Easy Skillet Nachos
Either as a loaded appetizer or a main dish, these Easy Skillet Nachos are crowd-pleasing every time and totally customizable.
Who doesn’t love nachos? Really?
What are Nachos?
Nachos are considered a Tex-Mex appetizer.
The basic components are corn tortilla chips, cheese, and pickled jalapeños. However, any and everything can be added like beef, chicken, pork, olives. tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and so on.
Where did nachos originate?
Nachos originate in Northern Mexico. The story goes that a man named Ignacio Anaya created them out of necessity one day by frying fresh triangular-cut tortillas.
He then layered them with cheese and pickled jalapeños. He served them to his restaurant guests who absolutely loved them.
From there they grew in popularity and the rest is history.
Are nachos and tortilla chips the same thing?
Tortilla chips are the essential ingredient and base for making nachos.
How to make easy skillet nachos
Nachos can come together really quickly. Grate the cheeses and slice anything needing slicing like tomatoes and green onions.
I found it easier to buy already sliced olives and jalapeños. I am a fan of short cuts. But I do not recommend buying pre-shredded cheeses. The anti-caking agent used on that leaves a funny taste once heated.
Brown the ground beef, draining off any rendering then add the taco seasoning packet. Water is needed, but each packet is different. Follow your packet’s directions.
Once the beef is now taco meat, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. This is a one-pan meals, so I just wipe the cast iron out and assemble the nachos.
Side note: If you’re not a fan of packet taco seasonings, feel free to use a homemade blend. Here’s a recipe from my gal-pal Michelle over at The Complete Savorist. See the recipe notes below on using a homemade blend like hers.
Layer the corn chips in the bottom of the skillet. The entire bottom of the skillet needs to be covered but you don’t want to many on top of each other or you’ll have too many chips without any toppings…and we’re all about the goodies.
Spoon over about of the chili, getting is as evenly spread out as possible, then repeat with the taco meat.
Don’t want to use canned chili, please use your favorite homemade chili like my Awesome Chili
Sprinkle half of both of the cheeses. You can do this in layers or you can mix them. No hard and fast rule with this. Heck, add three types of cheeses if you like. This is a judgement-free zone friends.
Take care to work some of the shreds around the edges where there might not be any meat. This will give some melted cheese to those bites instead of plain chips.
Now to the fun part!
Sprinkle around the tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, and green onions. I usually only use the white parts on this bottom layer, but sometimes I just don’t care.
Confession: I totes forgot to buy fresh tomatoes when I ran to the store. This being January in Utah, fresh, home grown don’t exist.
So when I realized I forgot and loathed the idea of running back up to the store, I improvised with draining canned tomatoes. Worked like a peach!
Pro-tip: Have someone who hates one of the ingredients?
Segment the nachos leaving a section free of the offending ingredient. That way they don’t have to pick it off and waste it. Or worse, that ingredient doesn’t leave its essence behind contaminating the bite for the eater.
Now we start all over again. Add the remaining corn tortilla chips over all the goodies in the cast iron skillet.
Spoon over the remaining chili and taco meat. Remember to take care to fill in those nooks and crannies. Nobody likes a plain chip when their after a bite of nacho.
Sprinkle the remaining cheeses as evenly as possible.
Then add the remaining everything, all the tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, and green onions. I do save a few of the green onions for garnish after it comes out of the oven. The cooked and raw onions have different tastes and I like both.
Pop the skillet in the oven and bake for 7-10 minutes or until everything has warmed through and the cheese is all melted. Serve with sour cream, your favorite salsa, and enjoy these easy skillet nachos.
Easy Skillet Nachos
Equipment
- 12-inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 oz. taco seasoning 1 packet
- 8 oz tortilla chips give or take
- 15 oz. chili 1 favorite brand can
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese grated
- 1½ cups Monterey Jack cheese grated; or pepper jack
- ½ cup grape tomatoes halved; or 1-15 oz can diced, drained
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- ½ cup pickled jalapeños sliced
- ¼ cup green onions 2; diced, green and white divided
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- On medium-high, heat the skillet.
- Crumble the ground beef into the skillet, breaking up any large chunks and cook until done; about 5 minutes.
- Drain the ground beef.
- Add the taco seasoning and water per packet directions and cook as directed. (see notes)
- Once cooked, remove beef from skillet and set aside in a bowl.
- Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
- Layer half the alloted tortilla chips into the bottom of the skillet.
- Spoon over half of the chili and taco meat.
- Sprinkle half of both cheeses evenly over the chili and taco meat.
- Spoon half of the tomatoes, olives, and jalapeños over the cheese.
- Sprinkle the majority of the white parts of the green onions.
- Evenly layer the remaining tortilla chips in the skillet.
- Spoon the remaining chili and taco meat over the chips.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the beef and chili.
- Spoon over the remaining tomatoes, olives, and jalapeños over the cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining white parts of the green onions and most of the green, reserving a few for fresh garnishing.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
- Garnish with the remaining green onions.
- Serve hot with sour cream and salsa.
Notes
Adaptations for making nachos.
The olives, tomatoes, and jalapeños can be added after baking, if desired. Canned diced tomatoes that have been fully drained can be substituted for fresh tomatoes, if desired. Refried beans can be substituted for canned chili. Homemade taco seasoning can be used. If so, add up to 2 tbsp. of the homemade mixture, ¾-1 cup water. I have found ½ cup tomato sauce with ¼ cup water really gives the meat a lovely depth of flavor.Nutrition
This post has been updated from its original May 2, 2017 publishing with new photographs, content, and updated recipe card. This recipe was inspired by and adapted from I Wash, You Dry.
I just discovered this blog and love it!
This nachos dish looks incredibly delicious! My wife thinks so too so I’m hoping we’ll be trying it very soon. I’m a terrible cook but with these detailed instructions and illustrations I may try it myself if my wife doesn’t do so soon.
We’re pretty new at cast iron cooking so I’m wondering about preheating the skillet in the oven. How long do you pre heat the skillet? How do you know when it’s at the right temperature?
I don’t know if questions can be asked on this venue and this is the first time I’ve ever commented on a blog but thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask just in case.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for discovering DutchOvenDaddy.com! These nachos are one of my family’s favorite and are so versatile because you can alter the toppings. This recipe does not require preheating the skillet in the oven. Just layer it up and you will be set. Happy to help answer any questions you may have along your cast iron journey!
I can’t believe I have not rated this recipe. We love this and have it quite often. The cast iron Skillet I think adds to it.
Thank you for an awesome recipe!
Robin,
#ImJustSayen
What size skillet are you using. I typically use a 12” skillet.
Great question. This recipe is using a 12″ cast iron skillet.
I’ve made these 3 or 4 times so far this year and going to make them again this week. I don’t fix anything I don’t like more than once. I use a #14 skillet.
I made these nachos for dinner last night (totally acceptable, right?) and they were a hit with the entire family!
Oooh definitely the perfect appetizer for get-togethers. I love how easily these nachos come together and with so much flavor too.
I usually do sheet pan nachos but I didn’t want to heat up the oven so these skillet nachos were perfect!
We absolutely LOVED these nachos! They’re beautifully loaded with all the right toppings/textures/flavors. Better than any nacho platter I’ve had at a restaurant, where they seem to be lacking. Will totally be making this over the weekend for game day!
These nachos look amazing! I’m ready to get to snacking, yummy!
These loaded nachos look so bright and delicious. Love how cheesy and satisfying they are.
I tried it last weekend, it turned out amazing. Easy to make yet delicious.
Nachos are so awesome in the skillet! Love all your toppings.
Easy and delicious, this one is a keeper. I know I’m going to make it over and over again!