Cheesy Nacho Cups Game Day (Printable)

Crispy tortilla cups filled with melted cheese, beans, and fresh toppings. Ready in 25 minutes—perfect for sharing at parties.

# What You Need:

→ Base & Cheese

01 - 12 round scoop-style tortilla chips
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

04 - 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
05 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
06 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
07 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

→ Garnishes

10 - 1/4 cup sour cream
11 - Salsa or guacamole for serving

# How To Cook:

01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F for baking the nacho cups.
02 - Place one tortilla chip into each cavity of a mini muffin tin, pressing gently to form cup shapes that hold the fillings.
03 - Distribute the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly among all chip cups, filling the bottom of each cup.
04 - Top each cheese-filled cup with black beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives, jalapeño slices, and red onion, distributing ingredients evenly.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes until cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
06 - Remove the muffin tin from the oven using oven mitts and let the nacho cups cool for 2–3 minutes to set slightly.
07 - Top each warm cup with a small dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with salsa or guacamole on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cheese gets perfectly melted and bubbly inside each crispy cup while staying warm until the very last bite
  • Everyone gets their own portion so no fighting over the best topped chips on the platter
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake them right before guests arrive for fresh hot appetizers
02 -
  • Dry your vegetables completely especially the tomatoes and rinsed beans because any excess moisture will make your chips soggy instead of crispy
  • Use tongs or a small spoon to remove hot cups from the tin as the cheese will be extremely hot and can burn fingers easily
03 -
  • Buy extra tortilla chips because about 20 percent of them will crack or break when you try to form the cups
  • Room temperature cheese melts faster and more evenly than cold cheese straight from the refrigerator