Nothing brings out your inner kid more than messy finger foods. And the ultimate messy finger food? Nachos. I’ve got the perfect recipe for you with these beefy cheesy foil packet nachos that can be frozen AND cooked over a campfire! It’s the best AND easiest summer dinner!
Around our house, we aim to be kind to one another. Lately when my kids get angry, they turn it into a game. For example, a sassy way of telling each other they’re not part of a conversation, is to do so in a goofy way that keeps in lighthearted: “This is a taco and burrito conversation, nachos.”
They really love to break out the puns when it’s nacho night, “these are mine, nachos” or “it’s nacho business”.
I can hear your groan over here. I’ve got to give it to them though, it’s such a funny play on words, right? Lol!
You’ll want to use all these fun puns your next nacho night, and I’ve got the BEST nacho recipe for you! These nachos are super easy, cheesy, beefy, and delicious. They are also an amazing frugal camping meal, cooking right up in a foil packet.
And they’re freezable! I know what you’re thinking: Freezable?? This goes against everything I ever thought about nachos. You don’t want to freeze the chips, but my ground beef mixture is perfect for a freezing. You can even reheat these foil packet nachos in your oven or over a campfire. Perfection!
Campfire nachos are like the ultimate kid friendly food! Each plate of cheesy goodness can be loaded with toppings that each kid wants – it’s a completely customizable dish!
WHAT ARE THE BEST NACHO TOPPINGS?
With nachos just about anything goes!
My favorite toppings are beans, corn, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, avocado, onion, and cilantro! The options are endless!
CAN YOU MAKE THESE CAMPFIRE NACHOS AHEAD?
Yes! I love to save time when prepping for a camping trip by prepping this dish ahead of time. I can store my beefy mixture in the cooler frozen and by the time I get to the campsite and want to make the meal, it has thawed.
I’ll also prep the other toppings, storing them in small bags as well to save time at the campsite. You can store the ground beef mixture in the freezer for about 2-3 months.
In queso missed it (I had to get one last good pun in!), these nachos go fabulously with with my Chicken Burrito Bowls or my Chorizo Black Bean Soup, both freezer meals!
FINAL NOTES & TIPS
Baking this in the oven? If you would like to instead bake this in the oven, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place chips, topping and cheese in a baking sheet. Bake for 5-6 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with other ingredients and serve.
Which foil is best? There is regular aluminum foil, heavy duty foil and even non-stick foils. For this recipe I use four pieces of heavy duty foil or non-stick foils. My favorite way to make these nachos is by wrapping the chips/meat/cheese combination first using three pieces of non-stick foil. Then I like to use the heavy duty foil as the final wrap for that extra layer of protection on the grill.
Campfire Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 1.25-ounce package taco seasoning
- 1 15-ounce can black beans rinsed and drained well
- 1 cup corn kernels frozen
- 12 ounces tortilla chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Cooking spray
- Heavy duty or non-stick aluminum foil
- Additional topping ideas include diced tomatoes sliced olives, jalapenos, sour cream, diced onion, diced fresh avocado, and cilantro leaves.
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef and garlic, breaking up with a spoon, for 4 to 5 minutes, until beef is browned. Remove from heat, stir in taco seasoning, and stir to combine well. Drain excess fat. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes then transfer back into skillet. Add black beans and corn and stir to combine.
- Mix together the two cheeses in a bag or bowl.
Make it Now
- Cut out (4) sheets of non-stick or heavy duty aluminum foil 18 inches long on a flat surface.
- Spray each foil sheet with a little bit of cooking spray.
- Place a big handful of tortilla chips in the center of the foil, it’s okay if they are overlapping.
- Top tortilla chips with ground beef mixture, and sprinkle generously with the shredded cheeses.
- Fold your foil packets closed. Place foil packets on a grill or in a cast iron pan over the campfire.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Carefully open your foil packets up and top with diced tomatoes, olives, avocados, sour cream, cilantro and any other toppings you desire. Serve.
Make it ahead & freeze
- Allow beef mixture to cool completely. Then transfer to a labeled gallon sized freezer safe bag, seal bag removing air and freeze.
- Place cheese into quart sized freezer safe bag and place both bags into another gallon size bag to freeze together.
Thaw & Cook
- Place beef mixture bag in refrigerator for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours to thaw. Then cook your nachos as directed in the make it now instructions above.
Do I need to vent the foil package so the the chips stay crispy?
No campfire in the foreseeable future for us so oven it is. I keep on saving every single recipe I open from your blog, how come this is the first time I land here?
Author: Karrie, thank you for this post. Its very inspiring.
You are welcome!!!