Recipe for Meaty Nachos

Meaty Nachos

This Nachos recipe is two parts - the 1st part is making the meat mixture, which we usually do the night before. It’s really a recipe for Sloppy Joes, but they’re not that sloppy. The original recipe is from Looney Spoons, but I’ve adapted the recipe a bit. Here is my version –

Nachos Meat Mixture – also good for stuffing wraps and hamburger buns

1 lb of lean ground chicken or turkey (ground beef would work well too)
½ c chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ c chopped celery
¼ c grated carrot
1 c mashed romano or pinto beans (or any canned beans you have on hand – use a ½ can drained)
1 c cooked brown or white rice (I never have cooked rice on hand, so I use a c. of oatmeal flakes)
1 c diced tomato (canned or fresh)
½ c salsa
2/3 c ketchup
½ c chopped green onions
2 jalapenos peppers, seeded & minced (I use jarred jalapenos)
2 tblsp white vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
1 tbsp Worcestshire sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 ½ tsp chili powder
1 tsp EACH of ground cumin, and prepared mustard
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ tsp black pepper

Use non stick pan or spray with non-stick spray. Add chicken, onions, garlic, celery and carrot. Cook over med-high heat until chicken is browned and no longer pink, about 8 mins. Stir often.
Break up any large chunks with fork. Drain off any fat.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to med-low. Cover and simmer for 10 min, stirring occasionally. If you have to leave mixture for any length of time, turn down to lowest setting, or it will burn.

You would probably not want to use this large a recipe just for nachos – we use about ½ for a meal and then save the other ½ for nachos the next day.


Nachos

Makes 2 pie plates of nachos

Nachos meat mixture
Bag of nacho chips
1 c. of salsa
1 c. of shredded cheddar
Sliced jalapenos – optional

Preheat over to 350

Place a layer of nacho chips at the bottom of each pie plate. Drop some of meat mixture over chips and also salsa. Sprinkle ½ cheese over this layer, then add more nacho chips. Repeat with meat, salsa and cheese. Add jalapenos, too, if using.

Pop in the oven for approx 10 min, until cheese is melted and before chips turn brown. Serve warm.