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Ultimate Loaded Nacho Bar: Easy 5-Ingredient Party Dip

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A crowd-pleasing party dip featuring seasoned ground beef and a rich, homemade white cheddar queso sauce, baked until bubbly and served with sturdy tortilla chips.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning (Mexican-style blend)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
  • 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 large bags (14–16 oz total) thick-cut tortilla chips
  • Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeños, green onions, sour cream, cilantro

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon, cooking for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains. Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving a little for flavor.
  3. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 2 minutes until onion is soft and translucent.
  4. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the beef. Pour in water and tomato sauce. Stir to combine, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Set aside.
  5. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute to create a pale blonde roux.
  6. Slowly pour in whole milk while whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (3-4 minutes).
  7. Reduce heat to low. Add shredded cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring until fully melted before adding the next. Stir in green chilies, cumin, and garlic powder. Remove from heat.
  8. Spread half of the tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon half of the seasoned beef over the chips, then drizzle with half of the queso sauce. Repeat with remaining chips, beef, and queso.
  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is bubbly and chip edges are slightly toasted.
  10. Remove from oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Top with diced tomatoes, jalapeños, green onions, cilantro, and sour cream if desired.
  11. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Notes

Shred your own cheese from a block to ensure smooth melting; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting. Do not overcrowd the pan when browning beef to ensure proper Maillard reaction. For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour in the roux.

Nutrition

Keywords: nacho bar, party dip, ground beef queso, homemade queso, game day food, easy appetizer, loaded nachos, white cheddar sauce

Find it online: https://tomyumy.com/ultimate-loaded-nacho-bar-easy-5-ingredient-party-dip/