So you've got leftover brisket... On occasion, it happens. Could you reheat it and throw it on a bun with some sauce? Sure. You could. Or you could go the extra mile and make a batch of these Brisket Nachos with Smoked Queso and your life will be forever changed.
WHAT YOU'LL LOVE
- Smoking the queso in a cast iron skillet on the grill instead of melting it on the stovetop builds a layer of smoke flavor into the cheese sauce itself
- Warming the black beans and stock on the bottom rack at the same time the queso smokes lets both components finish together without needing separate cook times
- Blending the avocado crema in a Vitamix rather than mashing it by hand produces a smooth, pourable sauce instead of a chunky dip-style texture
- Layering the toppings in a specific order — cheese, beans, queso, brisket, then fresh toppings — keeps the hot components underneath and the cold, fresh toppings on top so nothing wilts prematurely
Brisket Nachos with Smoked Queso
Tom Jackson
Rated 4.4 stars by 5 users
Category
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Servings
16
Prep Time
40 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Calories
1084
Try out our recipe for Brisket Nachos with Smoked Queso. This combination uses your leftover smoked beef brisket and creamy smoked cheese sauce will make you crave for more.
Ingredients
-
1 tbsp Colonial Chile Infused Oil
- 2 lb leftover wagyu brisket, diced
- Corn tortilla chips
- Romaine lettuce, shredded, for garnish
- 8 oz sharp cheddar
- 4 oz queso fresco, crumbled
- 4 oz white American cheese, grated
- 4 oz chihuahua cheese, grated
- 4 oz pepper jack cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
-
1/2 cup 505 Southwestern Hatch Valley Flame Roasted Green Chiles
-
1 tbsp Cattleman’s Grill Mexicano Seasoning
- 1 cup tomato, small dice
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, small dice
- 1/2 cup cilantro, minced
- 1/4 cup jalapeño, minced
- 1/4 cup serrano peppers, minced
- 3 tbsp lime juice
-
Jacobsen Salt Co. Habanero Infused Salt, to taste
- 1 1/4 cup canned black beans
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 1 clove garlic, crushed, peeled
-
Cattleman’s Grill 8 Second Ride Carne Asada Seasoning
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 medium avocado
-
2 tbsp 505 Hatch Valley Flame Roasted Green Chiles
For the Smoked Queso:
For the Pico de Gallo:
For the Black beans:
For the Avocado Crema Verde:
Directions
- Preheat your Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill to 200ºF set up for smoking. Fill an A-MAZE-N Tube Smoker with hickory pellets. Light the pellets with a torch. Allow the flame to burn for 30-60 seconds before blowing out the flame.
- To make the queso, combine the cheeses in a Lodge 10” Cast Iron Skillet. Add the half-and-half, 505 Southwestern Hatch Valley Flame Roasted Green Chiles and Cattleman’s Grill Mexicano Seasoning. Mix then transfer to the second shelf of the grill. Smoke, stirring occasionally, until the cheeses are melted and smooth when whisked, about 45 minutes.
- At the same time that you place the queso in the smokers, also combine all ingredients for the black beans in a Lodge 8” Cast Iron Skillet, mix well and place on the bottom rack of the grill. Let the beans and broth warm while the queso smokes. Remove when the queso is done (45 minutes).
- To make the pico, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- To make the Avocado Crema Verde, combine all ingredients in the Vitamix Blender Cups and blend on the Vitamix until smooth. Remove from the blender and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- When the queso is nearly ready, preheat a Lodge 10” Cast Iron Skillet on the Hestan Cue Induction Burner. Add one tablespoon Colonial Chile Infused Oil to the skillet, then add the diced brisket meat. Cook to warm through, stirring frequently.
- To build the Brisket Nachos with Smoked Queso, fill large serving platters with tortilla chips. Sprinkle the sharp cheddar over the chips. Top with the beans, then smoked queso. Sprinkle the diced brisket over the queso, topped with romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado crema verde and queso fresco.
Recipe Note
Recipe FAQ
Why smoke the queso in a cast iron skillet on the grill instead of melting it on the stovetop?
Placing the cheese mixture on the grill for 45 minutes builds a layer of smoke flavor directly into the queso, something a stovetop melt could never replicate.
Why warm the black beans on the grill's bottom rack at the same time the queso smokes above?
Running both at once means the beans are ready right when the queso finishes, rather than needing a separate cook stage or timing them to overlap manually.
Why blend the avocado crema in a Vitamix instead of mashing it by hand?
A blender produces a smooth, pourable sauce that drizzles evenly over the nachos, rather than the chunkier texture hand-mashing would leave.
Why build the nachos in a specific layering order — cheese, beans, queso, brisket, then fresh toppings?
Keeping the hot components underneath and the cold, fresh toppings like lettuce and pico de gallo on top prevents those fresh ingredients from wilting or getting soggy from the heat below.
How indoor-friendly is this recipe?
3 out of 5 — the beans, pico, crema, and brisket-warming all work fine indoors, but the smoked queso's flavor depends on the grill and is harder to replicate with a stovetop melt.
Recipe Highlights
Grill-smoked queso: Builds smoke flavor directly into the cheese sauce.
Parallel bean warming: Times the beans to finish alongside the queso.
Blended avocado crema: Produces a smooth, drizzle-ready sauce.
Ordered topping layers: Keeps fresh toppings from wilting under the heat.
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Nutrition
Nutrition
- Nutrition Serving Size
- 8.01 oz
- per serving
- Calories
- 1084
- Carbs
- 37 grams
- Protein
- 57 grams
- Fat
- 78 grams
- Sodium
- 721 milligrams
