Some dishes don’t wait for an occasion—they create one the moment you set them down. There’s something deeply comforting about the kind of food that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and homemade cheesy nachos are right up there at the top of that list. They’re the kind of dish you can gather around with friends, pick at with your fingers, and still feel like you’re eating something that had some thought and love put into it. My version of cheesy nachos starts with a twist on chilli—one that proudly swaps out the usual kidney beans for baked beans—and ends with a bubbling layer of cheddar melting its way around a mountain of Doritos. If that doesn’t sound like happiness, I don’t know what does.
Let’s talk about that chilli first, because it’s really the heart of the whole thing. Some people might raise an eyebrow at using baked beans, but hear me out—they bring this subtle sweetness and saucy richness you just don’t get with kidney beans. The tomatoey coating clings to the mince and spices in such a lovely way, and the beans themselves stay soft without turning mushy. It feels less like a textbook chilli and more like something your mate would cook up when you pop round unannounced and the cupboards need improvising. It just works.
Once the chilli is ready and the whole kitchen smells like spicy comfort, the fun part begins. Forget neat little sharing platters or arranging things restaurant-style—this is all about messy enthusiasm. A generous scattering of Doritos goes down first, and not the plain ones either. You want that bit of seasoning, something savoury that holds its own beneath all the toppings. They create the perfect crunchy base, sturdy enough to carry the weight of what’s coming without giving up halfway through the meal.
Then comes the chilli, spooned over like a warm blanket. It sinks in between the chips and leaves little pockets of saucy goodness hiding underneath. And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, on goes the grated cheddar. Proper cheddar—not the plasticky stuff, but the kind that melts into stretchy, golden perfection. You can heap on as much or as little as you like, but honestly, there’s no such thing as too much. Watching the cheese start to melt and settle into the nooks is enough to make anyone impatient.
The smell alone could pull people in from the street. There’s the smoky chilli, the salty crunch of the Doritos, and that unmistakable aroma of cheddar turning gooey and just starting to crisp at the edges. You don’t slice it or serve it delicately—you shovel it out with a large spoon or, more realistically, dive straight in with your hands. It’s a meal, a snack, and a celebration all at once.
Cheesy nachos are also one of those dishes that suits absolutely any mood. Movie night on the sofa? Perfect. A casual weekend lunch? Ideal. Unexpected guests with ravenous appetites? They’ll think you planned it. There’s no need to fuss with sides or garnishes unless you want to. You can dollop sour cream on top, throw over fresh herbs, or add jalapeños for a bit more heat, but the beauty is that it tastes brilliant even when you keep it simple.
What I love most about these nachos is how unpretentious they are. They don’t try to be refined or dainty, and that’s exactly their charm. They’re built for sharing, laughing over, and maybe burning your tongue on because you couldn’t wait for them to cool. You know when you make something and halfway through eating it, someone says, “Why don’t we do this more often?”—that’s this dish every time.
There’s also a sense of nostalgia tucked into every bite. Cheesy Nachos feels like a nod to student days, late-night kitchen experiments, or Friday nights when you want something indulgent without getting the pots and pans in a twist. But with the homemade chilli and the proper cheese, it has enough heart to make it feel thought-through. It’s comfort food with personality.
If you haven’t tried chilli made with baked beans yet, let cheesy nachos be your excuse. It might sound unconventional, but once you’ve piled it high on seasoned tortilla chips and blanketed it with melted cheddar, you’ll wonder why you ever questioned it. This dish is loud, fun, and unapologetically satisfying—the kind of food that brings people together without a hint of formality.
And honestly to me cheesy nachos is a dish that everybody loves and isn’t that what home cooking is all about?
Cheesy Nachos
Ingredients
For the Chilli:
- 500 g beef mince
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1 large red pepper chopped (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic chopped or crushed
- 400 g baked beans
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 400 g chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp chilli powder adjust to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil for frying
For the Nachos:
- 300 g Doritos any flavour you like
- 200 g mature cheddar cheese grated
Optional Toppings:
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion (and red pepper if using) and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.1 medium onion, 1 large red pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil
- Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.2 cloves garlic
- Add the beef mince to the pan and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.500 g beef mince
- Once browned, stir in the tomato purée, chilli powder, smoked paprika, cumin, pepper and a pinch of salt.1 tbsp tomato purée, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp black pepper, salt
- Pour in the chopped tomatoes and stir.400 g chopped tomatoes
- Simmer gently for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in the baked beans, including their sauce, and let the chilli cook for a further 10–15 minutes until rich and well combined.400 g baked beans
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Preheat the grill (or oven at 180°C/350°F).
- Spread the Doritos evenly over a large ovenproof dish or baking tray. Spoon the hot chilli generously into the middle of the dish, making sure to cover most of the chips.300 g Doritos
- Scatter the grated cheddar evenly across the chilli and chips.200 g mature cheddar cheese
- Place under the grill (or in the oven) for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
- Add any extra toppings you like and serve the cheesy nachos straight away so the nachos stay crisp underneath.sour cream, Jalapenos, Fresh coriander, Salsa, Spring onions
20 comments
It’s got everything—crunch, spice, and cheesiness.
The Doritos stayed crunchier than I expected under the chilli and cheese. Absolutely brilliant for movie night.
The cheese melt was spot-on and the chilli is gorgeous.
I appreciated how budget-friendly and easy this was to throw together.
Next time I’m adding jalapeños on top for extra heat.
Comfort food at its finest.
Perfect for sharing, although I didn’t want to share mine if I’m honest.
I never thought baked beans in chilli would work this well! The sweetness balances the spice perfectly and the melted cheddar ties everything together.
The chilli has such a rich, cosy flavour and the cheese melts into all the gaps—properly indulgent.
This is the kind of dish that makes you abandon cutlery and just get stuck in. Messy, cheesy, and delicious—what more could you want?
The Doritos give it so much flavour before you even add the toppings.
I could happily eat this every weekend.
Made this for a family night and even the fussy eaters went back for seconds. The melted cheddar makes it feel so comforting and indulgent.
Had to try these as at home after surgery and needed a pick me up. It worked perfectly.
I made this for friends and there wasn’t a crumb left. Everyone asked what the “secret” was and couldn’t believe it was baked beans instead of kidney beans!
I wasn’t sure about baked beans in chilli but I’m converted now. They add great texture and stop it from drying out. Loved it!
I’ll definitely make a double batch next time.
This went down so well in our house that I’ve now been told it’s a “regular thing”. Easy to assemble and full of flavour.
I used chilli heatwave Doritos and it took the whole thing to another level.
The chilli is hearty and the cheese pull was impressive. Great balance of seasoning too.