Published on
Review RecipeCampfire Nachos
Easy, cheesy, and totally mouthwatering, these delicious, simple campfire nachos are a family favorite at the campground.
Jump to Recipe
Ever made campfire nachos with just of tortilla chips and cheese? So had I – until I learned how layering fresh ingredients and controlling heat transforms them into camping magic. Here’s our no‑fail cast‑iron version (tested over many messy campfires!).
What You Need To Know 👇
Campfire Nachos Ingredients
- 8 ounces tortilla chips
- ½ cup black olives
- ¼ cup green onions
- ½ cup tomatoes
- 3 cups shredded taco cheese – or any blend you like
- 2 jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole
Ingredient Substitutions
🔥 Switch it up – Add seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken for protein. Swap jalapeños for bell peppers if serving kids.
How To Make This Campfire Nachos Recipe
And yes—there’s a right way to layer them so they’re crunchy and melty in all the right places.
In a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet, layer ⅓ of the tortilla chips. Top with ⅓ of the cheese, then half the olives, tomatoes, jalapeños, and green onions. Repeat with a second layer, then finish with the remaining chips, cheese, and toppings.
Loosely cover with foil and place over medium heat on a fire or grill. Cook for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
👇 OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS – If you don’t have an iron skillet, you can still make this recipe by using a disposable rectangular foil pan (think lasagna pan). 👇
3 Tips For The Best Campfire Nachos
- Use thick tortilla chips to hold up to the heat and cheese. Thin chips will sog out fast.
- Don’t skip the foil. It helps trap the heat and melt the cheese evenly without overcooking the chips.
- Medium heat is key. Too hot and your chips will burn before the cheese melts. You want steady, indirect heat—think glowing coals, not roaring flames.
Serving Suggestions
You can plate these up with your favorite toppings…or do what we do and dive straight in while they’re still hot.
We love to serve these alongside fresh guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. But you can choose any of your favorite toppings. If you have little ones eating as well, you can make this kid-friendly by making a couple of skillets: one spicy and one mild.
Storage Instructions
Loaded campfire nachos need to be eaten fresh and warm off the fire. We do not recommend trying to store leftover nachos as they will not reheat or taste the same after a few hours.
These Campfire Nachos are everything you want from a fireside meal: cheesy, smoky, layered with bold Tex-Mex flavor, and ridiculously easy to make. Whether you’re cooking over a campfire, on the grill, or using your backyard fire pit, this recipe delivers hot, melty nachos in just 15 minutes.
More Camping Recipes
These days, folks are getting a little more creative with their camping recipes. Make sure you try these on your next camping trip:
- Campfire Pizza Recipe
- Campfire Potatoes Recipe
- Campfire Scrambled Eggs Recipe
- Campfire Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Campfire Nachos
Easy, cheesy, and totally mouthwatering, these delicious, simple campfire nachos are a family favorite at the campground.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tortilla chips
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
- ½ cup tomatoes, diced
- 3 cups taco cheese, shredded (or your favorite blend)
- 2 jalapeños, sliced and seeds removed
- cilantro for garnish (optional)
- sour cream, salsa, and guacamole, for topping
Instructions
- Layer ⅓ of chips on the bottom of a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet.
- Add ⅓ of the taco cheese, ½ of the olives, ½ of the tomatoes, ½ of the jalapenos, and ½ of the green onions to the top of the chips
- Make another layer with ⅓ of the chips and ⅓ of the cheese
- Make the final layer with the remaining chips, cheese, olives, tomatoes, and green onion. Add the jalapeño to the top.
- Cover the skillet loosely with foil.
- Place on the fire or grill on medium heat and cook until the cheese is melted, about 10 to 15 minutes
- Add cilantro to the top and serve with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
Video
Notes
- Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time, either seasoned or unseasoned. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
- If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, you can still make this recipe by using a disposable rectangular foil pan (think lasagna pan).
- Try not to cook these directly over an open flame. Instead, get your campfire going and once the coals are nice and hot, lay grill over top and cook your nachos.
Nutrition
Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 961mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 914IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 630mg | Iron: 2mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb
Comments
Treena says
Tried this out on the BBQ as we live in the city. Easy cleanup and fun idea for dinner!
