHEEEEEESE!! 🧀🧀🧀 !!! N x

      Reply
  10. Rob says

    January 24, 2022 at 9:41 am

    5 stars
    Made this recipe for the nfl divisional playoff game tonight.
    They came out awesome!
    Only change I made was I put the Pico right on my pile, the wifey did not

    Reply
  11. Karen Townsend says

    January 15, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    Thank you, thank you recipetineats we have been making your chicken nachos for ages but tonight we tried your beef nachos with the cheese sauce, which initially I was a bit reluctant about, but YUM! This seriously was the best nachos we have ever eaten so thank you for sharing this ❤️

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 17, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      It’s hard to go wrong with nachos! N x

      Reply
  12. Kimberly says

    January 12, 2022 at 3:17 pm

    5 stars
    I made this prior to Christmas, the cheese sauce element took us all back to our years living in Manila where the big Americano brand restaurants served Nacho Grande. Your sauce is the component I was missing for the last few years I’m my home attempts. My family all died dead in food heaven with your recipe. The sauce is the key. X

    Reply
  13. Tracey says

    November 26, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    5 stars
    This was the best! Quick Friday night meal & leftovers for the next day! Too much for the two of us, hubby was VERY happy. That cheese sauce is the bomb 🙂

    Reply
  14. Sharleen says

    September 29, 2021 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    Can the cheese sauce and mince mixture be pre prepared and frozen?
    5 stars from my kids. 😀

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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