🌮 TACO BELL AT HOME: NACHOS BELLGRANDE I'm a former Taco Bell employee, and today we're recreating one of their classics! Nachos BellGrande (or Nachos Supreme if you want a smaller portion). The secret is getting those familiar flavors and textures just right, and I've got a few tricks for that! INGREDIENTS (Makes approximately 4 servings) 1 lb lean ground beef (I use 90/10) 1 packet taco seasoning ¾–1 cup water, plus more as needed 1 large bag tortilla chips (white corn preferred) 1 can (16 oz) refried beans 2–4 tbsp water for thinning the beans 1 can Fritos Mild Cheddar Cheese Dip (9 oz) 1 can Fritos Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Dip (9 oz) Splash of milk (optional) Splash of pickled jalapeño brine (optional) ½ cup reduced-fat sour cream 1–2 Roma tomatoes, diced INSTRUCTIONS Make the beef: Add the raw ground beef, taco seasoning, and ¾–1 cup water to a skillet. Break the beef apart really well, then bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring and breaking up the meat frequently, until the beef is fully cooked, the liquid has reduced, and the mixture has that signature fine Taco Bell texture. Add a little more water if needed while it cooks. This takes longer than traditional browning, so be patient! Using lean beef is important because we aren't draining it. Warm the chips: Taco Bell fries their white corn tortilla chips fresh, but homemade chips from regular corn tortillas tend to be thicker. My shortcut is to spread store-bought tortilla chips on a baking sheet and warm them in a 200°F oven for about 10 minutes. This helps crisp them up and gives them that freshly fried taste. Prepare the beans: Heat the canned refried beans in a saucepan or microwave, stirring in a little water at a time until they're smooth, creamy, and easy to spoon over the chips. Make the cheese sauce: Combine both cans of Fritos cheese dip and heat until warm and smooth. If desired, add a splash of milk to thin the consistency and a little pickled jalapeño brine for extra flavor. Assemble: Divide the warm tortilla chips between four plates. Top each with seasoned beef, refried beans, plenty of nacho cheese, a dollop of reduced-fat sour cream, and diced tomatoes. A FEW TACO BELL TIPS: 🌮 Reduced-fat sour cream is key! Taco Bell uses the light version, which has a slightly different flavor and consistency than regular sour cream. 🌮 Don't skip simmering the beef! I've confirmed this technique with former employees from back when Taco Bell cooked their beef in-house. It makes a big difference in the texture. 🌮 Frying your own chips can get you closer to the original, but warming your favorite store-bought chips is a much easier shortcut. What Taco Bell menu item should I recreate next? 🔔 #TacoBellAtHome #NachosBellGrande #TacoBellCopycat #CopycatRecipes #EasyDinnerIdeas - @dollartreedinners