The Trick to Homemade Nachos

Making nachos at home is a fairly new thing for me.  Nachos used to be something I always got at Taco Bell (don't judge), but they were never something I made at home.  Then I met the Hubs.  These were his standby, late night meal after he got done with a closing shift at the restaurant.  I always thought that nachos had to have the bright orange goopy cheese, but Hubs taught me otherwise.  Once you get used to the finely shredded real cheese--it is so much better.  That of course is combined with my stand alone food group, sour cream.  But I digress.

When we moved to Smalltown in late 2009, we didn't have a microwave.  Our house we have back in Hometown has a built in microwave and I made do without one after moving for nearly six months.  (Sidenote: a sure way to make a man panic in the kitchen--ask him to reheat something for his daughter for lunch when there isn't a microwave.  Yes, I did nearly all the reheating during that six month stretch.)   So when I planned nachos one night for dinner, having no microwave, I decided to stick the nachos in the oven on the top rack beneath the broiler.

Can you say yum?  

It makes the cheese all melty and bubbly and the chips nice and crispy.  We did finally get a microwave....and I still make our nachos in the oven. 

They are just. that. good.

Nachos ~ at least according to our house

Taco meat (I usually use only about a half pound of ground meat that is browned and seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and then mix with a can {about 1 1/2 cups}black beans....makes the meat stretch further)
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Salsa or grilled salsa, if you have it.
Tomatoes, diced
Guacamole
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Jalapeno rings

Set broiler on oven to low and move oven rack to highest position.

Layer chips on a baking sheet or oven proof plate and top with taco meat.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on evenly and place under broiler with oven door cracked.  Broil until cheese is melted and chips start to brown around the edges.  Top with remaining ingredients and serve.

Do you make nachos at home?  If so, what do you like to include?  

This recipe is linked to:

Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Blessed With Grace Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Designs By Gollum Foodie Friday
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
Hearth 'n Soul Recipe Swap  
Miz Helen's Country Cottage Full Plate Thursday 
Paisley Passions Fun With Food Friday  
We Are THAT Family's Works For Me Wednesday