• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Camp.Grill.Eat. logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cast Iron Skillet Recipes

    Published: Nov 4, 2024 by Angie Zoobkoff · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

    Skillet Nachos

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These grilled skillet nachos are loaded with all your favorite toppings and cooked on the grill in your cast iron skillet until toasted and cheesy. Serve them for an easy camping lunch or an epic game-day snack.

    Nachos topped with beef, cheese, avocado, tomato, and pickled peppers in a cast iron skillet.

    Nachos seem to have a magnetic quality at my house (or campsite). Whenever I yell that "nachos are ready", people magically appear, ready to dive into that pile of toasted, smothered chips. Not that I'm surprised. Loaded with beef, cheese, beans, tomatoes, and avocados, with all my favorite sauces and dips on the side, I'm right there in line with the rest of them.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • You can make it entirely in your cast iron skillet and cook it on the grill.
    • You can prepare the meat ahead of time, so it comes together quickly if you're making it for a camping lunch or snack.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Ingredients for skillet nachos--beef, cheese, spices, refried beans, tomatoes, avocado, and oil.
    • Ground beef--I recommend using lean ground beef (85/15), which will give you a little bit of fat for flavor, but not enough to make the nachos soggy. If you use regular ground beef, drain most of the fat from the cooked beef before adding the spices.
    • Spices--I use a mixture of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. I recommend using a mild chili powder. If you know that yours is hot, reduce the amount to 1 tablespoon and adjust to taste.
    • Cheddar cheese--I recommend using full-fat and to grate the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt well.
    • Refried beans--These add a creamy element to your nachos, but if you don't enjoy them, you can omit them. If they are very thick and hard to scoop, warm them over low heat, or in the microwave in 15-second blasts to soften them.
    • Tortilla chips--You can use your favorite brand and shape. I find that the smaller round ones are easier to fit into a skillet.

    How to Make Grilled Nachos

    Ground beef browning in a skillet on a grill.
    Spiceds added to browned ground beef.
    1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat on the grill or stove. Add the beef and cook, stirring frequently until browned.
    2. Stir in the spices and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Scoop the meat into a bowl and wipe out the skillet.
    Nachos being assembled in a skillet with meat, cheese, and beans around the skillet.
    Cooked nachos in a skillet on a grill.
    1. Assemble the nachos with layers of chips, beef, refried beans, and cheese.
    2. Cook on a covered grill over indirect heat until hot and the cheese is melted.

    FAQs

    Can you reheat nachos?

    I don't recommend it. As soon as your chips come into contact with any moisture, whether from the fat in the cheese and meat, or the juices from the tomatoes, they will start to lose their crunch. Reheating won't return them to their original crispiness.

    If you don't think you'll be able to eat a full batch, scale the recipe down, or save some of the meat and make a fresh batch of nachos the next day.

    Can I make these in the oven?

    Definitely. Follow the directions, cooking your ground beef on the stovetop. Assemble the nachos and bake them in a 350°F oven until hot and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

    What should I serve with this?

    The nachos are hearty enough to be a meal in themselves, but be sure to serve them with all your favorite toppings. I recommend sour cream, salsa, pickled jalapeños, and queso.

    Tips and Troubleshooting

    • To get ahead, cook the ground beef mixture up to 3 days before assembling the nachos. Make a double batch and use it for burritos or walking tacos.
    • This recipe is suitable for gluten-free diets.

    More Skillet Recipes You'll Love

    A skillet filled with ravioli in a creamy mushroom sauce.
    Creamy Mushroom Ravioli
    A small skillet filled with beer cheese dip, topped with shredded cheese, tomatoes, and scallions with chips on the side.
    Skillet Beer Cheese

    Tried This Recipe?

    If you've tried this recipe, please leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for more great camping and grilling recipes.

    Recipe

    Nachos topped with beef, cheese, avocado, tomato, and pickled peppers in a cast iron skillet.

    Skillet Nachos

    A woman's face.Angie Zoobkoff
    Make these loaded grilled nachos in your cast iron skillet and cook them on the grill for an easy camping lunch, dinner, or epic game-day snack.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 to 6 servings
    Calories 875 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 12 ounces (340 g) lean ground beef
    • 1 ½ tablespoons mild chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • Salt and pepper
    • 10 ounce bag tortilla chips
    • ½ cup refried beans
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • 1 to 2 medium tomatoes diced
    • 1 medium avocado diced
    • Sour cream, salsa, and pickled jalapeños for serving (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat on the grill (or stovetop). Add the beef and cook, stirring frequently, until browned, about 5 minutes.
    • Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Scoop the ground meat into a bowl and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
    • Prepare the grill for indirect medium heat (350°F).
    • While the grill is preheating, assemble the nachos in the skillet. Create 2 or 3 layers of chips, refried beans, meat, and cheese, finishing with cheese on top.
    • Place the skillet on the cool side of the grill and cook until the chips, beans, and meat are hot, and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.
    • Remove from the grill and top with tomatoes and avocado. Serve immediately, with your favorite toppings on the side.

    Notes

    • Get ahead--Cook the ground beef mixture up to 3 days before assembling the nachos. Make a double batch and use it for burritos or walking tacos.
    • Dietary--This recipe is suitable for gluten-free diets.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 portionCalories: 875kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 42gFat: 55gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 738mgFiber: 7gSugar: 1g
    Keyword camping lunch ideas, game day snacks
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Cast Iron Skillet Recipes for Camping

    • Three pancakes on a plate topped with maple syrup and butter.
      Sausage Pancakes
    • A large cookie in a cast iron skillet, topped with whipped cream.
      Mini Skillet Cookie
    • Four pieces of flatbread inside a cloth napkin.
      Cast Iron Skillet Flatbread
    • A cast iron skillet filled with roast chicken thighs and potatoes and a skillet filled with sweet and sour chicken.
      8 Simple Skillet Chicken Dinners

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A woman's face.

    Hi, I'm Angie! I'm so glad you're here. I can't wait to share my favorite camping and grilling recipes with you.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • A dish of blueberry sauce with a spoon resting inside.
      3-Ingredient Blueberry Sauce
    • A pot of campfire chili mac over a campfire.
      Campfire Chili Mac
    • A pot of tuna noodle casserole and two pear crisp foil packets.
      10 No Cooler Camping Meals
    • A breaded chicken cutlet on a plate with some asparagus and a lemon wedge.
      Crispy Blackstone Chicken Cutlets

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for Emails

    Let's Connect

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Camp.Grill.Eat.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required