Nachos are a popular Tex-Mex dish consisting of tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, meat, beans, salsa, guacamole, and other delicious toppings. When making nachos, a debate often arises around whether to add the cheese or the meat first. Both approaches have their merits, so let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of putting beef vs. cheese first when preparing nachos.
Putting Cheese First
Adding the cheese first is a common way to build nachos. Here are some of the reasons why you may want to put the cheese down before adding other toppings:
- Melts better – Laying down a layer of shredded cheese like cheddar, Monterey jack, queso, etc. allows it to melt fully over the chips. The heat helps bind the cheese to the tortilla chips.
- Prevents soggy chips – Cheese creates a protective barrier between the tortilla chips and moisture from juicy toppings like beef. This can help prevent your chips from getting mushy and falling apart.
- Easier serving – With the cheese acting as an adhesive, it can help hold toppings in place. Cheese first makes for neater, sturdier nachos for passing around a crowd.
- Classic nacho layering – Traditionally, cheese goes down first on nachos then other items are added on top. So cheese first is the classic way to build the dish.
Cheese helps form the flavorful base of nachos that everything else builds on. Laying it down first ensures good cheese coverage and gives you that tacky, melted layer for holding on all the yummy toppings you’ll add next.
Putting Beef First
While less common, some nacho makers insist on putting down the beef or other protein before adding cheese. Here are some benefits to beef first:
- Prevents sticking – Ground beef can stick to hot cheese as it cooks. Putting it down first prevents this.
- No need to pre-cook – With raw beef on chips first, the cheese melts over top and helps cook the beef.
- Even distribution – Spreading seasoned beef out first allows control over protein portioning per chip.
- Better flavor – Beef as the bottom layer means beefy flavor in every bite rather than just where the toppings land.
Using the protein as your base can help boost the meaty flavor in each chip. The melting cheese on top will still bind the nachos together.
Comparing Beef First vs. Cheese First
To visually compare beef first and cheese first nachos building methods, here is a table showing the layering order:
| Beef First | Cheese First |
|---|---|
| 1. Tortilla chips | 1. Tortilla chips |
| 2. Seasoned ground beef | 2. Shredded cheese |
| 3. Shredded cheese | 3. Seasoned ground beef |
| 4. Other toppings | 4. Other toppings |
As you can see, the only difference is whether layer 2 is beef or cheese. So which method is better?
Key Considerations
Here are some key factors to consider when deciding between putting beef or cheese first:
- Ingredients used – The thickness and texture of your meat and cheese matters. Thin shredded cheese sticks to chips easier than chunks. Loose ground beef spreads better than formed patties.
- Cooking method – Oven-baked nachos cook differently than quick stove-top versions. Longer cooking gives cheese more time to melt over beef.
- Additional toppings – More wet ingredients like salsa or guacamole favor cheese first to protect chips. Dry spices or veggies don’t need as much layer separation.
- Desired flavor – Beef first optimizes beefy flavor, while cheese first focuses on gooey cheese.
- Presentation – Cheese helps keep toppings in place for neater serving. But you can still get tidy nachos with care layering beef first.
Take these factors into account when deciding which method best suits your nachos goals!
Choosing Your Nacho Building Method
At the end of the day, should you put beef or cheese first when making nachos? Here are some recommendations based on different scenarios:
For a party
Use cheese first – The adhesive melted cheese makes nachos easier to serve and share at gatherings. Cheese also protects chips longer from getting soggy as people pick at the nachos.
For kids
Use beef first – Kids often care more about the toppings than cheese coverage. Beef first ensures they get protein in each bite.
For cheese lovers
Use cheese first – Maximize the cheesy flavor and gooey cheese experience by making it the bottom layer.
For quick stove-top nachos
Use beef first – The shorter cook time and direct heat make cheese more likely to stick to beef if not put down first.
For oven baked nachos
Use cheese first – With longer cook times, cheese can fully melt over beef without sticking issues.
Conclusion
While both beef first and cheese first have their merits, cheese first is the generally recommended method for building restaurant-quality nachos. The melted cheese foundation locks in moisture, flavors, and toppings. But you can tweak the layering order based on your specific nacho tastes and cooking style.
At the end of the day, nachos are a customizable dish open to interpretation. As long as you start with crisp tortilla chips and end with a mountain of mouthwatering Tex-Mex toppings, you really can’t go wrong. So don’t be afraid to get creative and make these delicious chips your own!