Quick and Easy Nachos

Nachos is a fun and easy meal to share, whether you are relaxing at a campsite, staying in a hostel or looking for a quick dinner while travelling. Crispy tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and tasty toppings make a satisfying meal without needing lots of ingredients or complicated cooking equipment.

I like nachos, and my whole family like this Mexican classic dish because they are easy to customise depending on what ingredients I have available. You can make them with seasoned beef mince or leave out the meat and use black beans for a delicious vegetarian version.

This easy nachos recipe is ideal for travelling, backpacking and camping. You can prepare the filling in one pan and finish the nachos in an oven, a covered frying pan or in a Microwave. Add your favourite toppings and enjoy a great meal everyone will love!

 

What Is Nachos?

 

Nachos is a popular dish made with tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and a variety of toppings. 

Common toppings include seasoned beef, re-fried beans, salsa, tomatoes, jalapeños, sweet chilli sauce and sour cream.

They are easy to adapt to different tastes and diets. For this recipe, you can use beef mince for a heartier meal or black beans for a vegetarian alternative. Both versions are simple to prepare and work well when travelling or camping.

 

Why You’ll Love This Nachos Recipe

 

• Delicious options: Choose seasoned beef mince or black beans for a vegetarian version.
• Easy to customise: Add your favourite vegetables, salsa and toppings.
• Simple ingredients: Use ingredients that are easy to find in most supermarkets.
• Minimal washing up: You only need a frying pan with lid, camp oven or oven-safe or microwave-safe dish.
• Great for sharing: Serve the nachos as a quick dinner, lunch or snack around the campsite for yourself or with others.

 

Ingredients and Substitutions

 

Ingredients for Both Versions

 

• Tortilla chips: The crunchy base for your nachos. Choose your favourite variety.
• Salsa: Adds flavour and moisture. Use mild or hot salsa, depending on your preference.
• Grated cheddar cheese: Melts over the chips and fillings. Another good melting cheese will also work.
• Oil: A little oil is needed to cook the meat or re-heat the bean filling – if including such topping.
• Jalapeños: Optional, if you like a little heat.
• Avocado: Optional, smash it to make like a guacamole.
• Sour cream: Optional, for serving.
• Sweet Chilli Sauce: Optional, for serving.

 

For Beef Nachos Ingredients

 

• Beef mince: Makes the nachos more filling. If I include meat, I cook it with Taco seasoning as it adds a Mexican-inspired flavour. Use a ready-made packet or your preferred seasoning blend.

 

Ingredients for Vegetarian Nachos

 

• Re-fried beans or beans of your liking.

 

Nachos variation with simple ingredients – Sweet Chilli Sauce and Sour Cream

 

Equipment Required to Make Nachos

 

To make a nachos you will need:

• Baking paper to line your pan to stop the nachos from sticking to the bottom of your pan or dish.
• A frying pan or skillet with a lid, oven or microwave plate or dutch oven
• A wooden spoon or spatula if cooking meat or re-fried beans
• A knife and chopping board if adding Jalapeños
• Plates and spoons for serving toppings of salsa and sour cream

If you are camping without an oven, you can finish melting the cheese over your nachos in a covered frying pan or camp oven over low heat.

 

How to Make Nachos While Travelling, Backpacking or Camping

 

How you make your Nachos will depend on your cooking method. This recipe is easy to prepare in a small kitchen or at a campsite. Tinned re-fried beans and ready-made salsa help save preparation time, while grated cheese makes assembling the nachos simple.

If you are travelling with fresh meat, cheese or other perishable ingredients, keep them properly chilled until you are ready to cook. When camping, use a suitable cooler or refrigerator and follow safe food-storage practices.

You can also prepare the filling ahead of time, provided it is stored safely in the refrigerator. Reheat it thoroughly before assembling the nachos.

 

How to Make Easy Nachos

 

Step 1: Cook any Toppings

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

 

For beef nachos: Add the beef mince and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Stir in the taco seasoning and a small splash of water if needed.

For vegetarian nachos: Heat the re-fried beans to the pan with a small splash of water. Stir gently and cook until heated through.

 

Step 2: Assemble the Nachos

 

Arrange tortilla chips in your oven-safe dish, camp oven or frying pan. Spoon the beef filling or re-fried beans over the chips. Top with grated cheese.

I actually layer my tortilla chips and cheese. So, one layer of tortilla chips, then grated cheese, then another layer of tortilla chips and another layer of grated cheese.

 

Step 3: Melt the Cheese

 

Cooking in an oven: Bake at 180°C for approximately 5–10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Using a covered frying pan: Arrange the chips and toppings in the pan, cover with a lid and cook over low heat until the cheese melts.

For Microwave: Heat tortilla chips for 1 minute to decide if cheese is melted. If not heat in 30 second increments.

Using a camp oven: Heat over hot coals until cheese has melted.

 

Step 4: Add Your Favourite Toppings

 

Remove the nachos from the heat. Add the salsa, jalapeños, smashed avocado and sour cream if desired.

Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.

 

Tips for Making Nachos

 

• Try not to overload the chips: Too many toppings can make the chips difficult to pick up. And there could be lots of drops and tears from little ones! Add another layer of chips if you have a larger dish.
• Adjust the seasoning: Taste the beef  and add extra seasoning if needed.
• Make it vegetarian: Replace the beef mince with re-fried beans and use vegetarian-friendly cheese.
• Use what you have: Sweetcorn, capsicum, leftover cooked vegetables or spring onions can make good additions.
• Keep the heat low: If melting the cheese in a covered frying pan or dutch oven, use low heat and check regularly to prevent burning.

 

Nachos Serving Ideas

 

Nachos are filling enough to enjoy on their own, but you can also serve them with:

• Extra salsa or guacamole
• A simple green salad
• Sweetcorn or grilled vegetables
• Rice and beans for a more substantial meal
• Lime wedges for squeezing over the top

For a group meal at a campsite or home, put extra toppings in small bowls so everyone can customise their own serving.

 

What to Do with Leftover Nachos

 

Nachos are best eaten straight away because the tortilla chips soften as they absorb moisture from the toppings. I don’t really enjoy them re-heated – though I would expect as this is a popular family favourite, you may not have any leftovers!

 

Frequently Asked Nachos Questions

 

Can I make nachos without an oven?

Yes. Assemble the nachos in a frying pan, cover with a lid and heat over low heat until the cheese melts. Check the bottom regularly to prevent burning.

How do I make vegetarian nachos?

Replace the beef mince with re-fried beans and season them with vegetarian-friendly taco seasoning. Check that your cheese is also suitable for vegetarians.

Can I use other beans instead of re-fried beans?

Yes. Some people like black beans, kidney beans or pinto beans. Drain and rinse tinned beans before using them.

Can I prepare the filling ahead of time?

Yes. You can cook the beef or seasoned beans ahead of time and store them safely in the refrigerator. Reheat the filling thoroughly before assembling the nachos. Preparing beforehand is particularly good if you are backpacking or camping or staying in a hotel or hostel with a microwave.

What cheese is best for nachos?

Cheddar is a good choice because it melts well and has plenty of flavour. You can also use another suitable melting cheese.

How can I stop my nachos from becoming soggy?

Use a moderate amount of salsa, avoid adding too many wet toppings before cooking (if you like to cook your nachos with lots of toppings under the cheese, and serve the nachos as soon as the cheese has melted.

 

 

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Tacos + Variations