Pulled beef nachos

Homemade nachos recipe

Quick and budget-friendly, nachos are a hit any day of the week. And, whether it’s simple cheese nachos or loaded with beans, pulled beef, pork or chicken and served with guacamole and sour cream, we can’t go past homemade nachos. This Tex-Mex classic is the perfect party starter, but can also make an ideal light dinner for a relaxing night in.

The best part about making nachos at home is that you can use what you like. If you have leftover slow-cooked meats, a tin of beans or a Sunday night’s roast chook that needs using up, nachos are your best bet. You can also make them as hot or as mild as you like - add jalapeños or hot sauce if you like your nachos spicy or a sweet chilli sauce for a milder take.

Essential nachos ingredients

A good plain corn chip that’s not too thin is a must as they are the vessels for all the delicious fillings – you don’t want them to fall apart when you lift them from the baking tray. Another key ingredient is grated cheese – and plenty of it to result in a gooey golden layer. The best melting cheeses include tasty cheddar and mozzarella. When it comes to meats and beans, you can’t go wrong with shredded pork, beef or chicken. And to take your nachos up a notch, go for tender beef brisket. This recipe makes this type of next-level nachos even easier by using bought slow-cooked beef brisket with a smoky American-style BBQ sauce – simply heat and add onto the layers of corn chips and cheese.

Nachos toppings

There are plenty of options when it comes to nachos toppings. These include fresh tomato salsa, which gives the nachos a hit of freshness, chopped avocado, tomato, onion, coriander and a squeeze of lime juice. Guacamole is another must-have, as is a good amount of sour cream which rounds out the dish. To avoid soggy nachos, serve the toppings in individual bowls so guests can add as little or as much as they like to their plate of tacos.

Layer and bake: how to make nachos in the oven

The difference between good nachos and nachos you’ll want to make time and again is all in the layering. Arrange the corn chips in a single layer on a large baking tray. This ensures the corn chips don’t get piled on top of each other and you end up with some corn chips that don’t have any melted cheese or filling on them - a nacho no-no. Top with the beef brisket that’s been mixed with a little taco seasoning and chunky tomato salsa for extra flavour before sprinkling over grated tasty cheddar, ensuring you cover all the chips on the tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the beef is heated through and the cheddar is melted. For a fresh side, finely chop 1 large ripe tomato, 1 avocado, ½ red onion. Mix these together in a bowl and add ¼ cup coarsely chopped coriander and 2 tbs lime juice. You can also sprinkle thin slices of radish over the top of the baked nachos for a crisp, zesty contrast to the dish.

Now get cooking

If you’re keen to bring your nachos game up a notch, try these easy chilli con carne nachos for a fuss-free midweek meal that’s super tasty. And you can still get your nachos fix while taking in the great outdoors with these loaded beef brisket campfire nachos. Simply prep the beef brisket at home and add veggies and cheese at your campsite. We mentioned how great nachos are for using up leftovers, and now here’s proof. Try these super-quick BBQ chicken loaded nachos, ready before you can even get the troops to the table. Inspired to beef up your family meals? Check out these top beef recipe ideas - from burgers and bolognaise to stir-fries and hearty pies, we’ve got you covered.