Grilled Brisket Nachos – Beer Infused

Whether it be an upcoming game day or a fun family weekend at home, these grilled brisket nachos using leftover smoked brisket spin the classic cast iron skillet nacho dish! Our son said, “this is what you expect at a food truck at the brewery!” If that doesn’t say it all, I’m not sure what does!

These grilled brisket nachos were part of the series of recipes that I created from the seemingly endless smoked brisket that we made a couple of weekends ago. We all run into these issues with larger cuts of meat like brisket or pork shoulder. So much meat, so delicious…but now what do I do with all the leftovers besides just freeze it?

One of the recipes we decided to make using the leftovers was these amazing nachos.

We added beer to the brisket mixture for a deeper, richer flavor. The subtle bitterness and maltiness of the beer is a match made in heaven with the savory ingredients and the smoky brisket.

Spoiler alert: they were incredible!

🍺 Ingredients

You’ll just need a handful of ingredients, and it’s seriously one of the best things you’ll ever taste.

🛒Smoked Brisket | Smoked and shredded brisket takes regular nachos to the next level. Fair warning: you may never want traditional nachos again!

🛒Beer | Any variety of beer that you like will work for this recipe. Just make sure it’s something you like on its own to get the best flavor.

🛒Mexican Cheese | Traditional flavored cheese is fine, but we prefer Mexican cheese because it goes so well with the other flavors. It also melts wonderfully!

🛒Onion

🛒Chili Powder | We love our nachos with a kick! Feel free to omit this, especially for a kid-friendly version of brisket nachos.

🛒Cumin

🛒Garlic

🛒Oregano

🛒Tortilla Chips | Choose larger, sturdy chips to ensure they can hold up the generous helpings of brisket, cheese, and seasonings.

🛒Olive Oil

🛒Toppings | Here you can get really creative! We used chives, sliced olives, and jalapeños, to add some texture, heat, and a touch of freshness.

🥘 Instructions

You made your yummy brisket and have lots of leftovers, so it’s time to make brisket nachos!

👉Step 1: Dice the onions and the garlic. Grate the cheese if not using pre-shredded. Shred 2 cups of brisket.

👉Step 2: Sauté an onion in a little bit of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown. This usually takes 5-8 minutes. Add in the shredded brisket to combine and warm up.

👉Step 3: Then, add the seasoning, garlic, and stir in the beer to combine.

👉Step 4: Remove the brisket mixture from the skillet and add it to a bowl. Add in ½ of the cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.

👉Step 5: Heat the grill to 400°F. Spray the cast iron skillet with non-stick spray and make a layer of corn chips that covers the bottom of the skillet. Layer 1/2 of the meat mixture and then add some cheese. Layer some more chips, meat mixture, and cheese. Your skillet should be pretty full after 2 rounds.

Note: It’s difficult to estimate how many chips you should use as it is dependent on the size of the skillet. The same goes for how much meat and cheese you add which is relative to the size and shape of the chips. I used about 3/4 of a bag here.

👉Step 6: Place the skillet on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook the nachos at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese melts and turns golden brown. Remove from the grill and top with chives, olives, jalapeño slices, or any other toppings you like! Enjoy!

💡 Recipe Tips

📌Brisket Prep | Whether you roasted or smoked a whole brisket, make sure to let it rest for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours before slicing. This is a large cut of meat, so it will need a longer time for the juices to redistribute.

If you are using brisket leftovers from the freezer, allow the meat to fully thaw before using it for nachos or other recipes. Otherwise, it can end up dry and chewy, with a significant loss of flavor.

📌Cheese Melting | For the best melt, grate your cheese from a block instead of buying pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents that make it less melty.

📌Layering | Nachos are all about even layers! Start with a base layer of chips, then brisket, followed by cheese, and repeat.

📌Grilling Technique | If grilling the nachos, keep the lid closed. Covering the grill can help melt the cheese evenly.

📌Nachos Assembly | Assemble the nachos in a cast-iron skillet or on a baking sheet that can go from grill to table for easy serving and to keep them warm.

📌Serving | Serve immediately while the cheese is hot and gooey for the best texture and flavor experience.

📌Reheating | If you have leftovers, reheat them in an oven or on the grill to revive the chips’ crispness better than a microwave can.

📌Individual Servings | For parties or gatherings, you can make individual servings in smaller cast iron skillets or heat-proof dishes. This way, the nachos stay warm longer and everyone will get a share of the toppings!

🍴 Additions & Substitutions

This is a great one to tackle! I want to make sure that you all can see there are a lot of ways to address variations in this recipe.

👍Use A Sheet Pan | Make these on a sheet pan like I made the pulled pork nachos. Not everyone has a cast iron skillet, so you can simply throw these on the sheet pan and cook for 8-10 minutes or until toasty brown.

👍Brisket Chili Variation | Make a batch of the brisket chili to use in place of the leftover brisket.

👍Smoked Cheese Topping | Instead of regular cheese, top with smoked cheese!

👍Different Beers | The flavor of the brisket mixture will change a little depending on what beer you use. Lighter beers like lagers or pilsners add a touch of acidity and freshness to the dish.

Beers with a higher malt content like ales or stouts bring a subtle sweetness that pairs nicely with the savory profile of the nachos.

