Cheesy Nacho Casserole (Printable)
Gooey Tex-Mex layers of seasoned beef, tortilla chips, black beans and melted cheddar — easy, crowd-pleasing and ready in 45 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
05 - 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
06 - 1 cup frozen corn (optional)
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
08 - Salt and 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 - Set oven to 375°F and allow to preheat fully.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion; cook until the beef is browned and onion is tender, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add taco seasoning, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn if using. Simmer for 3–4 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and black pepper.
04 - In a 9x13-inch baking dish, distribute half of the crushed tortilla chips evenly. Add half of the meat mixture over the chips, followed by half of each cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, meat, and cheeses to complete layers.
05 - Place uncovered dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and golden brown.
06 - Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sour cream, black olives, green onions, chopped cilantro, and sliced jalapeños as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The browned edges of cheese and hidden crunches of tortillas make every scoop a treasure hunt for flavor.
- No fuss prep means even picky eaters and busy schedules don’t stand a chance at stopping you from serving something crowd-pleasing.
02 -
- If you use too many chips or crush them too finely, the base turns mushy instead of crispy — bigger pieces are happier pieces.
- Switching to freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded made the casserole so much gooier and flavorful than my earlier attempts.
03 -
- Bake uncovered so the cheese browns instead of steaming.
- Lining your dish with a little oil or butter prevents sticking and adds flavor to those coveted crisp corners.