When it comes to game day snacks or a fun twist on dinner, Big Mac Nachos are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This recipe combines the iconic flavors of a Big Mac with the shareable joy of nachos. With layers of seasoned ground beef, creamy nacho cheese, and a tangy secret sauce, these nachos are the perfect blend of comfort food and indulgence. Let’s dive into how to create this masterpiece!

Tips for Success

• Customize Your Toppings: Feel free to add diced tomatoes, jalapeños, or even crumbled bacon for extra flavor.
• Make It Ahead: Both the secret sauce and nacho cheese can be made a day in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
• Keep It Warm: If serving for a party, keep the nacho cheese warm in a small slow cooker or on a warming plate.

Storage and Reheating

• Storage: Store the ground beef, nacho cheese, and secret sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. These components will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Keep the tortilla chips in a sealed bag at room temperature to prevent them from becoming soggy.
• Reheating: Reheat the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Gently reheat the nacho cheese on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently, or in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring in between. The secret sauce can be used straight from the refrigerator or brought to room temperature before serving.

Big Mac Nachos

Yield: 4-6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Print

Ingredients

For the Nachos

• Tortilla chips
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced pickles
• 3/4 cup chopped iceberg lettuce
• 1/2 white onion, finely diced
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 1/2 tbsps ketchup
• Secret sauce (recipe below)
• Nacho cheese (recipe below)

Nacho Cheese

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 tbsps unsalted butter
• 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
• 8-10 slices yellow American cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Secret Sauce

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/8 cup finely chopped pickles
• Splash of pickle juice

Homemade Mayonnaise (Optional)

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup avocado oil
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. If you’re making mayonnaise from scratch, combine all the mayonnaise ingredients in a jar with the egg at the bottom. Use an immersion blender to emulsify, starting at the bottom of the jar and gradually lifting up (this takes about 15 seconds). Stir in the ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, and pickle juice. Set aside.
2. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain most of the fat, then reduce the heat. Stir in the mustard, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is slightly golden. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking to prevent clumps. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheese slices, a few at a time, stirring until fully melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.
4. On a large baking sheet or serving tray, spread out the tortilla chips. Top with the seasoned ground beef, drizzle half of the nacho cheese, and scatter the diced onion and chopped lettuce. Drizzle the secret sauce over the top.
5. Serve the nachos with the remaining nacho cheese and secret sauce on the side for dipping. Add a few extra pickles for that classic Big Mac touch. Dig in and enjoy!