Easy Homemade Nachos on a Sheet Pan

Recipe

This is my go-to formula for simple homemade nachos: sturdy chips, seasoned meat, beans, and plenty of cheese baked until hot and melty. Customize this easy nacho recipe with your favorite toppings or whatever you have on hand.

These homemade nachos pile crispy tortilla chips with seasoned ground beef, black beans, plenty of melted cheese, and fresh toppings for an easy dinner everyone can dig into. I make the whole thing on a sheet pan, so they’re just as good for a quick family dinner as they are for feeding a crowd.

These Simple Nachos Always Win

Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

When I need an easy dinner that requires very little planning, a big sheet pan of nachos always delivers. Ground beef and black beans make them hearty enough for a meal, and I can use whatever cheese and toppings are already in the fridge. They’re always a hit with my kids and their friends because everyone can customize their portion with their favorite toppings. I’ve made a LOT of nacho trays over the years, and this formula is pretty forgiving. Plus, cleanup is a breeze, so they’re a win for me.

What You’ll Need

Tortilla chips are the base, and I recommend sturdy corn chips that can hold the toppings without breaking. Ground beef (or turkey) seasoned with taco seasoning makes these nachos feel like a meal, while black beans are optional but stretch the meat further. Shredded cheese melts and holds everything together; Monterey Jack, cheddar, or a Mexican blend all work. After baking, I add fresh tomatoes, onion, avocado, and cilantro, plus lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

How to Make Nachos at Home

Assemble the nachos.
Cook the taco meat first. Then spread the chips in an even layer, top with the seasoned beef, black beans (if using), and plenty of cheese.
Bake until the cheese melts.
You're not really cooking anything at this point, just heating everything through and melting the cheese. Pull the nachos from the oven as soon as the cheese is completely melted to avoid burnt chips.
Add toppings and serve.
Add all the fresh toppings after baking. This keeps the chips from getting soggy and the fresh ingredients tasting fresh. Serve the nachos right away while the cheese is hot and the chips are crispy.

How do you layer nachos so every chip gets toppings?

Spread the chips in a single layer with minimal overlap, then evenly distribute the meat, beans, and cheese over the top. For extra-loaded nachos, make two thin layers of chips and toppings, one over the other, instead of piling everything onto one thick layer.

How do you keep nachos from getting soggy?

Drain excess liquid from the cooked meat and beans before adding them to the chips, and save wet or fresh toppings for after baking. Salsa, tomatoes, and other juicy toppings can quickly make crispy chips soggy.

Best Toppings for Nachos

I like to load up our nachos with diced tomatoes, onion, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, pico de gallo, salsa, or guacamole, and jalapeños and green chilis if you’re into them.

Simple Nacho Variations

Easy Nachos at Home

overhead view of a simple nacho tray on a sheet pan

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 3

Total Time: 8

5 from 28 votes

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 ½ tablespoons taco seasoning
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
8 ounces tortilla chips, about ½ bag
2 cups shredded cheese, cheddar or Mexican blend
Toppings , salsa or pico de gallo, avocado or guacamole, sour cream

Instructions

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 350F and position the oven rack in the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning, breaking it up as it cooks, for about 7 minutes, until cooked through. Drain any excess grease out.

Assemble:

Spread the tortilla chips on the parchment paper. Top with the cooked ground beef and black beans (if using), then top with the cheese. Make one even layer with minimal overlap so every nacho gets the meaty topping.

Bake:

Place the assembled nachos in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Remove the sheet pan from the oven.

Add toppings and serve:

Here is where you can customize and top your nachos with pico de gallo or salsa, diced avocado or guacamole, sour cream, or your favorite toppings.

Notes

Use restaurant-style or sturdy tortillas for best results. Thin tortilla chips are great for dipping but tend to break when you load them with toppings.

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