Easy Sheet-Pan Nachos (Printable)

Crispy chips layered with seasoned beef, cheese, beans, and fresh toppings baked for a crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1/2 lb ground beef (or ground turkey or plant-based mince)

→ Spices

02 - 1 tsp chili powder
03 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/4 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Base

09 - 7 oz tortilla chips (about 1 large bag, certified gluten-free if needed)

→ Cheese

10 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

12 - 1 medium tomato, diced
13 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
14 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
15 - 1/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1/4 cup canned sweet corn, drained
17 - 2 tbsp sliced black olives (optional)
18 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

→ To Serve

19 - Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleaning.
02 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then remove from heat.
04 - Spread tortilla chips evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Add cooked beef mixture evenly over chips, followed by black beans and corn.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the layered ingredients.
06 - Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven, then immediately top with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeño slices, black olives, and cilantro.
08 - Serve hot with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • One sheet pan means one thing to wash, and your guests think you're a genius.
  • It feeds a crowd without the stress of plating individual portions.
  • The texture contrast—crispy chips meeting melted cheese and warm toppings—happens only when you nail the timing, and this recipe nails it.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the canned beans and corn—extra liquid makes the nachos steam instead of stay crispy.
  • The baking time is short, so don't wander off; you'll know it's ready when the cheese bubbles at the edges and looks glossy, not when it's completely melted everywhere.
03 -
  • Use a metal baking sheet rather than ceramic—it conducts heat more evenly and helps the bottom of the chips crisp up.
  • If you're feeding vegetarians, swap the beef for extra black beans or crumbled plant-based mince; the spices will make them just as flavorful.
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