Nacho Platter

This nacho platter is a Whole30 take on a classic Tex-Mex dish featuring crispy waffle fries in place of tortilla chips. It is layered with savory ground beef, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, and fresh cilantro. Served with all your favorite nacho toppings on the side making it your favorite party appetizer, snack, or hearty meal. Try it with our favorite toppings, Salsa Fresca, or Guacamole. You can even make your own Whole30 EBTB “Tortilla” Chips!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Exploding flavor profile. Savory, seasoned beef with lots of veggies and healthy fats.

Game day staple. Perfect for watching sports or hosting movie nights. Who doesn’t love a nacho platter?

It’s Paleo and Whole30: Having no gluten, grains, or dairy, it is the perfect dish if you need to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.

Ingredients You Will Need

Ground beef: is chopped beef typically made from various cuts like chuck, round, or sirloin. I like Grass Roots Coop for my meat purchases.

Fajita seasoning: is a blend of spices, typically including cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika, which adds a warm, savory, and slightly smoky flavor to the dish. Try our homemade blend that we use for tacos or fajitas! Fajita Seasoning

Avocado oil: is extracted from the pulp of the avocado. It is delicious and nutritious and easy to use.

Waffle fries (or homemade potato “chips”): I like Roots Farm two ingredient, seed oil free waffle fries.

Lettuce: you can use your favorite but we like romaine which has the best of both worlds, having some crispy and tender green leaves all in one head making it perfect for chopping up for most any salad.

Cherry tomatoes: are sweet and juicy little flavor bombs that brings a burst of freshness to anything you use them in. I particularly love the sweet contrast to the spiciness of the nacho platter.

Black olives: are the fully ripened fruit of the olive tree. Green olives that gradually darken to shades of purple, brown, and black as they mature. Because they are tree-ripened, black olives have a softer, meatier texture and a milder, fruitier flavor than unripe green olives.

Extra Ingredients

Salsa Fresca: is a condiment or dip common in Mexican cuisine, typically made from chopped tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, and cilantro. Try our easy recipe for Salsa Fresca.

Guacamole: try our homemade recipe for Guacamole.

Lime: are a small, green citrus fruit know for its sour taste and high vitamin C content.

Cilantro: has a flavor that is often described as bright, herbaceous, and citrusy.

Instructions

Prepare your potatoes: according to the package directions or make your own! Preheat oven to 400˚ and line a pan with parchment paper. Toss sliced potatoes with 2 tbsp avocado oil. Lay potatoes on, not touching and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast 30 minutes, flipping halfway through watching and removing crispy “chips” to a plate.

In a non-stick pan: heat the avocado oil and add the ground beef, breaking apart into crumbles while browning.

Add the fajita spice: and 1/4 cup of water, stirring well and simmer about 5 minutes on medium low heat till water is absorbed.

Prepare your platter by: adding all your favorites like shredded lettuce, followed by the spiced beef, diced tomatoes and sliced olives. Diced red onions, if using. Place the waffle fries or potato “chips” around the nacho platter.

Serve with: Salsa fresca, guacamole, and lime wedges.

Garnish with cilantro: if desired.

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Make your potatoes extra crispy: They will easily hold all the delicious nacho platter toppings when crispier.

Serve liquids on the side: Keep salsa, sour cream, and guacamole in separate ramekins or serve them in a dedicated well in the center of your platter. This lets your guests top their nachos as they eat and preserves the crispy potatoes.

Recipe Variations

Shredded cheddar cheese: is always a great choice if you are not concerned about keeping this dish Whole30 friendly.

Different protein: ground chicken, ground turkey, or even pulled pork are perfect protein options.

The toppings: pickled red onions or jalapeño slices are delicious toppings for your nacho platter.

Storage Tips

You can store this nacho platter in the refrigerator up to 4 days when placed in an airtight glass container. I would recommend refrigerating the ground meat separate from the toppings.

FAQ’s About Nacho Platter

How do I stop the “chips” from getting soggy?

Placing them around the nacho platter after all the ingredients are on the plate will keep the potato “chips” form getting soggy.

What is the best cheese to use for melting?

Classic choices include shredded Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (for a spicy kick), and sharp Cheddar. I prefer to grate my own as the pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it and it does not melt as well. Keep in mind if using cheese the nacho platter will not be Whole30 friendly.

What is the best type of tortilla chip to use?

Skip thin “cantina-style”, as they break easily and turn to soggy. You want thick, sturdy corn tortilla chips that can hold up under the heavy weight of meat, cheese, and vegetables without snapping.