Get ready to try the ULTIMATE nachos! Steak Nachos are tangy, creamy, and a little bit spicy, for the best loaded nachos recipe ever! An easy nachos recipe perfect for your next game day party or a fun family dinner.
You are going to LOVE this steak nachos recipe! These oven nachos are packed with flavor from hot sauce, grilled chuck steak, shredded Jack cheese, and salsa.
Sheet Pan Nachos
I love baked nachos! What could be easier than a sheet pan of chips, cheese, and steak, covered with nachos toppings, like salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream?
A spicy beef nachos recipe like this is one of my favorite dinners to make for game day or movie night. My kids and their friends love these spicy nachos, and so do I!
Nachos are one of the easiest dinners to make, and it does not get much better than steak nacho recipes. You can even use leftover steak to make these baked nachos!
Spicy Steak Nachos Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. hot sauce (use your favorite)
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. garlic clove, minced
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice (1 whole lime)
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1.25 lb. chuck steak
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup tomatoes, chopped
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
What’s the best cheese for nachos?
When I make steak nachos, I like to use Monterey Jack cheese. I find it to be perfectly creamy when it melts, and I love the flavor!
When it comes to picking the best cheese for nachos, though, all you have to worry about is how well the cheese melts. Pick your favorite melty cheese and go with it!
Just remember: shredded cheese works best.
What are the best nachos chips?
For these sheet pan nachos, I use a bag of regular tortilla chips. You could mix it up and try something new if you’d like, like lime tortilla chips or even your favorite flavor of Doritos.
Doritos nachos have a lot of flavor, but keep in mind you may want to season less if you use them!
What steak should I use for nachos steak?
Chuck steak works perfectly for steak nachos, but you can use leftover steak from any steak recipe. Here are some of my personal favorite steak recipes to use for baked nachos:
- Grilled Chuck Steak
- Juicy Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Reverse Sear Ribeye Steak
- Carne Asada
- Porterhouse Steak
You can prep your steak on the grill as in the instructions below, or even cook it on the stovetop.
Or, if you prefer, you can use leftover steak from one of the recipes above, and all you’ll have to do is add it to the nachos when you bake them!
What’s the best salsa for nachos?
Pick your favorite salsa to use with your beef nachos recipe! I like to pick a mild or spicy salsa that pairs well with whichever cut of steak I’m using for my steak nachos.
Red salsa and green salsa both work well. If you want steak nachos with a little more Mexican cuisine flair, try green tomatillo salsa with carne asada for your steak. Top with a creamy cheese and extra Mexican cheese like queso fresco or cotija.
Nacho Toppings
- Mexican crema, which is like sour cream or Creme Fraiche
- Jalapenos
- Olives
- Avocado
- Shrimp for surf & turf nachos
- Cilantro
- Peppers, like Blistered Shishito Peppers
Aside from the toppings listed under the nachos ingredients for this recipe, the above toppings work beautifully with these easy nachos!
Jalapenos will add a little more spice, while avocado will tone down the heat and olives will add another layer of flavor.
Mix things up by adding shrimp from Shrimp Scampi or Garlic Prawns to your nachos to make it a surf and turf.
Peppers add another level of flavor alongside steak, and my favorite are blistered shishito peppers. They’re a mild Japanese flavor with a ton of flavor!
How to Make Nachos with Steak
Marinating Steak
- In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. hot sauce, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp. sea salt.
- Place a 1.25 lb. chuck steak in a resealable plastic bag. Pour the mixture into the bag with the steak and seal it tightly. Turn it over a few times, massaging the marinade into the steak.
- Refrigerate and allow the steak to marinate for up to 2 hours.
Grilling Steak for Steak Nachos
- Once ready to cook, preheat your grill or stove to high. Remove the steak from the marinade and place it on the grill or skillet on the stove (cast iron skillets work best).
- Cook on one side for 8 minutes, then turn and continue cooking for another 5-8 minutes until you reach your desired degree of doneness (about 135°F for medium-rare, or 145°F for medium).
- Remove the steak from the grill or stove and allow to rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing.
Assembling the Steak Nachos
- Preheat your oven broiler to high. Spread 1 bag of tortilla chips in a single even layer on a baking sheet.
- Lay slices of steak over the tortilla chips, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Put the pan in the oven until the cheese melts and the chips crisp up, about 3-4 minutes.
- Top with 1 cup shredded lettuce, 1 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/2 cup salsa of your choice, and 1/3 cup sour cream.
And that’s it! Steak nachos are really so easy to make, and well worth it, too. Cook them up for a game day party or a fun night at home, and watch them disappear!
You can skip out on grilling the steak by using leftover steak. Cook up your favorite steak dinner, and then later in the week use leftovers to make steak nachos. It’s perfect!
This is a great way to repurpose restaurant steak leftovers, too.
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Did you try this easy steak nachos recipe? Let me know in the comments below and with a rating, or share a pic of your results with us on Pinterest by following the link above!
Enjoy More Game Day Recipes
- Pulled Pork Pizza Flatbread Recipe
- Hawaiian Roll Slider Recipes (Tailgating Recipes)
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
- Pulled Pork Nachos
- Chicken Taquitos Recipe
If you love steak nachos, you’ll love…
- Chilaquiles Rojos (Chilaquiles Mexicanas)
- Mexican Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
- Elote Recipe (Elotes Mexicano)
- Mexican Lasagna Recipe with Corn Tortillas
- Vegetarian Taco Recipe for Two
Spicy Grilled Steak Nachos
🥘 Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. hot sauce your choice
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice from 1 whole lime
- 1 Tbsp. garlic clove minced
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1.25 lb. chuck steak or leftover steak slices
- 1 bag tortilla chips your choice
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup tomatoes chopped
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa your choice
🔪 Instructions
Marinating Steak
- In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. hot sauce, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp. sea salt.
- Place a 1.25 lb. chuck steak in a resealable plastic bag. Pour the mixture into the bag with the steak and seal it tightly. Turn it over a few times, massaging the marinade into the steak.
- Refrigerate and allow the steak to marinate for up to 2 hours.
Grilling Steak for Steak Nachos
- Once ready to cook, preheat your grill or stove to high. Remove the steak from the marinade and place it on the grill or skillet on the stove (cast iron skillets work best).
- Cook on one side for 8 minutes, then turn and continue cooking for another 5-8 minutes until you reach your desired degree of doneness (about 135°F for medium-rare, or 145°F for medium).
- Remove the steak from the grill or stove and allow to rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing.
Assembling the Steak Nachos
- Preheat your oven broiler to high. Spread 1 bag of tortilla chips in a single even layer on a baking sheet.
- Lay slices of steak over the tortilla chips, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Put the pan in the oven until the cheese melts and the chips crisp up, about 3-4 minutes.
- Top with 1 cup shredded lettuce, 1 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/2 cup salsa of your choice, and 1/3 cup sour cream.
Notes
- Use leftover steak: You can use leftover steak to make these steak nachos! If you do, shave off the time required to grill the steak. Just thinly slice your leftovers and add to your nachos.
- Nacho toppings: Mix up your toppings choices! Here are some ideas on what you can use:
- Mexican crema
- Jalapenos
- Olives
- Avocado
- Shrimp for surf & turf nachos
- Cilantro
- Peppers
We love to hear from you! Leave a comment to let us know what you think!