Delicious Nachos in a Cup

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Having a crowd-pleasing snack ready for game days or impromptu gatherings can feel like a juggling act. Between coordinating different tastes, dealing with messy cleanup, and trying to keep everything warm and fresh, traditional nachos can sometimes create more stress than they’re worth – especially when you’re trying to watch the big play while balancing an overloaded plate.

That’s where these nachos in a cup come to the rescue: they’re perfectly portioned, easy to customize for picky eaters, and best of all, no more soggy chips or impossible-to-eat nacho piles. Plus, everyone gets their own serving, which means no more fighting over that last cheese-covered chip!

What Kind of Ground Beef Should I Use?

While the recipe calls for extra lean ground beef, you actually have a few options that’ll work great for these cup-style nachos. Regular lean ground beef (around 85% lean) gives you a good balance of flavor and less grease, while extra lean (93% lean) is a healthier choice but might be slightly less juicy. If you’re using extra lean, you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil while cooking to keep the meat from drying out. Just remember to drain off any excess fat after cooking – nobody wants soggy nacho cups! For the best flavor, look for freshly ground beef that’s bright red in color and hasn’t started turning gray.

Options for Substitutions

This fun snack recipe is super adaptable and easy to customize based on what you have on hand:

• Ground beef: You can easily swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version. If using turkey or chicken, add an extra tablespoon of salsa for moisture.
• Salsa: Any type of salsa works here – red, green, or even pico de gallo. If using pico de gallo, drain excess liquid first to prevent soggy chips.
• Tostitos Scoops: While the scoop shape is ideal for this recipe, you can use regular tortilla chips broken into bigger pieces. Just layer them in the cups carefully.
• Cheddar cheese: Feel free to use Monterey Jack, Mexican blend, or pepper jack cheese instead. You could even try a dairy-free cheese if needed.
• Sour cream/guacamole: Greek yogurt makes a great substitute for sour cream. For guacamole, you can use mashed avocado mixed with a bit of lime juice and salt.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making nachos in a cup is preventing the Tostitos Scoops from becoming soggy – make sure to drain your cooked ground beef thoroughly and let it cool slightly before assembling to keep those cups crispy.

Temperature control is crucial: if your beef is too hot when you add it to the cups, it can make the cheese melt too quickly and turn your appetizer into a messy situation, so give it about 5 minutes to cool down after cooking.

Many people make the mistake of overfilling the cups, which leads to difficult eating and potential spills – fill each scoop only about 2/3 full with your beef mixture, leaving room for toppings like cheese, salsa, and sour cream.

For the best results, assemble these just before serving and consider keeping your toppings (especially wet ingredients like salsa and sour cream) in separate containers so guests can customize their portions while maintaining the perfect crunch.

What to Serve With Nachos in a Cup?

These portable nacho cups are perfect for casual entertaining and pair wonderfully with other Mexican-inspired sides. A fresh bowl of pico de gallo or a simple corn and black bean salad adds a nice pop of freshness to balance out the rich, cheesy nachos. I love serving these with some Mexican rice on the side – it helps make the snack into more of a meal if you’re extra hungry. For drinks, nothing beats an ice-cold Mexican beer or some homemade lime margaritas to complete the fiesta vibe. If you’re feeding a crowd, you might want to put out some extra toppings like pickled jalapeños, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce so everyone can customize their cups.

Storage Instructions

Keep Components Separate: For the best results, store the cooked beef mixture and toppings separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep your Tostitos Scoops in their original bag, tightly sealed, at room temperature – this keeps them nice and crispy!

Prep Ahead: You can cook the ground beef mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just warm up the meat mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop, and assemble your cups with fresh toppings. This makes party prep so much easier!

Assembly Tips: These nachos in a cup are best assembled right before eating to prevent the chips from getting soggy. If you have leftover beef mixture, it’s great for quick meals throughout the week – just reheat and build fresh cups when you’re ready to eat.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	20-30 minutes
Total Time	30-45 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2000-2200
• Protein: 110-120 g
• Fat: 130-140 g
• Carbohydrates: 190-210 g

Ingredients

• 1 pound extra lean ground beef
• 1 cup salsa (approximately 250 ml)
• 1 bag tostitos scoops (10 ounces)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup guacamole

Step 1: Cook and Drain the Ground Beef

Start by cooking the ground beef on medium to high heat in a non-stick pan.

Cook until it is browned and no longer pink.

Once fully cooked, drain the excess fat and rinse your pan to remove any remaining grease.

Add the beef back to the clean pan.

Step 2: Simmer with Salsa

Pour a jar of salsa into the cooked ground beef.

Let the mixture simmer on low heat, which will allow the beef to fully absorb the salsa’s flavor.

The longer it simmers, the tastier it will be, so if you have time, let it cook for a few extra minutes while you prepare the Tostitos cups.

Step 3: Prepare Tostitos Cup Base

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Take a flat oven pan and place a cooking sheet on it.

Situate the Tostitos scoop cups so they are facing up, ready to be filled with the beef mixture.

Step 4: Fill and Bake the Tostitos Scoops

Once the beef and salsa mixture is ready, carefully spoon it into each Tostitos scoop cup.

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over each filled cup.

Place the pan in the oven and bake until the cheese is fully melted, which should take a few minutes.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Remove the pan from the oven and carefully place each scoop cup onto a platter.

You can serve them as is, or add a dollop of sour cream or guacamole on top of each cup, or leave these toppings on the side for guests to add as they prefer.

Enjoy these flavorful, bite-sized appetizers while warm!