These Loaded Nachos with Turkey, Beans and Cheese are made with baked tortilla chips, lean ground turkey, black bean dip, cheese and pico de gallo.
Loaded Nachos with Turkey Beans and Cheese
Cinco De Mayo, or any day with these healthy loaded nachos loaded with protein and fiber. Using lean ground turkey mixed with flavorful black bean dip, this lighter recipe takes a classic appetizer that’s usually over 1200 calories in most chain restaurants, and makes them under 400 calories. I have hundreds of ground turkey recipes, it’s my favorite protein to use to lighten up some of my favorite dishes! You might also like my loaded Nacho Chicken Tostada or my Low-Carb Mini Bell Pepper Nachos.
I love nachos, who doesn’t? That being said, these lighter nachos don’t disappoint!! We had them for dinner but this is also great for lunch or as an appetizer. This recipe was inspired by Rocco Dispirito’s cookbook, Now Eat This
. I made some adjustments to his original recipe and it was DELICIOUS. High in fiber and lower in fat and super easy to make.
How To Make Loaded Nachos Healthy
- Baked chips. Start with baked tortilla chips instead of fried as your base.
- Use lean protein such as lean ground turkey or chicken.
- Add beans for fiber. Here this uses a fat-free black bean dip which adds flavor without spending too much time cooking.
- Top it with a fresh element at the end. Pico de gallo is made with all fresh vegetables, lime juice and cilantro that adds tons of flavor, be sure you drain it so you don’t get your nachos soggy. To save time you can also buy it pre-made. Pickled Red Onions would also be great!
- Use less cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I love cheese but with all these toppings, it’s easy to use less and not miss it.
- Portion control. Weigh out your chips and bake each portion separate so you don’t eat double the portion.
Loaded Nachos with Turkey, Beans and Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 oz baked tortilla chips
- 8 oz 99% lean ground turkey breast
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup fat-free spicy black bean dip, such as Desert Pepper Trading Company Black Bean Dip or Trader Joes
- 1 1/3 cup reduced fat Mexican cheese blend
- 2 cups pico de gallo
- 1/2 cup light sour cream
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeño, sliced thin optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Place 1 oz (about 14 depending on the brand) chips on four oven-proof dishes or all 4ounces on one large baking sheet.
- Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat.
- Add the ground turkey and season with cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper and sauté until cooked through, breaking up meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
- When cooked, add the bean dip and mix well.
- Spoon the turkey mixture over the chips and sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Bake until cheese melts, about 6 minutes.
- Remove the nachos from the oven, top with pico de gallo, sour cream, cilantro and jalepeños.
- Serve immediately.
Great recipe, simple to make, tasty.
Spelled jalapeños wrong. (jalepeños)
What is a good substitute for the bean dip? Don’t care for beans. Thanks!
Love these! They are always a hit whenever I make them!!
Never made a nacho recipe, but liked that this could be a dinner. I did change it up a bit for our needs –doubled it–but only used half amount of the spicy bean dip as we are sensative to the “heat”-I used extra thin corn tortilla and toasted and broke those up for each serving as needed. I wanted more veggies so zucchini,corn, tomato, & jalapeno were added to the turkey bean mixture and cooked till soft. (to make it more like the ground turkey skillet recipe.) The 99 percent fat free turkey works well in this as so much flavor going on.
have made this several times, perfect meal to sit at our high top and watch our beloved Iowa Hawkeyes….yummy! I have been using your recipes for years and have given your cook books as gifts. Thank You!!!!!!!
These nachos were so tasty! We had leftovers and reheated them in the air fryer/toaster oven and those were good too. Our TJ’s is a bit of a drive but I found a black bean dip at Whole Foods that was not very spicy but had a nice flavor. I will try a nacho salad next time.
Loved this. Great superbowl or any time and healthier to boot!
