Loaded Carnitas Nachos
These 30-minute Carnitas Nachos are loaded with delicious Mexican flavors from the tender carnitas, layers of tortilla chips, refried beans, onion, tomatoes, jalapenos.
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This delicious nacho recipe would go great with your favorite Crispy Chicken Tacos or even a big pile of Chicken and Pepper Jack Cheese Taquitos.
Why Make These Nachos
These sheet pan nachos are super simple to whip up, perfect for those busy weeknights when you've run out of energy to make a big meal or just need a quick appetizer to hold you over until the main course.
Pork Carnitas Nachos are a great addition to your Cinco de Mayo menu, yet simple enough to make any day of the year.
Let's Gather the Ingredients
- Tortilla chips: I have found that thicker crispy chips tend to do well holding all the ingredients and won't go soggy as quickly.
- Refried beans: Canned or homemade.
- Carnitas: you can make my Slow Cooker Carnitas using a pork shoulder or a boneless pork butt.
- Pepper Jack cheese:
- Veggies: finely diced white onion, diced tomatoes, and diced or jarred jalapeno
- Fresh cilantro
- Toppings: sour cream, guacamole, and salsa
How to make Carnitas Nachos
- Step 1: Dump a can of refried beans in a saucepan with water and heat until warmed and smooth.
- Step 2: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup later. Lay out a thick layer of chips.
- Step 3: Spread refried beans over chips in a thin layer. Next, layer on the carnitas. Finally, top with the freshly shredded cheese.
- Step 4: Bake in a preheated oven and then sprinkle with diced tomatoes, diced onions, jalapenos and fresh cilantro. Serve with additional toppings.
Recipe Tips
- Typically, I use pepper Jack, but Colby Jack, Monterey Jack cheese, a Mexican blend or even plain cheddar cheese would work just fine.
- I suggest shredding your own cheese as it tends to melt better than the bagged cheese that has an anti-clumping agent on the cheese that actually makes melting the cheese harder.
- Leftover nachos can be stored in an airtight container. Typically these are best enjoyed right when you make them, but they can be reheated if needed.
- Additional toppings can be poured in small bowls for serving so guests can add whatever type of toppings they prefer.
- You can make these nachos in a thick, single layer, or you can lay half the chips down, add half the beans, carnitas, and cheese, and then layer the other half of chips down and layer everything again. Whatever you prefer. Additionally, you could layer everything in a cast iron skillet and pop the layered nachos in the oven that way instead of the lined baking sheet.
Recipe Faq's
You have so many options here. Use any of your favorite toppings
you typically enjoy with or on nachos. Try some queso fresco, other melted cheese sauce, or some black beans in place of or with the refried beans. You could add some avocado slices in place of the guac if you don't have any or swap the diced tomatoes and onion for some fresh pico de Gallo. It's also nice to add a squirt of lime juice
for a pop of refreshing citrus. I also like adding some cotija cheese
for another fun flavor and texture.
Of course! You can swap out the shredded pork for seasoned ground beef. I think these nachos would also be really good with my Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken.
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Loaded Carnitas Nachos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1- 12 ounce bag or thick tortilla chips
- 1- 16 ounce can refried beans
- 3 cups carnitas store bought or homemade
- 3 cups pepperjack cheese
- 1 cup white onion finely diced
- 1 ½ cups tomatoes diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 jalapeno diced (or jarred)
- Toppings: sour cream guacamole, salsa
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the canned refried beans into a medium sauce pan along with ½ cup of water and heat until warm and smooth.
- Place a thick layer of tortilla chips on the lined baking sheet.
- Spread a thin layer of refried beans on top of the tortilla chips. Followed by the carnitas and the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle the tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro on top.
- Serve with any additional toppings!
Slow cooked braised pork
what is carnitas?