Cheesy Sheet Pan Nachos

Dive into this easy recipe for family-style cheesy sheet pan nachos as the ultimate feast with all your favorite toppings.

This easy-going recipe gives you the much-loved Mexican ingredients you expect from a good homemade oven nachos recipe. 

Sheet Pan Nachos

If these oven-baked nachos are for you, then dive into my bank of Mexican recipe inspiration.

You're also going to love my simple chicken tacos and taco wonton shells. Don't miss this yummy DIY taco seasoning recipe while you're here!

🛒 Cheesy Sheet Pan Ingredients

• Tortilla chips - Use your favorite brand to form the base of your oven baked nachos.
• Ground beef or turkey (optional) - Add cooked and seasoned meat for extra protein and flavor.
• Black beans - Drained and rinsed, these add a hearty, vegetarian-friendly protein.
• Diced tomatoes - Canned and drained, these bring a fresh and juicy element.
• Black olives - Sliced for a tangy and briny punch.
• Pickled jalapeño slices - Adjust to your spice preference for a kick of heat.
• Red onion - Diced for a sharp and crunchy contrast.
• Cheddar cheese - Shredded medium cheddar for a classic, melty goodness.
• Monterey Jack cheese - Shredded for a creamy, mild flavor that complements the cheddar.
• Sour cream - Drizzle over the sheet pan nachos recipe for a cooling, creamy touch.
• Fresh cilantro - Chopped for a fresh and vibrant garnish.

Ingredients For Cheesy Sauce

• Unsalted butter - Forms the base of your roux for the cheese sauce.
• All-purpose flour - Used to thicken the sauce.
• Whole milk - Adds creaminess and richness.
• Sharp cheddar cheese - Shredded for a robust, cheesy flavor.
• Garlic and onion powder - Adds a subtle, savory depth to your sheet tray nachos. 

Picking the Best Tortilla Chips

Choosing the right tortilla chips can make or break your nachos. Opt for sturdy, thick-cut chips to ensure they hold up under the weight of toppings without becoming soggy.

Look for lightly salted varieties to balance the flavors and avoid overpowering your dish. I like Que Pasa.

Tip: Check if there's a Mexican grocery nearby—they often sell delicious house-made options.

🥘 How To Make Cheesy Sheet Pan Nachos Step By Step

1. Preheat and prepare: Line a large sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and lightly grease it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Arrange the chips: Spread the tortilla chips in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan, ensuring no gaps.
3. Cook the meat (if using): If using, cook the ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat and season with taco seasoning. Set aside.
4. Make the base of the cheesy sauce:  In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add flour and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes.

5. Add the milk to the sauce: Gradually pour in the milk, whisking to avoid lumps. Cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
6. Add cheese and seasonings: Reduce heat to low. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.

7. Assemble the nachos:  Evenly pour the cheesy sauce over the tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet pan. Scatter black beans, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, pickled jalapeño slices, and diced red onion evenly over the nachos. 

8. Add the cooked ground meat: Then sprinkle shredded medium cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the nachos.
9. Bake: Place the sheet pan nachos in oven and bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the nachos are heated through.
10. Finish off: Drizzle with sour cream and sprinkle fresh cilantro on top. Serve directly from the pan or transfer to a platter, and enjoy with extra salsa, jalapeno, extra shredded cheese, guacamole, and sour cream for dipping.

Substitutions

🌽 Tortilla chips: Swap out tortilla chips for pita chips, sweet potato chips, or even baked plantain chips for a unique twist.

🥩 Ground meat: Use shredded rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, or a veggie alternative like seasoned tofu or tempeh for a different protein option.

🧀 Cheeses: Try using pepper jack, queso blanco, or a blend of your favorite cheeses in place of cheddar and Monterey Jack.

🫘 Black beans: Substitute with pinto beans, refried beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas for a varied texture and flavor.

🌶️ Pickled jalapeños: Use fresh jalapeño slices, pickled banana peppers, or mild green chilies to adjust the heat level to your liking.

🍶 Sour cream: Replace with Greek yogurt or a dairy-free sour cream alternative for a lighter or dairy-free option.

📖Recipe

Cheesy Sheet Pan Nachos

Make this easy-going, super casual weeknight dinner and watch your family devour it. These cheesy sheet pan nachos have so much going for them!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 8 people

Calories 487 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the Nachos:

• ▢ 1 bag about 16 ounces of your favorite tortilla chips
• ▢ ½ cup cooked and seasoned ground beef or turkey, optional
• ▢ ½ cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• ▢ ½ cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
• ▢ ½ cup sliced black olives
• ▢ ½ cup pickled jalapeño slices, adjust to your spice preference
• ▢ ¼ cup diced red onion
• ▢ ¾ cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
• ▢ ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• ▢ ¼ cup sour cream for drizzling
• ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

For the Cheesy Sauce:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ¼ cups whole milk
• ▢ 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Lightly grease the foil or paper with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
• Arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan, ensuring there are no gaps.
  1 bag about 16 ounces of your favorite tortilla chips
• If you're using ground meat, cook it in a skillet over medium heat until browned and fully cooked through. Drain any excess fat and season it with your preferred taco seasoning. Set aside.
  ½ cup cooked and seasoned ground beef or turkey
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter for the cheesy sauce. Once melted, add the flour and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes to create a roux. It should become a light golden color.
  2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Gradually pour in the milk while continuing to whisk, ensuring there are no lumps. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens.
  1 ¼ cups whole milk
• Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Keep stirring until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
  1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, salt and black pepper to taste, ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Pour the cheesy sauce evenly over the tortilla chips on the sheet pan.
• Scatter the black beans, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, pickled jalapeño slices, and diced red onion evenly over the nachos.
  ½ cup canned black beans, ½ cup canned diced tomatoes, ½ cup sliced black olives, ½ cup pickled jalapeño slices, ¼ cup diced red onion
• Add the cooked ground meat (if using), then sprinkle the shredded medium cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese over the nachos.
  ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, ¾ cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
• Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the nachos are heated through.
• Remove the sheet pan from the oven, and let it cool for a minute or two. Drizzle sour cream and sprinkle fresh cilantro on top for a burst of freshness.
  ¼ cup sour cream for drizzling, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Serve the loaded cheesy sheet pan nachos directly from the pan, or transfer them to a large platter. Don't forget to have extra salsa, guacamole, and sour cream on hand for dipping!

Notes

• 🍱To Store. Keep leftover nachos in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Separate toppings like sour cream and fresh cilantro to keep them fresh and prevent sogginess.
• 🥶Freezing. It's best to freeze the individual components rather than the assembled nachos. Freeze cooked meat, beans, and cheese separately in airtight containers or freezer bags.
• 🔥To Reheat. To reheat nachos, spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until heated through and crispy. Avoid microwaving as it can make the chips soggy. Add fresh toppings like sour cream and cilantro after reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 18gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 762mgPotassium: 302mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 791IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 419mgIron: 2mg

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🤷 Sheet Pan Nachos: Frequently Asked Questions