This air fryer nacho recipe are easy to make with ground beef and gooey cheese. Perfect for last-minute parties, movie nights, or when you need an appetizer for a quick weeknight dinner.
What you need
Here are the ingredients you need to make ground beef nachos:
- Ground Beef bulks up the nachos, making them more filling and turning them into a full meal instead of just a snack. Go for lean ground beef or beef mince with at least 80% meat to 20% fat. This is usually made with beef chuck which has less fat but still has plenty of flavor
- Salsa or Pico de gallo – You can use homemade salsa, Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies, jarred salsa, or as simple as chopped tomatoes and onions.
- Jalapenos adds a layer of spice to the nachos. You can also use pickled jalapenos.
- Shredded Cheese – Use blends that include cheddar cheese and mozzarella or even pepper jack cheese. For convenience, you can use pre-shredded cheese, but freshly grated cheese melts even better.
- Nachos or corn tortilla chips.
How to Make It
And here’s how to make the easiest homemade nachos:
1. Cook the beef
To make the tastiest ground beef topping for nachos you will need taco seasoning (use homemade taco seasoning or storebought, onions and red bell pepper.
Heat oil in a warm skillet over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the onions until translucent. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink. Sprinkle taco seasoning and stir continue cooking until the beef completely absorbs the flavor.
Add the bell peppers and cook until fragrant. If the beef looks dry, add a splash or two of water, a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once the beef is thoroughly cooked, remove from heat and set aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
2. Assembly
Start with a layer of tortilla chips. Sprinkle the cooked ground beef evenly over the chips, followed by your favorite salsa and some jalapenos for a spicy kick.
Add another beef if you want them extra meaty. Top it all off with a generous amount of shredded cheese.
3. Air Fry
Air fry the beef nachos for 3 to 4 minutes at 165°C (325°F) until cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on them–they cook fast.
Cooking Tips
- For a quick and easy cleanup, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Trim any excess so nothing sticks up and touches the heating element, which could cause burning.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket – For crispy, even cooking, avoid piling the nachos too high in the air fryer basket. Ideally, there should be a single layer of chips with minimal overlapping. This allows for better air circulation and prevents soggy nachos. Cook in batches if needed for a larger serving.
- Watch the heat – Nachos cook fast in the air fryer! Keep an eye on them during the last minute of cooking to prevent burnt cheese or chips. You can adjust the cooking time slightly based on the thickness of your chips and the power of your air fryer.
- To make ahead – Cook your ground beef 1-2 days before assembling the nachos. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for easy grabbing later.
Serving Tip
Nachos are definitely best enjoyed warm. Warmth means melty cheese and crispy chips that won’t get soggy from the toppings.
Variations
Here is a list of recommended nacho toppings that go beyond the classics:
- Veggies – refried beans, black beans, corn salsa, black olives,
- Protein – scrambled eggs, crumbled chorizo sausage, grilled shrimp, shredded BBQ chicken, or flaky white fish.
- Toppings – slice avocados, green onions, fresh cilantro, guacamole, sour cream, sriracha mayo, nacho cheese sauce, or hot sauce to complement the nachos.
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Simple Air fryer Ground Beef Nachos
Ingredients
Beef
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 10.5 oz ground beef (lean)
- 1-2 tbsp taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ red bell pepper (diced)
- ¼ cup water (add more as needed)
- salt to taste
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup pico de gallo or salsa (note 1)
- jalapenos (sliced, remove seeds if preferred)
- tortilla chips
- shredded cheese (note 2)
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until softened. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink. Sprinkle taco seasoning, stir to coat.
- Add red bell pepper and water. Continue cooking the meat is thoroughly cooked. Do a taste test. Add more taco seasoning, if preffered. Season with salt, to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Trim any excess so nothing sticks up and touches the heating element.
- Start with a layer of tortilla chips at the bottom. Then, sprinkle the cooked ground beef, followed by chopped onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos. Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes at 165°C (325°F) until cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on them during the last minute of cooking to prevent burnt cheese or chips.
- Serve while warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Pico de gallo – Use salsa, pico de gallo, or Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies or as simple as chopped onions and tomatoes.
- Shredded Cheese – Use blends that include cheddar cheese and mozzarella or even pepper jack cheese. For convenience, you can use pre-shredded cheese, but freshly grated cheese melts even better.
- Double the layer as long as it fits in the air fryer basket. For crispy, even cooking, avoid piling the nachos too high. Cook in batches if needed for a larger serving.
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