Since college I’ve taken my nachos very seriously. While attending UCSB, I lived in the town Isla Vista, with the original Freebirds Burritos (before it became a chain). Freebirds is probably where my carne asada nachos obsession began. It was my go to late night snack spot of choice. I remember nights of climbing into bed, enjoying a giant platter of nachos while recapping the night with my friends. Yum.
Creating a great nacho experience all starts with the single chip layer foundation. Nothing bums me out more than nachos that are poorly built. You end up with an over saturation of toppings on the top layer, while the remaining tortilla chips underneath are completely naked and dry. My favorite method is making nachos on a baking sheet and spreading the chips out to form a single layer. Then generously top nachos with carne asada and cheese and place into the oven into the cheese JUST MELTS.
Standing by your broiler and waiting for the cheese to melt is important. It’ll only take a few minutes and you really want the cheese to have the perfect consistency. You want the cheese fully melted, but not melted to the point that it begins to bubble. You want the cheese to stretch into long strings as you pull it from the pile. If you allow the cheese to get so hot it browns and bubbles, your cheese will turn rock hard the second it comes out of the oven. No good. At this point you can start going crazy over your toppings, adding pretty much whatever you want.
I’m picky about my carne asada and think we really nailed it here. The marinade is so easy to make and really flavorful. If you’re looking for a quick and easy super bowl dish that’ll definitely feed a crowd, these loaded carne asada nachos are awesome. We also have this recipe for carne asada torta, if you need another excuse to make more carne asada! xx, Jenny
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Carne Asada Nachos
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ pounds skirt steak
carne asada marinade
- 5 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chile powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano (Italian oregano is fine)
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 limes, juiced OR 1 Mexican orange, juiced
nachos
- 8 ounces corn tortilla chips
- 3 1/2 cups shredded oaxaca
- 1 cup Mexican rice
- 1 cup crumbled queso fresco
- 1 cup fresh corn kernels
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema
- 1 bunch chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 thinly sliced jalapeno
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place meat into a re-sealable plastic bag. Place marinade ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together. Pour marinade mixture/paste over meat. Close bag and shake until marinade has been evenly distributed over the meat. Allow meat to marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
- Heat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Grill meat for about 4 minutes on each side, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper. Transfer meat onto a cutting board and rest about 5 minutes. Slice into bite sized cubes.
- To assemble: Spread tortilla chips onto a baking sheet in a single layer and top with half the shredded cheese. Top cheese with cubed carne asada. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
- Set broiler to high heat and place baking sheet under broiler for about 2 minutes or until cheese just melts.
- Remove nachos from oven and even top with remaining ingredients. Serve.
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These nachos are great! I’m a Gaucho as well. Wondered if you ever had nachos down in the Pub at the UCen? It was where the Hub is now, before the campus went dry. They were the best. Would love to be able to recreate them.
Bummer, I don’t think I ever got the nachos down at the pub! Great to meet a fellow gaucho though! :)
Best nachos I have ever had, hands down! Thanks for the recipe!
Hot dang!! that is all…
I’ve never trusted a nacho recipe before, but given that you frequented the mecca of amazing nachos (IV – where I may have lived for 4 or 5 years myself), YAAAAASSSSSSS!!
Yes! This is an epic way to do the Super Bowl! I’m all over this. Pinning!
im glad I am not the o lay one that lives off of nachos during college! Sigh, I miss that metabolism! Hahah! One of my very first blog posts ever was a love story about me and nachos, so this speaks to my soul!!!
Yaaaaaas. I’ll happily eat this for the rest of time.
What I wouldn’t pay for a delivery of IV freebirds nachos right now. People don’t understand the chain doesn’t come close! These look delish.
This looks amazing, but I personally love all kinds of nachos!
I like to call this heaven in a mouthful!
Those look great! I’ve never used radishes on nachos, but it seems like a good idea since they’d add a fresh crunch that’s a bit different from the chips.
Is it safe to keep your nose pressed against the oven window as you watch the cheese melt? Only kidding, but, those nachos looking amazing.