Am I missing something, I don’t see the “point” value on this dish. It does appear to be attached to the WW system, but is posted on WW site. I thought the beauty of these recipes what to get an idea of how many points you are using. This looks like a yummy meal, but it would take me more time to calculate the points than it would to eat a serving of this dish.
all recipes link to WW, so if you’re signed in your will see the points. This one is 9
I couldn’t find black bean dip, so I subbed a can of black beans heated in green chilis. Added it to the ground turkey, divine! Such a simple, delicious and healthy dinner.
I made this last week for me and my husband. It was absolutely wonderful. I managed to find the black bean dip at a local grocery (and at a reduced price!). Anyway – with the magic of our air fryer we were able to heat up the leftovers the next night. Gina, we love your recipes and only wish you’d released them 20 years earlier!!
Where can I find FF black bean dip? I bought some
Black bean hummus but it’s not fat free. I don’t have a Trader Joes near me. Or does anyone have an easy recipe to share for it? Thanks!
This was wonderful!! I ate the meat mixture on a bed of lettuce and my husband and son had the nachos. Nice because everyone can top however they want. Will make again!!
Absolutely delicious! As a full-time professional, mom, and military spouse, I must say this was the quickest and tastiest weekday meal I have made in a very ling time. All my boys were huge fans!!!
Gina- I have been an avid Skinnytaste fan for going on 3.5 years now. Thanks for providing us with tasty, healthy, and simple meals and snacks. I love everything you create 😀!!
-LeeAnn
Thanks LeeAnn!
This was FABULOUS — using for so many other ideas, tostadas – quesadillas – YUMMO! I made my own black bean dip since I don’t have a TJ’s near me. Super easy – Black beans – adobe chili – little water – lime juice. Thanks Gina!
My store didn’t have baked chips and I wanted this to be filling for a meal, so I made a salad with a bed of lettuce, warm meat/bean mixture, cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and some crushed Tortilla chips. It was delicious and filling! I also like having to be able to have left overs without having soggy chips. Now we can enjoy another salad tomorrow!
I’m in New Zealand and I found Turkey mince at New World! But no ‘bean dip’ so I just used a can of cheap Oak baked beans, and holy moly this was yummy! The kids also loved it.
Super fast, super easy and super yummy!!! I added some diced avocado.
I loved this recipe so much!!
I love nachos, who doesn’t? That being said, these lighter nachos don’t disappoint!! We had them for dinner but this is also great for lunch or as an appetizer.
Hi, thank you for the recipe! Was wondering if you have access to the sodium content of the recipe and you could post it in the Nutrition facts. Please and Thank You.
Updated. 🙂
Thank you!! I was wondering the same thing.
i am making this for dinner tonight.. I love the idea of adding bean dip to the meat mixture, Thanks for the recipe
This recipe was amazing!! The family loved it. Thank you 🙂
I want to make sure I got this straight. Each plate gets 14 chips? How much turkey goes on each plate? 2oz?
This was an instant favorite in my house. We modify it by using lean ground beef instead of turkey and Gina's guacamole instead of the bean dip. So yummy!
Best news EVER, Trader joes has reduced guilt tortilla chips for 2 points! A serving size is 14 chips. They taste good too! Substituting trader joes chips for regular tortilla chips will bring the points value of this recipe down to 7pp. yay! =)
These are wonderful!! I replaced the bean dip with refried black beans, yummy!
Thank you! Blessings!
Woman, you are killing me. These were so good. Love 'em. My son wouldn't eat them, but he has a weird aversion to beans, and I didn't even tell him about the beans, he just knew!! But he's weird like that!! LOL he didn't get it from me.
I took this recipe and made it into a salad. What a great idea to use black bean dip (which is super easy to make), Gina! I usually use nonfat refried beans but this was so much better! I Also removed the cheese and replaced it with avocado instead. Sort of removed the whole nacho theme when removing the cheese but I just wanted to let you know your recipes inspire the cook in me to create new things!
