Foil-Pack Baked Nachos are a fun, easy, and mess-free way to enjoy loaded nachos. Perfect for baking, grilling, or cooking over a campfire, each packet delivers gooey cheese, crisp chips, and your favorite toppings in one portable pouch.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy cleanup with no dishes needed
- Great for parties, camping, or weeknight dinners
- Customizable to fit any diet or flavor preference
- Cooks quickly in oven, grill, or over fire
- Perfect for individual servings or a crowd
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Tortilla chips
- Ground beef (or chicken, pork, or beans)
- Taco seasoning
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- Black beans (optional)
- Diced tomatoes or salsa
- Jalapeños, olives, chopped onions (optional)
- Sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, lime wedges (for serving)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (or preheat grill/campfire).
- Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain fat and stir in taco seasoning with a splash of water.
- Tear foil into large squares and double up for strength. Optionally, line with parchment paper.
- Layer chips, meat, cheese, and optional toppings (like beans, jalapeños, onions) onto each foil sheet.
- Fold up foil to seal packets, leaving space for steam. Poke small holes in top to vent.
- Bake in oven or grill for 10–15 minutes until cheese melts.
- Open carefully, top with sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, or lime if desired.
Servings and timing
- Servings: 4–6 foil packs (customizable by portion size)
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 10–15 minutes
- Total time: 20–25 minutes
Variations
- Use shredded rotisserie chicken or pulled pork
- Make vegetarian with black beans, corn, and extra veggies
- Spice it up with pepper jack cheese or hot sauce
- Add sweet corn, bell peppers, or avocado
- Try using sweet potato rounds instead of tortilla chips
Storage/reheating
- Store cooked nachos in fridge for up to 2 days (in airtight containers)
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5–10 minutes
- Meat can be pre-cooked and frozen for up to 3 months
FAQs
Can I make individual foil nacho packs?
Yes, and they’re great for customizing with each person’s favorite toppings.
How do I keep chips from getting soggy?
Use thicker chips and poke a few small holes in the foil to vent steam.
What’s the best foil to use?
Heavy-duty foil or non-stick foil works best. Lining with parchment also helps.
Can I bake these in the oven?
Absolutely! Just place foil packs on a baking sheet at 350°F for 10–15 minutes.
Are these good for camping?
Yes—they’re ideal for campfires and easy to assemble and clean up.
Can I freeze them?
You can freeze the cooked meat, but assemble the foil packets fresh.
What toppings work best?
Sour cream, guacamole, salsa, olives, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and lime wedges.
Can I make them vegetarian?
Yes, substitute beans, grilled veggies, or meat alternatives.
Do I need to cook the meat first?
Yes, always pre-cook meat before adding to the foil packs.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prep the meat and toppings in advance, then assemble just before cooking.
Conclusion
Foil-Pack Baked Nachos offer all the cheesy, crunchy goodness of traditional nachos with the added convenience of no-mess, no-fuss cooking. Whether baked, grilled, or fire-roasted, they’re an easy way to satisfy your nacho cravings anytime, anywhere.
Print
Foil-Pack Baked Nachos Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Foil-Pack Baked Nachos are an easy, fun, and mess-free way to enjoy cheesy nachos loaded with seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and your favorite toppings — perfect for camping or a quick weeknight snack.
Ingredients
- 8 oz tortilla chips
- 1/2 pound (225g) ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional)
- Foil sheets, for wrapping
- Toppings: diced tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, chopped cilantro, salsa
Instructions
- Preheat oven or grill to 375°F (190°C).
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
- Lay out 4 large sheets of aluminum foil. Place a handful of tortilla chips in the center of each sheet.
- Top chips with cooked ground beef, cheese, black beans, olives, onions, and jalapeños as desired.
- Fold up sides of foil to make a packet, sealing tightly but leaving space for air circulation.
- Bake or grill for 10–12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and toppings are heated through.
- Carefully open packets, add your favorite toppings, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Substitute ground chicken or turkey for beef if you like.
- Great for camping — just place packets on hot coals for about 8–10 minutes.
- Let everyone customize their own foil pack with their favorite toppings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 foil pack
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
