Crispy tortilla chips cheese (Printable)

Crispy chips topped with melted cheddar, black beans, jalapeños, and fresh garnishes for a tasty snack.

# What you'll need:

→ Base

01 - 7 oz tortilla chips (plain or lightly salted)

→ Cheese

02 - 7 oz shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 3.5 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Beans

04 - 5.3 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained

→ Toppings

05 - 2 fresh jalapeños, thinly sliced
06 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, diced
07 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped
09 - 1 ripe avocado, diced (optional)
10 - 4 tablespoons sour cream (optional)
11 - 4 tablespoons salsa (optional)

→ Optional Meat

12 - 7 oz ground beef
13 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
14 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat, until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
02 - Set the oven to 400°F (200°C).
03 - Spread tortilla chips evenly on a large ovenproof platter or baking sheet.
04 - Evenly distribute rinsed black beans over the chips, then sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses on top. Add cooked ground beef if using.
05 - Scatter thinly sliced jalapeños and half of the chopped red onion over the layered ingredients.
06 - Place in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven, then top with diced cherry tomatoes, remaining onion, diced avocado if desired, and chopped coriander.
08 - Serve immediately with sour cream and salsa on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with zero fussy techniques, so you can feed a crowd without stress.
  • The contrast of crispy chips, melty cheese, and cool toppings hits all your cravings at once.
  • You can load them however you want—vegetarian, meaty, spicy—and they still taste incredible.
02 -
  • The gap between perfectly melted and overcooked is shorter than you think—start checking at 7 minutes so the cheese bubbles without the chips starting to darken.
  • Don't layer everything too far in advance or moisture from the toppings will make chips soggy, so prep toppings and assemble right before the oven.
  • If your cheese isn't melting evenly, make sure you spread it in one layer instead of clumps, and consider grating it fresh rather than using pre-shredded if it has anti-caking powder that prevents smooth melting.
03 -
  • Use an ovenproof platter instead of a baking sheet if you have one—it keeps the nachos warm longer and looks intentional when you bring them to the table.
  • If you want to add grilled chicken or chorizo instead of ground beef, brown and season them the same way so they taste equally deliberate and delicious.
  • For extra heat without overwhelming the other flavors, use pickled jalapeños instead of fresh, which adds tang and intensity at the same time.
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