Trash Can Nachos
A fun, easy and tasty game day staple! The best part is that unlike traditional nachos where only the top layer gets covered, all chips will be nicely covered with cheese, meat and toppings! A crowd pleaser and great for kids to help prepare!
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp flour (gluten free blend, if desired)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups favorite shredded cheese
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bag blue or yellow corn tortilla chips
2 lbs favorite taco meat, cooked and diced (we used pre-seasoned chicken and carne asada)
2 cans pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup green onions or red onions, diced
Any other toppings of choice (olives, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce)
Directions:
Using a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium high heat. Whisk in flour until it dissolves. Add milk, heavy cream, shredded cheese, paprika, cumin and black pepper. Turn heat down to medium and whisk frequently until cheese has fully melted and sauce has thickened. Once cheese sauce is done, start to prepare nachos.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Start with a large 110 oz can. (Note, I went to store and bought two with no intention of using what was inside of it. Just about a $2 investment!) Use a can opener to fully remove lid. Discard what is inside (unless you plan to use it!) and clean well, including removing any outer label.
Stand can on cookie sheet. Start to build nachos, realizing you are building them upside down.
Drizzle a few spoonfuls of cheese in bottom of can. Top with 1/4 of tomatoes, onions and beans. Top with 1/4 of meat mixture. Drizzle a bit more cheese. Fully cover with layer of chips, all the way to the edge of can. Repeat entire process 4 times or as many as your can will hold. Make sure to end with chips.
Adjust racks in oven so that can and cookie sheet will fit. Place cookie sheet and can in oven and cooked, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
Remove cookie sheet from oven. Using oven mitts, lift can off cookie sheet. Flip platter you plan to use upside down on top of can. Carefully place one hand on bottom of platter and flip can and platter over. Very carefully and slowly lift can up. Nachos will slowly come down and will form a tall stack.
Top with any additional toppings to garnish!