Special Occasion

Nachos time
Serves
6
Time
30 minutes
Ingredients


  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (80:20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • 16 ounces (2 cups) refried beans.
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 large bag of tortilla chips
  • 4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups), plus more for topping
  • 4 ounces of cheese, grated (about 2 cups), plus more for topping
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 sliced jalapeño 


Optional topics:

  • Guacamole
  • Salsa
  • Sour cream
  • Canned black olives
  • Sliced green onions
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Corn
  • Hot sauce


For the spice mix:

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions
  1.  Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  2. Make the taco spice blend: Combine all of the spices (chili powder through cayenne) together in a small bowl.
  3. Make the beef and bean topping
  4. Toast the chips: On a 13x18-inch oven-safe platter or sheet pan, arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer, overlapping them slightly. Toast the chips in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, or just until you begin to smell their aroma.
  5. Top and serve: top the nachos with the pico de gallo, chopped cilantro, jalapeño slices, or any of your preferred toppings. Serve hot.