Air Fryer Copycat Taco Bell Nachos BellGrande
Description
A loaded copycat of Taco Bell's iconic Nachos BellGrande, made in the air fryer in under 20 minutes. Crispy tortilla chips layered with seasoned ground beef, warm refried beans, melty cheese, cool sour cream, and diced tomatoes — better than the drive-thru and ready in a fraction of the time.
Ingredients
For the nachos:
- 4 to 5 cups tortilla chips, restaurant-style
- ½ pound ground beef, 80/20
- 1 packet taco seasoning, or 2 tablespoons homemade
- ⅔ cup water
- 1 cup refried beans, warmed
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded , or ¾ cup nacho cheese sauce
- ½ cup Roma tomatoes, about 1 medium tomato, diced
- ⅓ cup sour cream
Optional toppings:
- Sliced jalapeños
- Diced red onion
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced black olives
- Hot sauce or salsa
Instructions
- Brown the beef. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks (about 6–7 minutes). Drain the fat, then add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer 3–4 minutes until the liquid reduces and the beef looks glossy.
- Warm the beans. Microwave the refried beans for 45–60 seconds, stirring halfway, until loose and spreadable.
- Layer the tray. Line your air fryer basket or pan with a single, slightly overlapping layer of tortilla chips. Top with small dollops of refried beans, then scatter the seasoned beef evenly across, and finish with the shredded cheese.
- Air fry. Set the air fryer to 300°F and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, just until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling at the edges.
- Add cold toppings. Remove from the air fryer and immediately top with dollops of sour cream, diced tomatoes, and any optional toppings. Serve right away.
Equipment
- Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
- Baking Tray
Notes
Notes
- Use restaurant-style tortilla chips (Tostitos Cantina or Mission Restaurant Style) — thin chips will break under the toppings.
- Don't over-load the tray. A bare patch of chip in the middle is normal and prevents soggy nachos.
- For a closer match to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce, whisk 1 cup shredded American cheese with ⅓ cup evaporated milk and a pinch of cayenne over low heat until smooth.
- The diced tomatoes and sour cream are never cooked — always add them after the air fryer to keep them fresh and cool.
- These nachos do not store well. Keep components separate and assemble fresh.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 836kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 30gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 1660mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 11gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1523IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 370mgIron: 4mg