Dark beers such as porters and stouts can bring smoky and caramel notes, further enhancing the smokiness of the grilled brisket nachos. They’re all worth trying!

👍Tostadas Option | Make the same idea into Brisket Tostadas. It will make Taco Tuesday really fun by using similar ingredients.

Add these to a flat hard shell and add toppings as you like. You can put them on a sheet pan and heat up the ingredients or just the brisket and apply ingredients to the shell and eat as is. That is up to you.

👍Swap Chips For Lettuce | For a healthier option, stack the brisket nacho ingredients on a bed of greens. Those chips aren’t helping any of us, we know that.

So skip them and add shredded brisket to the bed of lettuce, toppings, and a dressing of choice…think Chipotle Lime or Tex Mex Sour Cream Dressing.

👍Whole Grain Chips | If you want to still make brisket nachos but want to mix it up even more, go for the alternative chips that have whole grains in them instead of the empty calories of a traditional tortilla chip.

👍Alcohol-Free Version | You can substitute broth in place of the beer, or use non-alcoholic beer for an even closer alternative.

🍱 Storage

These are ok for leftovers…I do think they are much better served immediately, though. I would hate to have someone come back to me and say “the chips weren’t crispy” and such.

The chips turn soft when served as leftovers, but they won’t be soggy. Microwaving is fine and it works…we do it because I hate to throw out food. Ideally, make just enough for your family and minimize leftovers.

🥑 Topping Ideas For Brisket Nachos

Nachos can be a new culinary adventure every time you make them. There are plenty of flavorful ingredients that can be mixed and matched into exciting combinations.

⚡Diced Tomatoes | Adds a fresh, slightly acidic touch that balances the richness of the cheese and brisket.

⚡Sour Cream | A cool and creamy contrast to the warm, spicy flavors of the nachos.

⚡Guacamole | The rich but refreshing avocado flavor beautifully complements the smokiness of the brisket.

⚡Corn Kernels | Grilled or fresh, corn adds a sweet crunch that contrasts nicely with the savory elements. It’s definitely worth making some grilled corn in the husk for that extra char flavor.

⚡Black Beans | A well-loved, protein-rich topping for an even heartier nacho dish.

⚡Pickled Red Onions | Their tangy crunch offers a bright contrast to the deep flavors of the beer-infused brisket nachos. My favorite kind is the homemade kind! We often whip up these easy refrigerator pickled red onions as they go well with so many BBQ dishes!

⚡Cilantro Leaves | Adds a fresh, citrusy note that will brighten up this delightful dish.

⚡Queso Fresco or Cotija Cheese | Crumbled over the top for an extra layer of cheesy goodness with a salty kick.

⚡Sliced Green Onions | Add a mild onion flavor with a bit of crunch for extra color and freshness on your plate.

⚡Pico de Gallo | This fresh salsa adds a vibrant mix of tomato, onion, and cilantro flavors with a hint of lime. Picco de Gallo also pairs wonderfully with grilled poultry, as you can see in my recipe.

⚡Lime Wedges | For squeezing over the top, adding a zesty brightness that cuts through the cheesy brisket mixture.

⚡Sliced Avocado | Adds a buttery texture and rich flavor that makes an excellent team with the smokiness of the brisket.

⚡Roasted Red Peppers | Their sweet smokiness complements the grilled flavors in the nachos.

⚡Sautéed Mushrooms | Add an earthy depth to these savory, smoky nachos.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

You will love serving up this finger food for a nail-biting game day, Saturday night after a day full of soccer games, or as a last-minute meal on an “I don’t want to cook” night.

⭐Chilled Beer | Offer a selection of the same beer used in the recipe or provide a variety of Mexican beers to keep with the theme and refresh the palate.

Yes, I started with the booze! My go-to is an ice-cold Corona with lime.

⭐Margaritas | Whether classic lime, fruity, or spicy, margaritas are the perfect beverage pairing for nachos.

⭐Mexican Street Corn (Elote) | The creamy, spicy, and tangy flavors of Elote pair wonderfully with the rich and smoky nachos, offering a delightful contrast.

Since you already need to fire up the grill, make some Mexican street corn. It’s ready in 10 minutes!

⭐Cilantro Lime Rice | A light and refreshing side that balances the hearty nachos. The lime’s zest and cilantro’s freshness cut through the richness.

Cilantro lime rice is a super easy side, and even more: it’s perfectly scalable to feed larger crowds.

⭐Black Bean Salad | A vibrant salad with black beans, corn, avocado, and a lime vinaigrette can add a fresh and slightly acidic touch to the meal.

⭐Grilled Vegetables | We love grilled patty pan squash and grilled sweet onions next to nachos. The onions can also be a delightful topping.

⭐Guacamole and Chips | While nachos are the main star, an extra side of homemade guacamole and chips can never go wrong, especially for those who love to double-dip.

⭐Salsas | It’s great to serve several salsas for guests to customize their nacho experience.

Some of my favorites are the black bean and corn salsa, pico de Gallo, and avocado corn salsa.

⭐Coleslaw | I love my spicy Creole coleslaw next to pretty much any BBQ dish. The classic version is fine too, but if you’re feeling adventurous I’m sure you’ll love this Southern variation.

❓ Recipe FAQs

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