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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Pepper Beef Nachos with Homemade Queso

    Pepper Beef Nachos with Homemade Queso

    Published: Aug 27, 2021 · Updated: Aug 3, 2022 Written by Alicia · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Oh, Nachos! What a truly wonderful thing they are. Spicy, salty, crunchy deliciousness piled high and ready to be dug into. These beef nachos are all those things, but they also pack a punch of pepper that will both surprise and delight.

    Platter of beef nachos topped with sour cream

    Nachos live in a state of in-between. Are they an appetizer? Dinner? Snack? Truth is, they can be any of those things. Really, there's never an inappropriate time for nachos.

    In these nachos, ground black pepper stars as a surprising ingredient that makes the beef really stand out. Coupled with homemade queso and fresh toppings, you'll want these all to yourself.

    How to Make Pepper Beef Nachos with Homemade Queso

    First, be sure to prep all of your ingredients before you begin cooking. Once the queso and beef are done cooking, you'll want to assemble and eat the nachos right away.

    Making the Queso

    Ingredients to make queso

    In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

    Sauté the green onions and Roma tomatoes until they are slightly softened, about 3 minutes.

    Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.

    Stir in the green chiles and jalapeños and sauté for 1 minute.

    Add the cumin, chili powder, and salt, and sauté for 30 seconds.

    Pour in the evaporated milk and mix in the cornstarch. Cook over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Simmer for 1 minute to thicken.

    Add the American cheese and quickly stir until fully melted and combined.

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until it is melted and well incorporated.

    Queso in a cast iron pan with sliced jalapeños

    Keep the queso warm on the lowest heat setting while you prepare the rest.

    Cooking the Beef

    Heat oil in a cast iron pan or heavy-bottom pan over medium-high heat.

    Once hot, begin sautéing the beef breaking it up into bite-sized pieces. Try not to move the beef around too much. You want the outside to get brown and slightly crispy. Cook for about 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked through.

    Tongs holding paper towels soaking up excess grease from cooked ground beef

    If needed, use paper towels to soak up any extra grease.

    Once the beef is done cooking, turn off the heat and stir in the pepper and salt.

    Cooked ground beef with a mount of salt and ground pepper

    Assembling the Nachos

    On a large platter, spread out the tortilla chips.

    Pour the queso over the chips. Then, top with the ground beef.

    Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, sliced jalapenos, and sour cream.

    Platter with beef nachos topped with sour cream

    More Appetizers You'll Love!

    Mexican Street Corn Salad

    Stuffed Banana Peppers

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    Caramelized French Onion Dip

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    📖 Recipe

    Tray of beef nachos with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, jalapenos, and sour cream

    Pepper Beef Nachos with Homemade Queso

    Alicia
    Spicy, salty, crunchy, these pepper beef nachos with homemade queso pack a punch of pepper that will both surprise and delight.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Appetizers
    Servings 6 servings

    Ingredients
      

    Queso

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 bundles of green onions white and light green sections, sliced
    • 2 small Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
    • 2 cloves of garlic minced
    • 4 ounces canned green chiles
    • 1 to 3 tablespoons jarred jalapenos chopped
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 12 ounces evaporated milk
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 6 ounces white American cheese chopped into small pieces
    • 6 ounces Monterey jack or white cheddar freshly shredded

    Nachos

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt kosher or sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper preferably freshly ground
    • 9 ounces tortilla chips
    • ½ cup iceberg lettuce shredded
    • ½ cup tomatoes diced
    • ½ cup red onions diced
    • ¼ cup jalapeños sliced
    • ¼ cup Sour cream

    Instructions
     

    Prepare This Home Kitchen's Queso

    • In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
    • Sauté the green onions and tomatoes until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
    • Add the chiles and jalapenos and sauté for 1 minute.
    • Stir in the cumin, chili powder, and salt.
    • Pour in the evaporated milk and stir in the cornstarch. Cook over medium until it begins to bubble. Simmer for 1 minute until thickened.
    • Stir in the American cheese until melted and well combined.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until melted and well incorporated.
    • Keep over the lowest heat setting to keep the queso warm.

    Cook The Beef

    • Heat the oil in a cast iron or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, crumble the ground beef into the pan. Using a wooden spoon, break up any large chunks.
    • Cook the beef until it is cooked through, stirring only occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. The goal is to lightly fry the outside of the beef so it becomes a bit crispy, so only stir every couple of minutes or as needed.
    • Drain excess oil, if needed.
    • Remove the beef from the heat and stir in the salt and pepper.

    Assemble the Nachos

    • On a large platter, lay out the tortilla chips in a single layer.
    • Ladle the queso over the chips.
    • Spoon the ground beef evenly over the chips.
    • Top with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and jalapenos.
    • Top the nachos with dollops of the sour cream or serve it on the side.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Be sure not to over stir the ground beef. You really want it to crisp up a bit.
    • I also highly recommend cooking the beef in a cast iron pan to achieve the perfect crispiness.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 785kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 34gFat: 54gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 2139mgPotassium: 756mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1477IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 784mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisHomeKitchen or tag #thishomekitchen so I can see your photos!

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    Hi! I'm Alicia. I'm the recipe developer behind This Home Kitchen. Here, you'll find easy, cozy, family-pleasing recipes to help you bring your loved ones around the table.

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