A spicy jalapeno cilantro sauce tops these ground beef totopos which are loaded with so many mouth-watering flavors. They are cheesy, hearty, and delicious, and this beef nacho recipe is the perfect weeknight meal or perfect for your next game-day get-together.
You may not have heard the word totopos, but I guarantee you love them. That’s because it’s the real name of everyone’s favorite Mexican appetizer – nachos! That’s right, totopos are the authentic tortilla chips used in nachos, and that’s what we’re making today. These delicious ground beef nachos are loaded with all the flavors we love in our nachos and then some. They make a fantastic addition to any Taco Tuesday, potluck, gameday, or just an afternoon snack. When you’re hankering for some authentic Mexican flavor, just make a batch of these, and you’ll be more than satisfied. In fact, everyone who tries them always loves them.
Totopos with Beef and Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
This delicious recipe starts with fried corn tortilla chips. After they’re fried to crispy perfection, I top them with a mixture of spicy ground beef and hot cilantro sauce. Then, it all gets covered with cheese and baked to melty deliciousness and topped with even more spicy cilantro sauce. What I end up with is a plate of hot and spicy beefy goodness that no one can say no to. It’s loaded with authentic Mexican flavors, and it’s actually very easy to make. That’s a big bonus.
Why You’ll Love These Totopos
- Everyone loves nachos and these are made with homemade corn tortilla chips.
- They’re super flavorful with a homemade jalapeno cilantro sauce that’s absolutely delicious.
- All your favorite nacho toppings can be added and enjoyed by all!
Tips
- Although frying the corn tortillas will help them stay crispy longer, I recommend serving these nachos as soon as they’re out of the oven.
- Give the sauce a couple of minutes to cool a bit after you blend it before adding the cream cheese and sour cream to prevent them from curdling.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying the tortillas. Cook the tortillas in batches.
Variations
- You can use regular tortilla chips if you like.
- Try using chorizo in place of ground beef.
- You can use ground turkey in this recipe, as well.
- Different kinds of cheese work well like, Monterey Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, sharp cheddar cheese or nacho cheese.
What to Serve with These Totopos
Nachos make a great side or main dish, so there’s really no limit to what you can serve with them. Some great ideas include:
- Salsa
- Avocado salad
- Mexican rice
- Spanish rice
- Tacos
- Taquitos
- Burritos
- Quesadillas
- Elote
- Your favorite Mexican dishes
What are totopos?
Totopos are fried corn tortilla chips. The name is a combination of the Nahuatl words for tortilla and thunder, roughly translating to “tortillas that are noisy to chew.”
What toppings do you put on nachos?
- Beef
- Steak
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Cheese
- Cheese sauce
- Sour cream
- Pico de Gallo
- Refried beans
- Sliced jalapenos
- Sliced green onions
- Diced red onions
- Ground beef
- Chorizo
- Tomatoes
- Black olives
Do you put cheese or meat first on nachos?
There’s really no set order. Some people add cheese first, while others add meat first.
Who invented nachos?
While totopos are an ancient tortilla chip, nachos topped with all the toppings we know and love today are not ancient in the slightest. In fact, they were invented in 1940 by Ignacio Anaya at a restaurant in Piedras Negras in Coahuila, Mexico.
How to Store and Reheat Totopos with Beef and Cilantro Sauce
You can store these nachos in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. However, they’re only actually appetizing for about 24 hours. So plan on reheating them once if at all.
To reheat them, place them in an air fryer and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until hot or reheat in the oven.
Totopos with Beef and Cilantro Sauce Ingredients
Although there are several ingredients to this recipe, they’re all basic items that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Corn tortillas
- Vegetable oil
- Jalapenos
- Serrano peppers
- Tomatillos
- Cloves garlic
- Onion
- Cilantro
- Chicken bouillon
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
- Lean ground beef
- Seasonings
- Shredded Colby jack cheese
For actual measurements and a complete list of ingredients, see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Totopos with Beef and Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
At first glance, you might think this is a difficult recipe to make, but in reality, it’s very easy when you break it down. Just go step by step, and you’ll find that you have delicious nachos in no time.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Then, lightly fry the jalapenos, serrano peppers, tomatillos, garlic cloves, and onion slices. Add water and cook covered for 5 minutes. Then, remove from the heat and add to a blender or Vitamix and puree. Finally, add the cilantro, chicken bouillon, sour cream, and cream cheese, and mix until blended.
Step 3: Make the Beef Mixture
Cook the ground beef and onion in a large pan until the beef is completely cooked and the onions are tender. Then, drain the grease, return the meat to the pan, and add the seasonings. Finally, add 1 cup of the cilantro sauce to the mixture and mix to combine.
Step 4: Make the Totopos
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cut the tortillas into 6 equal triangles and fry them in a single layer in the oil on both sides for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Place the chips on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil and season with salt.
Step 5: Assemble the Beef Totopos
Place the totopos in a single layer on the baking sheet. Then, top with ground beef mixture and shredded cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Top with your favorite toppings and the remaining jalapeno cilantro sauce.
Try These Delicious Totopos with Beef and Cilantro Sauce Today
These totopos are loaded with spicy ground beef, cheese, and an even spicier cilantro sauce, making for a plate of delicious nachos that pack equally big kicks of heat and flavor. These are the ultimate party or game day food, and once you try them, I know you’ll agree. Give this recipe a shot. You’ll soon find out that everyone always loves them and there are never any leftovers!
Looking for More Delicious Mexican Recipes
Skirt Steak Fajitas – These fajitas are loaded with deliciously seasoned steak, colorful peppers and make an easy weeknight dinner.
Southwest Chicken Tacos – This recipes starts out in the crockpot. Tender, juicy, slow cooked chicken with tremendous flavor combined with beans, corn, rice and more, stuffed in flour tortillas and fried until golden. Delicious!
Easy Charro Beans – These delicious charro beans are made in the slow cooker. Pinto beans, bacon, onion, garlic and lots of spices are the ingredients that make up this delicious classic side dish recipe.
And, here are some crispy and delicious Tacos Dorados from Great Grub, Delicious Treats that you’ll enjoy too.
Totopos with Beef and Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
For the Homemade Tortillas Chips
- 15-20 corn tortillas
- 1-2 cups vegetable oil
For the Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
- 3 jalapenos seeds removed
- 3 serrano peppers seeds removed
- 5 tomatillos
- 5 cloves garlic
- ½ medium onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 ounces cream cheese
For the Ground Beef Mixture
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama®
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2-3 cups shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, set aside.
For the Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce
- Using a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add jalapenos, serrano peppers, tomatillos, garlic cloves, onion slices and fry lightly.
- Pour in water and cover for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add ingredients to a blender or Vitamix and puree.
- Next, add cilantro, chicken bouillon, sour cream and cream cheese. Mix until blended.
For the Ground Beef Mixture
- In a large pan, cook ground beef and onion until beef is completely cooked and onions are tender.
- Drain grease and return meat to pan and add seasonings. Mix well.
- Add 1 cup of sauce into the meat mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.
For the Corn Tortilla Chips
- In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium heat.
- Cut each tortilla into six pieces. Place tortillas, in a single layer, into hot oil and fry on both sided for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy on both sides. Don't overcrowd the pan and work in batches.
- Place chips on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Season with salt, as desired.
Assembling the Nachos
- Place tortilla chips in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
- Top with ground beef mixture and shredded cheese.
- Place in preheated oven for 5 mins or until cheese is completely melted.
- Top with desired topping and drizzle with remaining sauce.
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