Korean BBQ Nachos Bold Flavors (Printable)

Savory gochujang-marinated beef on crispy chips with melted cheeses and fresh vegetable toppings.

# What You Need:

→ Gochujang Beef

01 - 10 oz flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced
02 - 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
03 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
04 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
05 - 2 tsp sesame oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 tsp rice vinegar
09 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

→ Nachos

10 - 7 oz tortilla chips (about 1 large bag)
11 - 3.5 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 3.5 oz shredded Korean cheese blend (mozzarella-cheddar or pizza cheese)
13 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - 1/2 cucumber, seeded and thinly sliced
16 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
17 - 1 red chili, thinly sliced (optional)
18 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tbsp kimchi, chopped
20 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or shiso leaves, chopped
21 - 1 tbsp sriracha mayo or gochujang mayo (optional)
22 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and black pepper in a bowl. Add sliced beef and marinate for at least 20 minutes.
02 - Set oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) and allow it to heat fully.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear marinated beef in batches for 2 to 3 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
04 - Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Spread tortilla chips evenly, then layer half of the shredded cheeses. Distribute cooked beef over cheese, then top with remaining cheese.
05 - Bake assembled nachos in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
06 - Remove tray from oven and evenly scatter red onion, carrot, cucumber, scallions, red chili slices, and toasted sesame seeds over the top.
07 - Sprinkle chopped kimchi and fresh herbs. Drizzle with sriracha or gochujang mayo if desired. Serve alongside lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the ultimate crowd-pleaser that makes people do a double-take the moment they see it.
  • You get that addictive sweet-spicy-savory balance that keeps you reaching for more.
  • It comes together in under an hour and feels way more impressive than the effort required.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step—it builds a flavorful crust on the beef that marinading alone can't achieve.
  • Add your fresh vegetables after the nachos come out of the oven, not before, or they'll wilt and lose their crunch.
  • If you're making these ahead, assemble everything except the fresh toppings, then add them right before serving.
03 -
  • Buy your tortilla chips the day you're serving this—stale chips will absorb moisture and fall apart under the weight of the toppings.
  • If your cheese isn't melting evenly, cover the tray loosely with foil for the first 4 minutes of baking, then remove it to let it brown.
Go back