The BEST Carne Asada Nachos recipe with Carne Asada Seasoning! This sheet pan nachos recipe uses my San Diego-style carne asada steak used in in all of my 5-star rated Carne Asada Recipes, including Carne Asada Tacos, Carne Asada Tortas, and Carne Asada Fries recipes.
San Diego Mexican Food
The base for our carne asada nachos (Nachos Con Carne Asada) is our famous San Diego-style Carne Asada Marinade recipe. If you’ve ever been to San Diego and grubbed down on carne asada burritos from the local Roberto’s/Alberto’s/Filiberto’s, you know what style I’m talking about. Cheesecake Factory carne asada steak it is not.
Our carne asada marinade is unparalleled. This carne asada steak recipe has been perfected over the last 12 years and is beloved by those “in the know”. San Diego Mexican food really is in a class of their own. Use it to make these Beef Sliders.
Steak Nachos Ingredients
Carne Asada – Flank Steak, Red Wine Vinegar, Vegetable Oil, Lime, Orange, Cilantro, Garlic, Salt, White pepper, Cumin, Chili Powder, Mexican Oregano and Ground Cloves.
Nachos – Tortilla Chips, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo.
Check out my list of what to serve with carne asada for side dish ideas.
How to Make Carne Asada Nachos
Grill the Carne Asada
Start Building the Nachos
Add a single layer of tortilla chips followed by the first layer of cheese to a quarter size baking sheet. Broil for 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Add the carne asada and another layer of cheese and broil for another 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Add the Toppings
Top the steak nachos with 4 ingredient guacamole or Guacamole Molcajete, pico de gallo and sour cream and get to grubbing!
Nacho Topping Ideas
The topping we use in this Mexican carne asada nachos recipe are typical for San-Diego Mexican recipes. There are a ton of other nacho toppings that would be killer – anything on our Top Tacos Toppings list would work. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Restaurant Style Salsa or Hot Sauce
- Pickled Peppers
- Pickled Red Onions
- Guacamole
- Smoked Queso, Choriqueso
- Lime Crema Sauce
- Avocado Crema Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Crema Sauce
- Chipotle Crema Sauce
- Shredded Lettuce
- Mexican Pickled Carrots
Recipe Tips
Play with the proportions until you figure out your favorite mix. Love cheese? Add in another cup. Watching the budget? Half the amount of steak. Don’t like raw onions? Skip the pico de gallo and opt for hot sauce or salsa. You get the idea. Serve it with a Beermosa for a killer brunch!
Best Cheese Options
Avoid pre-shredded bagged cheese as the coating used prohibits the cheese from melting. When you’re making nachos, pre-shredded cheese is the antithesis of what you’re going for.
Fantastic cheese options include: Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, Colby, cheddar, pepper jack, Oaxaca or even Salsa Con Queso, and Queso Blanco.
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The same cheese you use to make carne asada quesadillas can be used here.
Tortilla Chip Options
This isn’t the time to opt for thin “restaurant” tortilla chips. You want a nice heart chip that can withstand the weight of the toppings. Just avoid anything labeled “restaurant style” or “cantina” as this indicates a thinner chip.
These chips can be used to make Microwave Nachos.
Can I Make This In Advance
The carne asada itself, yes. The pico de gallo, yes. The guacamole, eh. The nachos themselves, nope. This easy carne asada nachos recipe is best straight from the oven. Wait even 10 minutes and you risk soggy tortilla chips or cold meat. Blah. As for the guacamole, making it in advance risks it turning brown and unsightly. It would still be edible, just not as appetizing.
Drink Pairings
Naturally I highly recommend making Game Day appetizers with a Mexican drink: Mexican Mule, Michelada rimmed with Chamoy, Mango Michelada, Margarita
Carne Asada Nachos
Ingredients
Carne Asada Steak:
- ½ Lb Carne Asada, Freshly Grilled or Leftover (*Note 1 and 2)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
Nachos:
- 12 oz Tortilla Chips (*Note 3)
- 8 oz Cheddar, Colby Jack or Mexican Blend Cheese, Shredded (*Note 4)
- Pico de Gallo, Store Bought or Homemade
- Guacamole, Store Bought or Homemade
- Sour Cream
- Optional Toppings: Cilantro, Jalapeños, Pickled Peppers, Pickled Red Onions
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to broil.
- Slice the carne asada steak into bite-size pieces.
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the steak and cook until hot and charred (approx. 4-5 minutes). Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Spread the tortilla chips on a quarter sheet pan. Chips can slightly overlap, but not by much. Top with half the shredded cheese and broil in the oven until melted (approx. 1-3 minutes, depending on the size of the cheese shred). Make sure to keep your eyes on the cheese! It melts quickly.
- Remove the baking sheet and top the chips with all of the carne asada, then the rest of the shredded cheese. Broil for another 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and top with pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and any other toppings you choose. Enjoy immediately for best results.