Carne Asada Nachos Recipe
I have been asked to make carne asada for months now. It’s a really big deal here in Tucson. We have a bunch of drive thru Mexican food places and you can pretty much bet on them having carne asada tacos, burritos, tortas, fries, nachos, etc.
When I was planning Meat Week, I kept trying to think about ways I could incorporate carne asada flavors into a burger.
I’m sure I could have gotten it right eventually, but Sprouts makes such a delicious spice rub that I decided to let them take care of the hard work for me.
I mean, I love a challenge and all, but you just don’t mess with perfection.
But you can certainly highlight it but putting it over chips and cheese with a bunch of other fresh ingredients.
You really can’t go wrong when chips and cheese are involved.
Cheesy, crunchy, wonderful nachos, topped with a homemade pico de gallo (read: I control the spice level), avocado chunks, and cool sour cream.
The carne asada meat has the whole sweet/spicy thing going on and that stuff is good.
Another bonus of this recipe – it kept the kitchen cool. I grilled the carne asada, microwaved the beans, and the pico de gallo is refrigerated, which adds a cool, fresh summery zip to the nachos.
This would be super fun for a summer party to have a carne asada nachos bar set up for people to create their own custom plates according to their individual tastes or an easy weeknight dinner.
I love when meals are versatile.

Carne Asada Nachos Recipe
Ingredients
For the Pico de Gallo
- 1/2 medium white onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- juice from 1/2 lime, about 1 Tablespoon
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the Nachos
- 1 lb marinated carne asada meat, cooked
- 1 can refried beans
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 avocado, diced
- tortilla chips
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
For the Pico de Gallo
- Combine onion, jalapeno, tomato, cilantro and salt in bowl.
- Squeeze the juice from 1/2 lime over the mixture and stir.
- Chill in the refrigerator for an hour or more.
For the Nachos
- Heat refried beans according to package directions, then stir in 1/4 tsp garlic powder.
- Spread tortilla chips onto a plate.
- Top chips with the beans, then sprinkle with cheese. If you want your cheese extra melty, microwave plate for 30-60 seconds.
- Spread the meat over the top and sprinkle with avocado pieces.
- Top with pico de gallo and sour cream.
Looks delicious, Becky! And I love your presentation! 🙂
I agree with you about the whole burger thing. You can make a carne asada sandwich with a hunk of meat, but that ain’t no burger 😉
Lol!! I totally agree. I’d take the nachos any day over a sandwich/burger/whatever-you-want-to-label it!
Thanks, Rebecca! They tasted pretty darned good, as well! And, see? You get me. I’m going to tell my husband he’s been voted down. It’s kind of a rule in our marriage – I always win. 😉
Now those look darned good!! I have to agree with you on the burgers issue. He wants a carne asada sandwich and that sounds great but a sandwich it ain’t!
My hubby would love a carne asada burger too lol!! I on the other hand would prefer the nachos version. 🙂 Looks so delicious!