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These loaded beef nachos are the ultimate treat. I’ve piled them high with ground beef, fresh veggies, jalapeño peppers, olives, and plenty of melty cheese, so you get a mouthful of flavor in each bite. I like making them for game day, movie night, or any time the craving hits.

Easy Beef Nachos Recipe
We love nachos in my house and these beef nachos are next-level good!
For these sheet pan nachos, I layer seasoned ground beef with sautéed peppers, sliced jalapeños, and olives over sturdy crispy tortilla chips, making sure everything is evenly distributed for consistent flavor in every bite. A generous layer of cheese is added on top so it melts into the layers instead of just sitting on the surface. The result is a perfectly topped nacho—crispy, melty, and loaded with flavor. These come together quickly and disappear even quicker.
Tips for Beginners
- Avoid pre-shredded cheese. It contains anti-caking ingredients that keep it from melting smoothly. It’s worth the extra time to shred from a fresh block.
- Use a sturdy tortilla chip. Thin chips tend to break under the weight of the toppings and get soggy. Look for thicker, restaurant-style chips to hold the delicious toppings.
- Make sure to layer as you build the nachos. Add chips, then toppings, then cheese, and repeat. That way every chip is packed full of flavor.
- Make it vegetarian. To make this vegetarian, omit the ground beef, use a plant-based option, or use refried beans instead.
- Eat right away. These nachos are best eaten fresh from the oven. They don’t keep well as the tortilla chips get soggy.
- Use taco seasoning. If you have taco seasoning on hand, you can use it instead of the individual spices.
- Have fun with different toppings. Be creative and add in some of your favorites. This is a good way to clean out the fridge.
- Deseed the jalapeños. I usually remove the seeds so it isn’t too spicy for my kids, but if you like spice, leave them in.
Beef Sheet Pan Nachos Recipe

Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 13 oz. tortilla chips 1 bag
- 1 large green bell pepper diced
- 1 small red onion finely diced
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup Monetary Jack cheese shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 Roma tomato diced
- fresh cilantro
- salsa for serving
- sour cream for serving
- guacamole for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Coat a sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute.1 tbsp olive oil, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.1 lb. ground beef
- Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper. Cook for 2 minutes using a wooden spoon to break up the ground beef. Remove from heat and set aside.1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- Place ½ of the bag of tortilla chips onto the prepared sheet pan.13 oz. tortilla chips
- Top the chips with half of the beef mixture, half the diced green pepper, half the diced red onion, half the black olives and half of each of the two cheeses.1 large green bell pepper, 1 small red onion, ½ cup black olives, 1 cup Monetary Jack cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese
- Repeat the layers.
- Bake for 5 minutes, until the cheeses have melted.
- Top with the slices of jalapeno, diced tomato, and fresh cilantro.1 jalapeño pepper, 1 Roma tomato, fresh cilantro
- Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole on the side.salsa for serving, sour cream, guacamole
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Beef Sheet Pan Nachos Step by Step

Cook the beef: Preheat the oven to 400°F, spray a sheet pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add 1 lb. ground beef to the skillet and cook until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat in the pan.
Stir in 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp dried oregano, and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper. Using a wooden spoon, break up the ground beef and cook for 2 minutes.
Build the nachos: Place ½ the bag of tortilla chips onto the prepared sheet pan.
Top the chips with half the beef mixture, half the diced green pepper, half the diced red onion, half the black olives and half of each of the two cheeses. Repeat.
Bake: Bake the nachos for 5 minutes or so until the cheeses have melted and the layers are warmed through.
Garnish: Top the nachos with the slices of jalapeño, diced tomato, and fresh cilantro.

Serve: Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole on the side. Enjoy!
Variations
This is a super versatile recipe; you can load these nachos up with a variety of different toppings:
- Salsa: Salsa verde or pico de gallo, or even homemade taco sauce.
- Cheese: Use nacho cheese, queso, or any Mexican blend.
- Protein: Add shredded chicken, shrimp, steak slices, or refried beans.
- Veggies: Add olives, radishes, bell peppers, or corn.
How to Store
You can make the nachos on the day you plan to serve them and heat them gently in the oven. However, they are best eaten fresh from the oven. They don’t keep well as the tortilla chips get soggy.
Leftover nachos do not hold up well, so I suggest you only make what you think you’ll eat. If you do have leftovers, transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 1-2 days. Reheat in the oven so the tortilla chips crisp up.
Serving Suggestions
I find these nachos taste great with a few dollops of easy guacamole and homemade salsa. For the true Mexican experience and complete meal, I’ll serve with a side of Mexican rice and Mexican grilled corn.

More Mexican Recipes To Try
- Chicken Mexican Lasagna features layers of tacos, chicken, salsa, cheese, beans, and more baked into a lasagna-like casserole.
- Mexican Street Corn Dip is a mix of cream cheese, corn, hot sauce, jalapeños, lime, and feta, making this the most delicious party dip.
- Mexican Spice Cheese Crackers are made with Cheez-Its, taco seasoning, and cilantro, and are completely addictive.














Hi, I have a question can I add steak to the nachos and homemade queso Blanco sauce as well
Absolutely!
This was very good, and made a ton. It wasn’t very hot after only 5 minutes in the oven, though. The cheese on top had melted, but not the under-layer. I think 10-15 minutes @ 350°F might do it next time. Thanks for the recipe!
Great suggestion! Thanks, Laura!
Or put in the first layer, let that cheese melt, take it out and then layer on the other ½ of the stuff and put it back in for 5 minutes to let the 2nd layer get hot