Sheet Pan Turkey Nachos

My friend and I are firm believers that if you can’t decide on a snack, appetizer or main course to order while dining at a restaurant, your safest bet is to order the nachos, always.  Think about it. When have you ever actually had bad nachos? Granted, this dawned on for the first time while we were eating Hub51‘s famous, epicly huge nachos. (Seriously look these up, they’re the best and you can even ask for a half order, too.)  I’ve been wanting to recreate baked nachos for years, and if I knew they were this easy I would’ve tried it a long time ago. Enter sheet pan turkey nachos.

These bad boys are like a healthier – or let’s say “lighter” – version of ground beef nachos. Lean ground turkey is less expensive, less fatty and eliminates overly-soggy chips – a triple win, if you will! That and some cheese gets baked on some chips, leaving the perfect canvas for literally anything  you’d like to top it with: salsa, pico de gallo, pineapple, whatever! But my  favorite part about making these? Throw them back in the oven the next norming with a cracked egg on top for an impromptu huevos rancheros situation. Sooo good.

Before I forget, I should also mention that I’ve been on a kick of making my own taco seasoning, and it’s incredibly easy –  I’ll likely never buy a packet again. Scroll down for the full recipe as well as the ingredients I use for the seasoning. (They might surprise you!)

I squeezed some lime juice onto these avocado pieces after cutting them, in hopes of keeping them brown-less. It seems to have worked!

Photos by Kenzie Kokta

Sheet Pan Turkey Nachos Ingredients

• 1 bag of large, sturdy tortilla chips
• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 c black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 c corn (I used frozen)
• 1 c shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 c diced red onion
• 1 avocado, sliced or diced
• 1/2 a jalapeno think sliced (or diced, or omit)
• 1 c sliced grape or cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• cilantro for garnish
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Taco Seasoning Ingredients

• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix ingredients for the taco seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add th ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon until it’s completely browned (about 7-8 minutes). Drain.
5. Add the turkey back into the pan on medium heat along with the seasoning and 1/2-3/4 cup water. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
6. Top the chips with =turkey, corn, black beans and t both cheeses. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until all of the cheese is melted and the edges of the chips turn golden brown.
7. Top the nachos with red onion, cheery tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños and cilantro. Whip sour cream and drizzle using a spoon. Serve with fresh lime wedges for added freshness.