Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable)
A hearty Tex‑Mex casserole with seasoned beef, crunchy chips, and gooey melted cheese—perfect for sharing.
# What You 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 freshly ground 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)
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the beef, until the meat is browned and the onion is softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to meld flavors. Season with salt and black pepper.
04 - In a 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the crushed tortilla chips. Spread half of the meat mixture over the chips, then top with half of the shredded cheeses. Repeat the layering with the remaining chips, meat, and cheese.
05 - Place the baking dish uncovered in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
06 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sour cream, sliced black olives, green onions, chopped cilantro, and fresh jalapeños as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- If you love nachos but hate hovering by the oven for batches, this casserole transforms snack time into a real meal—no assembly line required.
- Each scoop delivers gooey cheese, crisp chips, and all the Tex-Mex flavors in every single bite, so it's perfect for sharing or sneakily enjoying leftovers straight from the fridge.
02 -
- If you let it sit too long before eating, the chips soften and lose that irresistible crunch—serve it up hot and fast.
- Once I swapped in turkey without telling anyone and nobody noticed—a solid trick if you want to lighten things up!
03 -
- Let the casserole rest before serving or you'll end up with cheesy lava burning your fingertips.
- Balancing chip-to-filling ratio is key: too many chips and it&aposs hard to scoop, too few and it turns soupy.