Nachos for dinner? Yes, please!

Staff, America's Test Kitchen on Jan 10, 2024

Who says nachos can’t be dinner? When they’re loaded with seasoned ground beef and pickled jalapeños, they’re sure to be plenty filling.

We made a simple microwave cheese sauce, so you don’t even need to turn on your oven to make these easy nachos.

Ground Beef Nachos with Sweet Pickled Jalapeños

Serves 4

4 jalapeño chiles, stemmed and sliced thin

1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons table salt, divided

1/2 cup ice plus 3/4 cup water

1 pound 85% lean ground beef

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1/4 cup tomato paste

12 ounces American cheese, chopped coarse

3/4 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce

12 ounces tortilla chips

1. Bring jalapeños, 1/4 cup sugar, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until jalapeños are just softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and stir in ice. Refrigerate until needed.

2. Combine beef, taco seasoning, remaining 1 teaspoon sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until beef is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until paste begins to darken, about 1 minute. Stir in water and cook until sauce thickens and coats beef, about 4 minutes.

3. Microwave American cheese, milk, and chipotle in a large bowl until cheese is fully melted, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Arrange half of the chips on a serving platter. Drizzle half of the cheese sauce over chips. Repeat with remaining chips and cheese, then dollop beef mixture over top. Drain jalapeños and scatter over nachos. Serve.

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