Toni Ayne Thomason says
These nachos are a huge hit! Can’t wait to make again!
Gloria says
These are super yummy!!
Dawn says
I love nachos with ground beef.
Teri says
These look so delicious I am looking forward to making these this weekend.
Thank you!!
Sara says
Can’t wait to try this with steak or pulled pork with some BBQ ranch drizzled on top!
Candy Murray says
I haven’t tried them yet but now I want too. Can’t wait to try them this summer. My favorite nacho toppings are cheese lots of cheese, grilled chicken or ground beef, diced grilled onions and crumbled bacon
Ginnie C says
These look amazing! Making this weekend. Will do with black olives instead of jalapeños for our littles, but can’t wait to try some spicy ones for the adults. What a clever way to make them!
JoAnn says
I don’t get to go camping, but I do make nachos in my oven. Love using ground beef that I season with taco seasoning and Tex-Mex shredded cheese. YUMMMM
Cheryl Cowen says
With so many campgrounds having fire bans right now I bet these are still good cooked in the oven.
Dianne Dare says
Never made Nacho’s on a campfire. I would definitely add ground beef. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Jeanne says
Looks delish. Can’t wait to try for our Memorial Day Barbecue
Reggie says
Haven’t tried this yet, but looks good! Will try Camping Nachos!
Elaine Jude says
These look really delicious!
Ground beef is my favorite meat for nachos!
Maryann says
I have never tried these outdoors. Ready to try them!
Thanks!
Sherryl says
Awesome recipe for camping.. We camp all summer. . It’s always nice to have new recipes. My favorite thing to put on nachos is tostino’s Cheese in a jar,
Deborah Burket says
I think the campfire nachos look good! I like how the cheese is a little crisp. Deborah Burke
melissa says
These really look delicious, I’ve never had them before, my favorite meat on nachos is either ground beef or chopped brisket and I like everything but the kitchen sink added to my nachos. My husband and I are going to definitely try these.
melissa says
These really look delicious, I’ve never had them before, my favorite meat on nachos is either ground beef or chopped brisket and I like everything but the kitchen sink added to my nachos. My husband and I are going to definitely try these.
Shannon G. says
I love to add black beans and corn to nachos to make it more of a meal.
Sue says
Love your recipes. Have tried out a few of them.
Marisa says
I have never made these before!
My favorite nacho toppings are queso and onions.
I really enjoy chicken or ground beef on my nachos.
I like my nachos mild.
Yellow queso is the way to go!
Patty says
I have had this before and am planning on trying it with ranch flavor Doritos shredded chicken and a form of Mexican corn/ black bean salad mixed in with the cheese and other toppings …
Connie says
I love how these Campfire Nachos are layered so you don’t wind up with a pile of naked chips at the bottom. My favorite nacho toppings are on your version! Sometimes I like to add corn and a can of chili with beans is also another yummy alternative to the black beans.
Yvette Flanagan says
Love nachos. But have never made the campfire version while camping. Plan to do so soon.
Trisha Cooper says
I’ve never made campfire nachos, but they look delicious!
Marsha Boyer says
I Ike to use spicy shredded chicken and roasted green chiles with black olives, chopped red bell pepper and black beans topped with grated cheddar. We are lucky to have several local corn chip makers so we always have great fresh chips!!
Mary McEntire says
I LOVE nachos, and these have all my favorite toppings!
Pattie De Salvo says
When I was teen going camping, my mom used to do these in cast iron pan but our crowd got bigger and I said how about tin foil….each one us make our own tin foil. It turned out a hit. Eating around a fire and going around telling one thing we liked about our day was awesome.
So yes this recipe brought back memories. Love this. You can get really creative with this recipe.
Darrell Nunn says
Nachos look great, I must try this recipe.
Rick Salzsauler says
I have never made these.
Jennifer Webber says
We loves making nachos with rotisserie chicken.
Theresa Adams says
I would have to leave the jalapenos out. They are to spicy for me. Sauteed red peppers would be nice.
Teri says
Looks yummy! Can’t wait to try them
Charlotte says
I like to top my nachos with sour cream. Yum.
