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Camping Grilled Nachos

Campfire nachos with grilled nachos technique: layered tortilla chips, melted Mexican cheese, and hearty beef, cooked in an aluminum pan over medium campfire heat. Cheese turns melty and bubbly in about 8–10 minutes, then gets finished with salsa, sour cream, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 850
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Toppings and base
  • 1 bag tortilla chips
  • 3 cup Mexican cheese blend
  • 15 oz black beans drained
  • 1 lb ground beef cooked and seasoned
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 jalapeño sliced
  • 0.25 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Build the nachos in the aluminum pan
  1. Line a large disposable aluminum pan with half the tortilla chips, spreading them into an even layer for consistent melting.
  2. Layer half the cheese, half the black beans, and half the cooked ground beef over the chips so every bite gets toppings.
  3. Repeat the layers with the remaining tortilla chips, cheese, black beans, and ground beef.
Grill over the campfire
  1. Place the pan on the grill grate over medium campfire heat, keeping the pan stable over the hottest area.
  2. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and actively bubbling, with the edges turning slightly golden.
Finish and serve
  1. Remove from heat and top immediately with salsa, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, and chopped cilantro.
  2. Serve right away with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.

Notes

Pro tip: use a disposable aluminum pan with enough surface area so the chips form a single layer and melt evenly. Store leftovers covered in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet or oven until hot, though chips may soften. Freezing isn’t recommended because the toppings and cheese texture change after thawing. For a lighter option, swap ground beef for cooked turkey or plant-based crumbles while keeping the same layering.