Andy Montoya
Chili cheese nachos are a delicious and easy-to-make dish, perfect for a weeknight dinner, game day appetizer, or snack. They are piled high with tortilla chips, spicy chili, and lots of cheese. The chili can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, making it a convenient option when you're looking for something quick and tasty. The type of chili you use is up to you, but a popular option is ground beef chili with kidney beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. To assemble the nachos, simply layer the tortilla chips with the chili and cheese, and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with your favorite ingredients such as sour cream, scallions, cilantro, avocado, or jalapenos, and enjoy!
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Preparing the ingredients
Start by chopping up the green onions and cilantro, and shredding the cheddar cheese. You can also prepare the ground beef by browning it in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 8-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease, then add in your desired spices and beans. Stir everything together and let it cook for about 20 minutes, or until the chili has thickened.
If you want to make a cheese sauce, shred some more cheese and place it in a saucepan with cornstarch and half-and-half. Warm the pan over medium heat, stirring until you have a smooth sauce. You can also add heavy whipping cream to make the sauce extra creamy and rich.
While the chili is cooking, prepare your other toppings. Chop up some red onions and jalapenos, and get your sour cream ready. If you want to add extra vegetables, feel free to chop up some lettuce, bell peppers, or avocado.
Finally, get your tortilla chips ready by spreading them out on a sheet pan or heat-proof serving platter. You can also use corn chips if you prefer a crunchier texture.
Cheesy Ramen Delight: A Quick, Easy Recipe
You may want to see also
Cooking the chilli
To make the chilli for your nachos, start by heating a saucepan over medium heat. Add your ground beef of choice and cook, stirring frequently, until browned, which should take about 8 to 10 minutes. If there is excess grease, strain it off.
Next, add your desired spices and vegetables. This could include cumin, oregano, coriander, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. You can also add chilli powder, but this is not to be confused with the pre-mixed spice blend "chilli seasoning mix", which already contains thickeners and a concentrated amount of herbs and spices. You can also add vegetables such as diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, pinto beans, or chilli beans, which already come with chilli sauce in them. If you want to make your chilli extra creamy, add some heavy whipping cream.
Once you have added your desired spices and vegetables, bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and let the chilli simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. You can make this chilli ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Philly Cheese Steak: Melty, Meaty Sandwich Heaven
You may want to see also
Layering the nachos
Layering nachos is an art and a science. You want to get the right balance of ingredients in each bite, ensuring the nachos stay crispy and don't get soggy. Here is a step-by-step guide to layering your chili cheese nachos:
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Before you start layering, have all your ingredients ready. This includes your tortilla chips, chili, shredded cheese, and any other desired toppings. Chop up ingredients like green onions, cilantro, and red onions, and have your sour cream ready. If you're using ground beef, cook it beforehand and drain any excess grease.
Step 2: Create a Base Layer
Start by arranging your tortilla chips in a single layer on a sheet pan or an oven-safe skillet. You can also line your pan with foil or parchment paper. Choose thick and sturdy tortilla chips that can hold up the weight of the toppings without breaking.
Step 3: Add the Cheese
Sprinkle shredded cheese generously over the base layer of chips. The cheese will act as a barrier and help keep the chips crispy. You can use cheddar cheese or a Mexican-style cheese blend for extra flavour.
Step 4: Spoon on the Chili
Add your warm or hot chili on top of the cheese layer. You can use a spoon to drop chili by spoonful over the chips, ensuring even distribution. If you like your chili with a kick, opt for a spicier variety or add extra chili powder, cumin, or red pepper flakes.
Step 5: Repeat for a Second Layer
Add another layer of tortilla chips, followed by more cheese and chili. This double-decker layer ensures every chip gets its fair share of toppings. You can even go for a third layer if you're feeling adventurous!
Step 6: Finish with Toppings
Before popping your nachos into the oven, you can add some final toppings. Drizzle sour cream or a sour cream sauce over the top, and sprinkle chopped scallions, green onions, or cilantro for a fresh flavour and a pop of colour. You can also add sliced jalapenos for some extra spice.
Now, your nachos are ready to be baked! Follow the baking instructions, and then serve them hot and bubbly, straight from the oven. Remember to have napkins handy, as chili cheese nachos can be a messy but delicious treat!
Cheese Secrets: Why Grease is Good
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Baking the nachos
To make chili cheese nachos, you'll need to bake the assembled nachos in the oven for about 10 minutes at 375°F or 400°F, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
First, preheat your oven to 375°F or 400°F. Line a large sheet pan or an oven-safe skillet with foil. Next, assemble the nachos by spreading tortilla chips in an even layer on the sheet pan. You can also use a cast-iron skillet for baking, which is what some people prefer. Drop spoonfuls of chili over the chips, then sprinkle shredded cheese over the chili. You can also drizzle a cheese sauce over the chips and chili, if you prefer. For extra cheesiness, add another layer of chips, chili, and cheese or cheese sauce. You can even add a third layer if you're feeling indulgent! Just remember to end with a generous sprinkle of cheese on top.
Pop the sheet pan or skillet into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning. You want the cheese to be nice and melted, but not burnt.
Once the nachos are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and add your desired toppings.
Cooking Cheeseburger with Cheese: A Melty Center Surprise
You may want to see also
Serving the nachos
When serving chili cheese nachos, it's best to serve them hot and fresh from the oven. Place the tortilla chips in a single layer on a sheet pan or a heat-proof serving platter. Top the chips with warm chili and smother them with shredded cheese. You can also add other toppings like sour cream, chopped scallions, cilantro, sliced jalapenos, or avocado. If you're serving a crowd, you can set up a nacho bar by placing the cooked chili, cheese sauce, and toppings in separate bowls and letting your guests build their own nachos.
To keep the nachos from getting soggy, it's important to serve them immediately after assembling. The warm, saucy chili can turn crispy chips soggy within minutes, so it's best to have your guests ready to dig in as soon as the nachos are out of the oven. If you're making a large batch, you can keep the chili and cheese sauce warm in slow cookers so you can easily assemble and bake fresh batches of nachos as needed.
For a simple and satisfying option, top your nachos with homemade chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, and cilantro. If you're short on time, you can use store-bought chili, but making your own is easy and tastes even better. You can also experiment with different types of chili, such as ground beef chili, Texas chili, black bean chili, or chile colorado.
If you want to get creative with your toppings, feel free to add sliced jalapenos, avocado, fresh tomatoes, or even crumbled cooked beef. You can also try different types of cheese, such as a Mexican-style cheese blend or a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. For a meatless option, swap out the ground beef for vegetarian crumbles or use different types of meat like ground chicken, turkey, or pork.
Chili cheese nachos are a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, a snack, or even a weeknight dinner. They're perfect for game days, parties, or any time you're craving something delicious and satisfying. With their combination of spicy chili, cheesy goodness, and crispy tortilla chips, chili cheese nachos are sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
The Art of Melting Cheese: A Beginner's Guide
You may want to see also