I believe your nutritional facts on this are a lil off. No matter how I calculated it 408 calories and 50 carbs per serving were as low as I could get this recipe and that was using fat free cheddar instead of reduced fat 🙁 That was also using your pico recipe and the Guiltless Gourmet Fat Free Bean Dip and the Bakes Tostitos as you suggested.
I made these last night along with two salsas, tacos, your citrus spritzer, and skinnygirl margaritas for a cinco de mayo party last night. Everything was absolutely delicious! Thank you for making our celebration that much healthier!
is this made with turkey breast or ground turkey meat? thanks!
Ground turkey.
Hi Gina! I love your recipes and you have made making dinner fun and healthy! I was wondering where you got those baking pans for the nachos, they are awesome! Thank you! 🙂
These were amazing! I couldn't find the baked scoops so I used the regular ones. Points went up to 11 – still not bad for supper. I ended up buying fresh pico to save time. Simply delicious!
Yummy…I make nachos by putting wonton wrappers in muffin trays and crisping them up…You get more for your points.
I used canned here, but you could use either. It depends on how hot you like it. I probably used 1 tbsp.
Hi Gina, just found this recipe/your site via Pinterest and am excited to explore it more. I have one question about this recipe– you mention in the directions to top the nachos with jalapenos and the picture shows them, but the ingredients list doesn't mention them. How much did you use? Were you using fresh or canned? Thanks!!
Had it tonight for dinner. SO AMAZING!
Gina Thank You so much for sharing your wonderful ideas! I am not currenty on a diet or weight watchers. I was looking for some tasty healthier meals to incorporate into my menus and you site if PERFECT!
I made the skinny Nachos today for lunch. I had to make some substatutions based on my grocery store not having everything and my husband's pickiness but it was as close as I could get.
We both loved it! He could barely tell that it was good for him. I can't wait to try more things. Later this week will be you Chicken rolatinis and one of the pork dishes (I don't remember which)
Thanks again for all you do and keep up the good work!
My pleasure!
Ok Gina, I have to leave a comment… I have tried numerous recipes on this site and I just love everyone, This one was no exception, it's awesome!! I also tried the Prosciutto and arrugula sandwhich today, it's satisifying and tasty! I am so glad I found your site when I started weight watchers this year!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Thanks for linking back!
This was DELICIOUS!! As are many of your recipes! I have posted several to my blog to share with my friends and linked them to your blog…hope you don't mind. Your blog has been the best place I've found for low fat GOOD recipes!! Thank you for sharing with us!!
hi, did you use turkey breat or ground turkey meat? i'm a little confused! hehe thanks
Ground turkey.
I made this yesterday and my husband raved and raved about it! Nothing about it tastes low-fat. I did substitute the black bean dip for non-fat refried black beans and it was still delicious. I will DEFINITELY make this again! Such a winning recipe!
I made these last night for the Super Bowl and they were a huge hit! I couldn't find the black bean dip, so instead subbed fat free refried beans. I could eat these daily! Thank you!
I made this a couple of days ago and boy oh boy! They were great! The portion is HUGE though! I put leftovers in a bag and they were even great the next day! Thank you Gina!
Enjoy and let me know how you like it!
you are a life saver! I have been looking everywhere for recipes that are healthy and that are delicious. So far everything that i have made from your site has been some of the best dishes I have cooked. Making this tonight, and I know it will be UHMAZING!
Gina! Another delicious WW friendly recipe! I was really worried that 14 chips wouldn't fill me up, but I added shredded lettuce on top (to make it *look* like more), and by the time I was finished I felt completely full. Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes! ~Deb R
Super yummy! so glad I found your blog! I didnt have the bean dip so i took a cup of black beans and pureed it with some of the pico de gallo! FAB!
Delicious!!
How do you figure out all the WW points?! Would it be lowered if one used half yogurt and half sour cream and/or all just yogurt. Have you tried it that way?
@Steffy, that's great!! You really don't have to count points to lose, it's all about making lighter choices. Thanks for the comment!!
