Time: 20 minutes
Feeds: 2-4 people
Ingredients:
- 1 bag Juanita’s tortilla chips
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 can black beans, undrained
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- pinch of salt
- pinch of dried oregano
- smallest pinch of MSG (optional)
- 16 oz chihuahua cheese
- Salsa, if desired
- Sour cream, if desired
- Green or white onion, if desired
Directions:
For the taco meat: In a medium skillet, add the ground chicken and start to cook, breaking up the meat to create a single layer in the pan. Continue cooking until the meat is cooked through and has started to brown in places. Add the taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of water and simmer until the sauce has thickened.
For black beans: Although this step is completely optional, I like to doctor my beans a bit for extra flavor. Add canned black beans with the juices to a small saucepan. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and dried oregano to the beans and heat on medium. I also will sometimes add the smallest pinch (usually no more than an 1/8 teaspoon) of MSG to the beans as well as they can take the salt and sometimes need that deeper umami flavor. Simmer for at least 5 minutes to let the flavors come together. Remove from heat and set aside for assembly.
For assembly: Line a sheet tray with foil and preheat the broil setting of your oven on high. Put down a layer of chips followed by about 1/3 of the cheese. Next, start layering like a lasagna. Add about half of the meat and beans and then top with another layer of chips. Add the rest of the meat and beans and then a final layer of cheese so that everything is well covered. Place the nachos in the oven to melt the cheese and everything start to get a little brown. Keep an eye on the nachos while they’re under the broiler because it’s very easy for them to burn. When they’re cooked and melted to your liking, remove from the oven and set aside for a couple of minutes to cool slightly. Next, you can add the toppings that you want, including salsa, sour cream, onions, etc. Place the sheet tray on a heat pad on the table and dig in!