Crispy chips, gooey melty cheese and the BEST marinated carne asada! How could anyone say no to a bite of these tasty nachos?!
With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, I’ve only got one thing on my mind… Gimme all the Mexican food! And what a better way to celebrate than with some loaded carne asada sheet pan nachos right?! I think it’s so funny because whenever I hear “carne asada nachos” I always think of high school. Our school was located next to this little tiny taco shop and everyone would go there for lunch or a snack right after school. And nachos were always the “it” thing to order. Let me put it to you this way, you knew you were cool if you walked outta that joint with a big stryofoam container of carne asada nachos and had enough salsa packets for all of your friends too.😎 So be cooler and make this better for you version at home!
What are the best chips for sheet pan nachos?
Try looking for a thicker chip that can hold up to the weight of your toppings. I’ve found that if you use thinner (think restaurant type) chips, they tend to break much easier. (And no one wants a pile of crumbs when it comes to nachos! 😉 ) Need a gluten free option? I love using Siete Foods tortilla chips because they still have a great crunch to them and they’re so good too! (Plus they have a ton of flavors and they’re all 100% grain free!)
(Luckily my local Sprouts sells this brand which made it so easy to get all of my ingredients in one place and still keep this recipe gluten free too! I always love shopping at Sprouts whenever I need “special dietary products” because they have much cheaper prices and they’re always running deals too!)
What is the best cheese for sheet pan nachos?
Shredded cheese is always the best! That being said, I love using a mixture of cheddar and monterrey jack cheeses for my nachos! You can either shred/grate it yourself or buy it already preshredded. Both are great options!
How to make carne asada for nachos
I always try to find pre-marinated carne asada whenever I’m making nachos because it’s fast, super cheap and so much easier to put together than making it yourself. (You can usually find this in the meat section of most grocery stores.) Once you get your carne asada, follow the directions below!
- Cut your meat into small ½ – 1 inch pieces and set them aside.
- Then heat a large saute pan over high heat and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Once it’s hot, add your meat and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the meat reaches your desired doneness. (Make sure to stir it often.)
- Remove the meat from your pan and let it cool slightly before adding it to your nachos.
How to make loaded carne asada sheet pan nacho
- Preheat your oven to 375 degees.
- Spread your chips out on a rimmed sheet pan in a single layer. (Some overlapping is ok but not stacked.)
- Then top them with your shredded cheese and cooked carne asada.
- Place the pan in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and the nachos are heated through.
- Serve immediately with all of your favorite toppings!
Toppings
Toppings are always the best part when it comes to nachos, wouldn’t you agree? A quick suggestion though, use your toppings AS TOPPINGS! Don’t put them on before baking your nachos because some of them can become mushy or wilted from the heat. Here are a few of our family’s favorite nacho toppings:
- Guacamole (homemade or store bought)
- Hot sauces
- Fresh salsas (homemade or store bought)
- Sour cream
- Diced tomatoes
- Black olives
- Chopped cilantro
- Chopped onion
Why these are the best loaded carne asada sheet pan nachos
- They’re the perfect appetizer to serve for a crowd! Have a lot of people coming over? Just set a pan of these tasty nachos out and let them go to town!
- Easily customizable! Don’t like a lot of cilantro? No problem. Love a ton of cheese? You got it! You can easily add as much or as little of an ingredient that you want!
- Prep beforehand! Short on time? The best part about this nacho recipe is that all of your ingredients can be prepped early! Just chop, grate and cook the meat the night before and throw it all together right before you want to eat!
More recipes you might like:
- Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Black Bean Tostadas with Mexican Corn Salsa
- Crispy Chicken Carnitas Tacos with Avocado Lime Sauce
- Chipotle Lime Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Lime Sauce
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]
Loaded Carne Asada Sheet Pan Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 15 bag tortilla chips
- 1 15oz. package marinated carne asada beef skirt steak
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar & monterrey jack)
- Guacamole, optional
- Sour cream, optional
- Sliced cherry tomatoes, optional
- Diced red onion, optional
- Chopped cilantro, optional
Instructions
To make the carne asada:
- Cut your meat into small ½-1 inch pieces and set them aside. Then heat a large saute pan over high heat and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Once it's hot, add your meat and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the meat reaches your desired doneness. (Make sure to stir it often.) Remove the meat from your pan and let it cool slightly before adding it to your nachos.
To make the nachos:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degees.
- Next spread your chips out on a rimmed sheet pan in a single layer. (Some overlapping is ok but not stacked.) Then top them with your shredded cheese and cooked carne asada. Place the pan in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and the nachos are heated through.
- Serve immediately with all of your favorite toppings!
