Big Mac Nachos combine the indulgent flavors of a Big Mac with the crispy crunch of nachos. Loaded with Beyond Beef, melty cheese, and fresh veggies, and drizzled with a tangy Big Mac sauce, this is the ultimate comfort food twist. Perfect for game day!
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Big Mac Nachos are the perfect combination of crispy, savory, and tangy. You get all the flavors of a Big Mac, but instead of a bun, it's piled on top of crunchy tortilla chips for a new and exciting twist.
The Beyond Beef gives you a meaty texture without the beef, making it a great choice for plant-based eaters, though it's just as delicious with ground beef.
Layered with melty cheese, fresh lettuce, diced onions, and crunchy pickles, each bite brings you back to the familiar flavors of the famous burger.
Whether you’re making them in the oven or air fryer, this recipe is flexible and easy to customize to your preferences.
It’s great for a casual meal, game night, sports celebrations, or when you just want to treat yourself to something flavorful and filling. Try Big Mac Grilled Cheese, Big Mac Fries, or Big Mac Quesadillas next!
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- tortilla chips: the base of the nachos. Use your favorite brand.
- beyond beef (or ground beef): the protein in the recipe. Beyond beef gives a plant-based option, but ground beef works just as well for traditional Big Mac flavors.
- shredded cheese: choose a good melting cheese like mozzarella, cheddar, or a mix.
- shredded lettuce: adds freshness and crunch to the nachos, balancing the richness of the cheese and beef.
- pickles: sliced pickles bring that tangy, salty crunch just like the iconic Big Mac’s.
- finely diced onion: adds a bit of sharpness and crunch.
- cherry tomatoes: adds a burst of freshness.
for the big mac sauce:
- mayonnaise: for a creamy base.
- ketchup: adds a touch of sweetness and tanginess.
- yellow mustard: brings a bit of sharpness.
- chopped pickles: adds extra tanginess and texture to the sauce.
- pickle juice: a splash adds acidity and saltiness.
- vinegar: for extra tang and to balance the sweetness of the ketchup.
- salt: enhances all the other flavors in the sauce.
- granulated white sugar: a pinch to balance out the acidity and give the sauce a hint of sweetness.
Substitutions
- beyond beef: if you're not plant-based, use ground beef or turkey. I sometimes use canned black lentils as a topping also, which works nicely and contributes some protein.
- onions: red onions work instead of yellow.
- tomatoes: use diced regular tomatoes instead.
Raw Onion Tip
To take some of the sharpness away from raw onions, soak them in ice water for 5-10 minutes before using.
Nachos Layering Tip
Tip for the best big mac nachos: layer your chips, beef, and cheese in two layers to ensure even melting fully covered chips. After baking, add the fresh toppings last so they stay crisp and flavorful!
Instructions
Prep Tips
I like to prep everything before the chips go in the oven. They don't take very long to cook.
While the Beyond Beef cooks, I chop the fresh ingredients, make the sauce, and shred the cheese.
- Line the air fryer sheet with foil (or a baking sheet with parchment or foil.)
- Add the beef.
- Add the cheese
- Repeat for a second layer.
- Bake or air fry to melt the cheese.
- Top with onions and pickles.
- Add tomatoes and lettuce.
- Finish with a big drizzle of the Big Mac sauce.
Tips for making Big Mac Nachos
- When baking in the oven, line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cheese from sticking and make cleanup easier. Make sure your parchment paper is safe in the oven at 400°F. Parchment paper can catch on fire in the air fryer, so use foil instead. This helps make it easier to serve the nachos because the cheese can be baked to the pan in the oven and fall through the holes of the air fryer tray. If you're using a basket-style air fryer, this is also helpful.
- Whether you're using Beyond Beef or ground beef, be sure to cook it thoroughly in the skillet. If using beef that has a higher fat content, drain the fat away before using the beef in the dish.
- For evenly melted cheese, layer the Beyond Beef and cheese in two layers. This helps ensure every bite has a bit of everything.
- Customize it! You can easily adjust the toppings based on what you like. Add some sliced jalapeños for spice, or swap the lettuce for arugula if you prefer a peppery green.
- Not into raw onions? Cook the onion with the beef.
More Game Day Recipes
- Loaded Big Mac Fries
- Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Cauliflower
- Air fryer Coconut Chicken Strips
- Stovetop Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast and Coconut Oil
Storage
Big Mac Nachos are best eaten fresh but you can meal prep the ingredients by cooking the beef, grating cheese, making the sauce, chopping the fresh ingredients, and storing them in the fridge. Then, simply layer the beef and cheese on the chips in two layers, and bake until hot and melty. Top with the prepped fresh ingredients and sauce.
FAQs
Yes, you can use regular ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey instead of Beyond Beef if you prefer.
Yes, Big Mac Nachos are great when you want to make a single portion in the air fryer! Just preheat the air fryer to 325°F, layer the nachos with cheese and protein, and air fry for 4-5 minutes. Add the fresh toppings and serve.
Recipe
Big Mac Nachos
Ingredients
Nachos
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 340 grams beyond beef or regular ground beef
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 2 pickles sliced
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- cherry tomatoes
Big Mac Sauce
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons chopped pickles
- splash pickle juice
- splash vinegar
- pinch salt
- pinch granulated white sugar
Instructions
For the Sauce
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
For Oven Nachos
- Preheat an oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to help prevent the cheese from sticking.
- Brown the Beyond Beef or ground beef in a skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. (About 6-8 minutes).
- Place a layer of chips on the baking sheet.
- Top with beyond beef and cheese. Repeat for one more layer.
- Bake in the oven to melt the cheese (about 5-6 minutes).
- Plate each portion of nachos and then top with diced onion, sliced pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and sauce. Serve.
For Air fryer Nachos
- Preheat an air fryer to 325°F.
- Brown the Beyond Beef or ground beef in a skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. (About 6-8 minutes).
- Line an air fryer baking sheet with foil for easy serving.
- Place a layer of chips on the baking sheet.
- Top with beyond beef and cheese. Repeat for one more layer.
- Bake in the air fryer to melt the cheese (about 4-5 minutes).
- Plate the nachos and then top with diced onion, sliced pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and sauce. Serve.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet and oven.
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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