I’ve made many, many plates of loaded nachos before settling on this version. Many variations are possible, and I have personally made them vegetarian, turkey, and beef. I load them with sour cream, salsa, sliced olives, jalapenos, and chopped green onion, but all these toppings are optional - use what you like.
Ingredients
- paprika: 5 tsp
- 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder: 1 piece
- 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin: 1 piece
- 1/4 teaspoons onion powder: 1 piece
- chili powder: 1 tsp
- oregano leaves: 1 tsp
- 1/2 teaspoons salt: 1 piece
- vegetable oil: 2 Tbsp
- ground beef: 1 pound
- onion: 1 cup (diced)
- green bell pepper: 1 cup (diced)
- tomatoes with green Chilis (such as RO-TEL®): 1 can (10 ounce can, diced)
- Mexican-style corn: 1 can (15 ounce can, optional)
- refried beans: 1 can (16 ounce can)
- cheddar cheese: 1 cup (or as needed, shredded)
- ounces tortilla chips: 4 piece (or as needed)
- sour cream: 0.5 cup (optional)
- salsa: 0.5 cup (optional)
- black olives: 0.25 cup (sliced, optional)
- jalapenos: 0.25 cup (sliced, optional)
- green onion: 0.25 cup
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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For taco seasoning, stir paprika, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, oregano, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside.
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion and green pepper; cook and stir with oil and juices from browned meat until much of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes more.
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Stir 1/2 can diced tomatoes with chilies and Mexican-style corn into skillet. Season beef mixture to taste with prepared taco seasoning mix.
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Stir together the remaining 1/2 can diced tomatoes with chilies and refried beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High until heated through, stirring every 30 seconds, 1 to 3 minutes.
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To assemble nachos, lay half of tortilla chips in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate, then drop teaspoons of refried beans onto chips, followed by meat mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, beans, meat, and cheese to make a second layer.
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Microwave on High until cheese is melted and nachos are warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Top with sour cream, salsa, olives, jalapenos, and green onion as desired.
