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Camping Grilled Nachos

Camping grilled nachos are loaded tortilla chips with melted Mexican cheese and bold toppings, finished right on the grill over campfire heat. Layered in a disposable aluminum pan, the cheese melts and turns bubbly in about 8–10 minutes for easy outdoor cooking.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tortilla chips
  • 1 bag tortilla chips 1 bag tortilla chips
Mexican cheese blend
  • 3 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend Use a shredded blend for faster melting
Black beans
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans Drained
Ground beef
  • 1 lb ground beef Cooked and seasoned
Salsa
  • 1 cup salsa For topping
Sour cream
  • 1 cup sour cream For topping
Jalapeño
  • 1 jalapeño Sliced
Cilantro
  • 1 4 cup cilantro Chopped (about 1/4 cup)
Lime wedges
  • 1 lime wedges Serve on the side

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Assemble in the aluminum pan
  1. Line a large disposable aluminum pan with half the tortilla chips in an even layer.
  2. Layer half the cheese, beans, and cooked ground beef over the chips.
  3. Repeat with the remaining tortilla chips, then the remaining cheese, beans, and beef so everything is covered in layers.
Grill over campfire heat
  1. Place the pan on the grill grate over medium campfire heat with the fire steady (not flaring) under the grate.
  2. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, with edges starting to brown.
Top and serve
  1. Remove the pan from the heat once the center is bubbling.
  2. Top the nachos with salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, and cilantro so the toppings sit fresh on the hot chips.
  3. Serve immediately with lime wedges for squeezing over each bite.

Notes

Pro tip: for the best bubbling, keep the campfire on medium heat and avoid direct flames under the pan. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 2 days, but note chips will soften; freezing is not recommended. Dietary swap: use a plant-based ground substitute and keep the cheese and toppings the same for an easy vegetarian-friendly alternative (or swap cheese to a dairy-free melty style if desired).