Express Beef Nachos (25 MINUTES!)

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Your new go-to flavor-loaded Friday night meal! Gather crispy tortilla chips, layer seasoned beef, juicy tomatoes, beans, corn, and melted cheese and serve with some sour cream, spicy salsa sauce, and creamy guacamole. All in one pan, 30 minutes, right at your home!

No time for cooking today? hectic day? too tired? This one-pan nachos is part of my comfort food list! I like to make these ultra-quick nachos on Friday evenings after long heavy weeks or right in the middle of the week after a hard day. Nachos are loaded with a bunch of toppings and flavors, making them the perfect comfort food!

Nachos can be enjoyed as an appetizer at gatherings or parties. But I personally love to have the whole pan for myself (and my special loved one) as dinner : ) This recipe is incredibly quick to make, 30 minutes from start to finish and your dish is on the table.

Someday, many years ago I had avocados in my fridge and tortilla chips in my pantry. I instantly thought ‘why not make some guacamole’ before these avocados go off? Back when I stayed in Australia when I was 18 – yes indeed quite some decades ago – I remember my host mom making guacamole. I used to help her out in the kitchen and remember this delicious no-fuss quick guacamole. I decided to make it her way, rather than spending time adding 10 different ingredients to it. Quick, easy and tasty: avocados, lime, salsa sauce, salt and pepper.

Over time, I have built this recipe which I call “express” for the ease of pulling the dish together – almost faster than making an omelette if you ask me. Make your guacamole, season some ground beef (I simply use salsa sauce, which already contains a mix of various spices) bake nachos, layer your toppings on top and melt some cheese.

Which ingredients do I need to make express nachos?

• tortilla chips – use natural tortilla chips for a neutral taste. All ingredients and layers of topping will add a full load of flavors. Don’t use the cheese or paprika-flavored tortilla chips if you want to avoid a carnival of flavor excess.
• guacamole – avocados, lime, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of salsa sauce to spice up the guacamole.
• beef – I use ground beef, you can replace it with any other meat of your choice or ignore meat if you’re vegetarian.
• red beans – I am not a fan of canned food but beans and corn are two of the only canned food I buy. Red beans pair perfectly with all other ingredients in this meal.
• corn – I am using one small can of corn, but feel free to substitute it with frozen or freshly cooked corn.
• tomatoes – dice the tomatoes to sprinkle on top of the nachos.
• shredded mozzarella – use any grated cheese of your choice. I usually get either mozzarella or cheddar for this dish.
• sour cream – sour cream is not available where I live, I make my own but feel free to buy it from the store.
• salsa sauce – if not using pickled chili, I get the HOT salsa sauce. If using chili, I usually go for mild salsa sauce. This is up to how spicy you want your nachos.
• coriander – sprinkle some chopped coriander as the very last touch. Coriander pairs great with lime, both together they wake up and complete the entire dish.
• lime – I use 1/2 lime in my guacamole and keep the other half to sprinkle over the finished meal.

How to prepare express beef nachos?

Make the guacamole

1. Mash and combine all guacamole ingredients together until you obtain a smooth consistency.

Prepare the beef

2. Heat up a pan on medium heat, and cook the red onion for 2 min. Add the minced beef and cook for 3 min or until the beef is fully cooked.
3. Pour 3 tbsp salsa sauce over the beef. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Stir well. Set aside.

Assemble the dish

5. Turn your oven on to 200°C / 390°F. In a large oven-safe pan or platter, add the nachos and place them in the oven for 2-3 min, just the time that they get a little golden.
6. Remove the nachos from the oven. Top them up with beef, red beans, corn, diced tomatoes and mozzarella.
7. Place again in the oven for 4 min, or until the mozzarella has completely melted.
8. Remove from the oven and serve with guacamole, sour cream and salsa sauce. Garnish with coriander and some lime quarters.