Sable says
I’ve never tried campfire nachos before BUT I’m giving it the 5 stars for how delicious they look!! My favorite toppings for nachos in general are loading them with sour scream, more cheese, guacamole, salsa, taco meet, olives, plus more guacamole! Can’t wait to try these 🤤
Mary Marks says
Looks good! I like my nachos extra spicy.
Marge says
love shredded beef or pork on my nachos sometimes chopped ground beef or pork whatever I have on hand NO olives or jalapenos instead I use pepperoncini peppers and some of their juice, and of course, mild cheddar cheese bc I am a wuss when it comes to spicy. Thanks for all the great recipes you share I always enjoy your postings. Thanks again M Have a delightful day
Marge says
I love shredded beef or pork on my nachos sometimes chopped ground beef or pork whatever I have on hand NO olives or jalapenos instead I use pepperoncini peppers and some of their juice, and of course, mild cheddar cheese bc I am a wuss when it comes to spicy. Thanks for all the great recipes you share I always enjoy your postings. Thanks again M Have a delightful day
Vivian Neal says
Those look so good
I am gonna fix it now
Yum
Kristen says
I don’t go camping but we love nachos. I have never made these but I love spicy nachos with Jalapeño
Michele Mitchell says
I can’t wait to try these!
I like everything on them but olives
Susan Sikma says
Looks super easy to make, can’t wait to try it.
Kelley says
We love campfire nachos. We do individual foil ‘pans’ that way everyone can personalize with their favorite toppings. Our favorite nacho meat is ground elk.
Misty says
We love nachos favourite meat would be hamburger and lots of yummy cheese I love black olives but my daughter would go spicy I can’t wait to go camping again we so need to try this
madeleinemulanix says
I have never made campfire nachos before, but they look good and easy too.
Lori Pennington says
These look amazing I am gonna make these this weekend can’t wait yummy 😋
Willa Slater says
Looks fantastic. I’ll have a backyard campfire this weekend and I’ll try them then!
I love all cheese but might add feta or queso for a salty addition.
Heather says
These look amazing! Can not wait to try these!
I love sharp cheddar & Monterey Jack cheese on my nachos! Then add lots of fresh salsa!
Terrilee says
These were yummy! Thanks for an easy recipe for every day treat!
kathy says
My favorite topping is black olives
patti ray says
Make this at least 10 times through the spring, summer & fall.
I have used leftover shredded bbq chicken, pulled pork & red/orange/yellow peppers on it, but the all time big hit is when I make it with homemade chilli over it & loads of extra cheese!
I did a nacho bar last year, individual aluminum pie pans full of nachos & let everyone personalize their own with the ingreadients I put out…..works wonderful for those “picky eaters”!
Deana Johnson says
My favorite cheese for nachos is cheddar cheese.
Sheila says
No, I’ve never made these but, I will this weekend. Can’t wait 👍
Ethelann says
Hi, I love this recipe, when I make it I like to add refried beans. Some of my family do not care for sour cream so I put it on half of it only, or let those who like it put it on top of theirs themselves. I don’t care for cilantro so I omit it on part of it. I have even added cabbage once it’s cooled a little & it seems to go over well. Thanks for sharing.
Liz says
I have never made campfire tacos but they sound fun and delicious!
Connie says
We love nachos! Usually use ground beef as a topping.
Scott Jenne says
I have never made these. But I believe I would use Velveeta or a Nacho cheese sauce for this. Everything else sounds yummy!
Joan Pierce says
This is perfect for snacks around the fireplace. Can’t wait to try it.
Wanda J says
Hamburger and spicy
Wanda J says
Hamburger and spicy
Carole says
We don’t go camping but I could make these on our BBQ in the Summer for something different 🙂 (we are currently heading into Winter here)
We love guacamole and sour cream on top of ours and everyone except me likes chillies
Gail Guest says
No I have never made camp fire nachos but I will this year
Hope I win
Suzette says
i have never made campfire nachos in my life, I would certainly try them over a campfire. My fave cheese that i would use is old or jalapeno cheese. i love your web site and your emails
Cynthia says
Organic hamburger!!
Lisa A Stebbins says
Hamburger and not spicy.