Skillet Nachos are my spirit animal! They make everything better and it’s an art form to craft the perfect nacho platter. It’s equal parts freshly fried chips, plenty of queso, some melted cheese to boot and tons of toppings like carne asada, guacamole. pico and more!
These carne asada skillet nachos are my life! They are perfect for your cinco de mayo celebrations and just about any other day of the week if you ask me! The ratio of chips to toppings is perfect too!
The art of the nacho goes like this… you need a base of chips. Freshly fried is preferred and I’m having a moment with flour tortillas from Old El Paso. EACH chip needs some melted cheese AND queso otherwise it’s pretty much naked just sitting there being sad. Once there is some cheese, in any form on top, you can stick it in the oven, melt everything and then top it with all the fixings! It’s very very very important to load it up – guacamole, pico, carne asada, the works… it needs to be a party on every chip! 
Carne Asada Skillet Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 package Small Old El Paso Flour Tortillas
- 2 cups carne asada recipe below
- 1 recipe queso recipe below
- 4 ounces Monterey jack cheese freshly grated
For the Queso:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 garlic clove minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 ounces monterey jack cheese freshly grated
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
For the Carne Asada
- 1 pound flank steak
- 4 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeno roughly chopped
- 1 cup cilantro roughly chopped
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 orange juiced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Toppings
- 1 recipe Pico de Gallo
- 1 recipe Guacamole
- Chopped Cilantro
- Sliced Jalapeno
Instructions
For the Tortillas
- Cut the tortillas into 6 triangles each. Add about 1 cup of grapeseed or vegetable oil to a heavy bottom pan over high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add a few of the tortilla triangles at a time and fry for about 1 minute on each side until they are golden and crisp. Remove from the oil and transfer to a paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt and repeat for the remaining tortilla wedges.
For the queso:
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add butter. Add in the garlic, then stir in the flour to create a roux. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the roux is golden, stirring often. Slowly add in the milk while stirring. Stir for a few minutes until it thickens slightly. Add in the grated cheese, one a handful at a time, stirring after each addition until melted.
For the Carne Asada
- Place the flank steak in a large baking dish and cover with the marinade for 4-5 hours. Heat a grill over high heat and grill the flank steak for 5 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and let rest before slicing. Chop for the nachos.
- Using 1 regular sized cast iron skillet, layer a handful of the tortilla chips and top them with the carne asada and shredded Monterey jack. Stick the skillet into a 350 degree oven to melt the cheese. Once melted, remove and drizzle with the queso. Then, sprinkle with the pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro, jalapeños.
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
Cinco de Mayo planned! Thanks!
Oh wow… I have recently discovered that queso on nachos is waaay better than plain old melted cheese… love your version Gaby!
This would make any day a celebration!!
I’m addicted to delicious nachos. I could eat all of these in one sitting. #noshame
Skillet Nachos! Brilliant! I love the idea of doing these in cast iron too. Delicious!!!
gorgeous Gaby! I love that white queso- these look amazing!
Great for Cinco De Mayo!
I need these in my life!!
These are amazing nachos! My family would devour in seconds!
These nachos are so perfect for Cinco de Mayo!
My family would love these! Nothing beats a big skillet of Nachos!
Okay, I’m normally not compelled to comment on things. But I made these for dinner tonight and I seriously had to take a picture of them and send it to a bunch of my friends and tell them to make them. Like right now! Lol They were delicious! Thanks for a great recipe. The carne asada was to die for!
yayayay!! thanks Theresa!
Hello! This looks seriously good! I need to make it this weekend! But here in France we do not have Monterey Jack cheese. Can I replace it with gouda? Or maybe Cheddar?
Gouda or Cheddar would both be perfect replacements!
Hello! This looks seriously good! But here in France we do not have Monterey Jack cheese. Can I replace it with gouda? Or maybe Cheddar?
gouda or cheddar are both perfect substitutes!
Simply love this recipe. I have made it several times for my family and they love it. Along with the fresh pico, outstanding. I always take pictures of it and tease my co-workers. Thank you
Made these last night and I am OBSESSED. will for sure make again but I ate too fast to snap a photo haha.
LOVE that!!! So glad you enjoyed!!
Campfire nachos are my fav and I always get the request for it when camping!! I’ve never made my own queso sauce, I always use jarred for ease but love making stuff from scratch so would love to try on our next trip in a few weeks. Would the queso last for a couple days premade in the cooler before being slathered on this deliciousness?
Hi Gaby! Just wanted to check in on my previous question. 🙂
sorry for the delay!!! You could totes make it ahead of time and re-heat. It might not be quite so smooth but still dip-able!
Used the marinate on chicken and flank steak. DELICIOUS!! I will use the leftover chicken in a salad tomorrow!!!
Any way this can be make with another cut of steak like ribeye or filet? I can’t find flank steak anywhere!!
sure!! any kind of steak would really work – just will need to adjust cooking time depending on thickness and weight