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Ultimate Loaded Tailgate Nacho Bar: Best Game Day Snack

Ultimate Loaded Tailgate Nacho Bar - featured image
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A crowd-pleasing, layered nacho bar featuring homemade cheese sauce, seasoned beef, and fresh toppings, designed to stay crunchy and hot for game day gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground chuck
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup chili sauce
  • 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon jalapeño powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 2 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup full-fat sour cream
  • 4 stalks green onions, sliced thinly
  • Restaurant-style tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) if warming chips.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon (8-10 minutes). Drain excess grease, leaving a little for flavor.
  3. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the beef; cook until translucent and fragrant (3-4 minutes).
  4. Stir in taco seasoning, black beans, and chili sauce. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until thickened. Taste and adjust salt.
  5. In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk cream cheese, heavy cream, jalapeño powder, and garlic powder until smooth (5 minutes).
  6. Gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, a handful at a time, whisking until fully melted and glossy. Remove from heat.
  7. Assemble by spreading chips on a platter or baking sheet. Layer with meat mixture and half the cheese sauce.
  8. If baking, bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Remove and top with remaining cheese sauce.
  9. Serve immediately with cold toppings (guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions) on the side or dolloped on top.

Notes

Use block cheese and shred it yourself to avoid anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Keep heat low when making cheese sauce to prevent separation. Add cold toppings after baking to maintain chip crunchiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: tailgate nachos, game day snack, loaded nachos, cheese sauce recipe, party food, crowd pleaser, easy nachos

Find it online: https://tomyumy.com/ultimate-loaded-tailgate-nacho-bar-best-game-day-snack/