Gina,
I absolutely love your site! I'm not on WW, but I was looking for a way to lighten up my style of cooking (since I grew up in the south and it's hard for me to not have a heavy hand with butter!) Your food is delicious and this was no exception! My hubby and I have already lost 20 pounds! Thanks so much for all your hard work!
I made this and thought it was great! I shared it on my blog and linked back to you!! Thanks for the recipe!!
http://lebedafamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/skinny-nachos-with-turkey-beans-and.html
@Jilie- That's right, 1 oz baked tostitos scoops are 14 chips. The photo is one serving. It's a meal!
Hi Gina, these look so great. I am a little confused though – 1 serving is the 14 chips that you have pictured? so if the recipe calls for 4oz of chips for 4 servings then 14 chips is 1oz and your picture shows one full serving? it just seems like so much for 7pts – but I would love it!
Wonderful, delicious treat! Why did I ever eat fully fatty nachos when I could have had these? Thanks so much!
LOVE the idea of making these with Chicken Ropa Vieja!!!
These were great. I changed it up a little because I had left over Chicken Ropa Vieja, so I used that in place of the ground turkey. My husband loved it. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Thanks for the delicious recipe! These nachos were the best!! YUM
YUM! that looks so good and pleasing for anyone!
The bean dip you buy in the store. Usually in the chips and salsa aisle. Guiltless Gourmet is the brand I used but I saw others. If you can't find it, fat free refried beans would work.
They look as pretty as a picture and I ma sure that reading the ingredients they taste fabulous. I have bookmarked the blog and will return for further inspiration
Is the bean dip a recipe too? Or is it something I can buy from the store?
They look so Yummy! I can't wait to try them!
I'm sure it would be fine with beans, the bean dip is pureed and is a little spicy and has a wonderful lime flavor.
Hi Gina,
Would it be OK to use 1 cup of black beans straight out of the can, as opposed to the bean dip?
Thanks!
My sister and I had these tonight. Absolutely AMAZING! Thank you again for another fantastic recipe!
This doesn't look remotely low-fat! LOVELY. I'll be back here! Love these recipes.
Re: @Anonymous's turkey vs. 98% lean ground beef question — the fat content 98% lean ground beef actually is slightly lower than most ground turkey. I think that's what @Anonymous was saying. I believe, but am not sure, that ground turkey breast may have less fat than either regular ground turkey or 98% lean ground beef. Because the 98% lean ground beef does have similar fat content to ground turkey, I often choose it for this type of recipe. Turkey and beef have different nutrients, and in general, beef has more of what I need. In my opinion, it really comes down to personal preference.
Oh these look so yummy!
Those look awesome Gina! I know that Joseph would love them as well, Going to try them soon.
If u have time visit my blog to leave a comment! Thanks
Gina, did you use shredded turkey breast or ground turkey? Thanks!
Yum! These nachos look so good! Hope to make them soon!
SO EXCITED about trying this!!! LOVE nachos!!!
I have started making my own tortilla chips by cutting up regular corn tortillas and baking them in the oven with a little salt and Pam sprayed on them. I think they must be even healthier than a pre-packaged baked chip, plus they are nice and thick and crunchy — so satisfying!
These look perfect for my Happy Hour Friday posts. Tried the Thai Coconut Curry Last week. Delicious!
Gina,
My husband and I are such nacho freaks and we haven't had them in a couple of years. I can't wait to make these. Maybe tonight! Thanks you!!!
I'm not sure how many ounces that came to, as I have no more cheese left. Sorry!
@Anonymous- I'm not sure I understand your turkey question?
Thank you Gina! Can you please tell us how many ounces of cheese you used for the 1 1/3 cups?
when I check the fat content of 98% lean ground meat and the fat content of it, the same for ground turkey. Do you find this true? Thanks for all the recies. I'm just getting back on ww and your a Godsend…….How is your baby?
that looks awesome, i will definitely try these!!