Over The Top Nacho Recipes You Have To Try
There are fewer foods more decadent than a hearty plate of nachos, smothered and covered in copious amounts of toppings. They're savory, satisfying, and perfect for sharing, making them one of America's favorite foods. And while traditional recipes will tend toward specific ingredients such as corn chips, ground beef, nacho (of course) cheese, sour cream, and salsa, you can go as mad scientist on this dish as you want, creating crazy combinations of flavor. So if you're feeling hungry and experimental, roll up your sleeves and check out these nacho recipes you simply have to try.
Greek gyro nachos
This super fun recipe from Life's Ambrosia is a perfect way to get your fix for Greek gyros in snack form. And, it has almost none of the standard ingredients you find in Mexican-style nachos. Instead of tortilla chips, it calls for pita chips, which you can either make yourself, or just grab a bag of store-bought. For the meat, spice up some ground lamb instead of the traditional chicken, beef, or pork. And while you'll still have regular old lettuce and tomatoes, I recommend swapping out the black olives for kalamata olives, and the yellow onion for a thick red onion; you'll get a more authentic flavor this way. Top it with feta and you have a Greek feast in nacho form.
BBQ chicken and grilled pineapple nachos
Anything that stars grilled pineapple as the central ingredient is already winning because of the nuanced flavor that develops when you toss fresh pineapple slices on the grill. That's why this sweet, smokey, and spicy recipe from Closet Cooking is a must-do for your next gathering.
Start by grilling half of a cored pineapple; I recommend fresh instead of canned for a brighter and more acidic pop. Once it's grilled, proceed with your traditional, tortilla chips as a base. Once you empty the bag into an oven-safe dish, add the pineapple, BBQ chicken, onion, jalapeño, and lots of jack cheese.
This tropical, smokey dish is great for luaus, so serve with rum drinks for a consistent flavor profile.
Crispy waffle nachos
While nachos are usually considered a savory dish you would serve as an appetizer, order at a restaurant for a group, or prepare for a game day snack, this recipe from Simple Comfort Food brings nachos right to the breakfast table. Swap out the corn chips for a fluffy, fresh-made waffle, pile on the toppings, and you have a savory breakfast that you can customize and share.
For toppings, they suggest the usual nacho topping suspects: corn, shredded cheese, onion, jalapeño, tomatoes, corn, cilantro, and ground beef. But they also add bacon, using it three different and creative ways. Half of the bacon is used as a topping, and the other half if put directly into the batter along with minced garlic to liven it up with a pop of taste. The bacon trifecta is achieved when the cooked waffle is placed into a bacon grease primed skillet once you're ready to build the toppings. And of course, the melted cheese holds it all together.
Pair with a Bloody Mary and you can also serve this for brunch.
Philly cheese nachos
You don't have to travel to Philadelphia to conjure the meaty essence you'd find on South Street. Try whipping up a batch of the Best Philly Cheesesteak Nachos with this simple but tasty recipe from Delish.
Start with a bag of plain tortilla chips; I recommend flour tortilla chips for this recipe as the corn might contrast with the flavor profile a bit. Then you'll want to saute the onions and peppers alongside some thinly-sliced sirloin steak — don't forget to season it well to make the flavor pop. Then, layer the tortilla chips, shredded cheeses, and the steak along with the vegetables, half of each at a time. Bake and serve it right away for an ooey, gooey, meaty handful of nacho bliss.
If ever something was meant to be eaten along with a cold beer, this is it.
Reuben-topped Irish nachos
While some Irish nacho recipes swap out the chips for potatoes and call it a day, this creative recipe from Two Healthy Kitchens utilizes the flavors of a classic Reuben sandwich instead of traditional nacho flavors. Slice, oil, season, and bake the potatoes in the oven for the best possible texture. Once they're done, smother them with those classic Ruben ingredients: corned beef (deli-sliced is preferred over brisket), sauerkraut (always a great thing to make if you have leftover cabbage), and shredded Swiss cheese. Then, drizzle the "nachos" with homemade Thousand Island dressing.
Bacon & egg breakfast nachos
Just as you can use waffles to make breakfast nachos, you can also go a more traditional route for some Mexican-style bacon and egg breakfast nachos with this recipe from The Pinning Mama. And you can make this in a super deep casserole dish with all of the rich ingredients.
You'll do a basic layering with scrambled eggs topped with all your favorite nacho ingredients: Grated cheese, black beans, green chilis, and crumbled bacon. Once you've baked all that together, top it with sour cream, enchilada sauce, salsa, and big scoops of guacamole. I'd sprinkle some fresh cilantro and chopped green onions over the top as well for fresh flavor and a flash of color. You can also add some fried sunny side-up eggs on top to bring some runny yoke to the party.
Serve with orange juice, or mimosas if you're feeling boozy.
Pizza nachos
A pizza nacho recipe is inevitable when you think about it. The combination of pizza's stretchy cheese and bold flavors makes both the textural and flavor profiles a natural candidate for nachofication.
And this recipe from the Food Network allows for a bit of culinary nuance to boot. Rather than use chips, this is a great way to re-purpose your leftover baguette; toss some thin slices with olive oil, and bake it until it's crisp and perhaps browning just a bit. Once that's done, slather it with pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought is fine), shredded mozzarella, and Parmesan. The recipe doesn't call for any meats, but you can toss some pepperoni, crumbled bacon, or whatever you have laying around if there are carnivores in the house. Once it's done, grab some basil and sprinkle it over the top.
Pair with a pinot noir for a perfect Friday night indulgence.
Buffalo chicken nachos
This is classic Americana, plain and simple. While folks observing game day across America always have a plate of Buffalo wings on the table (accompanied by either a blue cheese or ranch dip), this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod brings a little twist to the party.
This is also a great way to utilize leftover rotisserie chicken into a flavorful and fun meal. Once you have the chicken adequately spiced and prepared with hot sauce, layer it over baked chips (corn or flour will work here) smothered in cheese. When that's done, sprinkle with toppings of diced celery and carrots. Then, you can either have bowls of ranch and clue cheese on the side, or top it with your 'dip' of choice.
This is another recipe that pairs naturally with a cold beer, so pop open a bottle. Lemon-lime soda is also a great beverage choice.
Pretzel dessert nachos
In my world, pretzels exist solely to be combined with sweet flavors so I can enjoy the deliciousness that is sweet and salty at the same time. So this dessert nacho recipe from Take Two Tapas hits the nail on the head when it comes to that perfectly decadent combination.
And this recipe leaves nothing out when it comes to the sweets. Once you have your pretzels laid out, bust out your piping tube, fill it with marshmallow spread, warm it up and drizzle it on top. Repeat with peanut butter, then top it off with mini chocolate chips and toasted pecans (though you can use pistachios, almonds, or any other nut instead). Once everything has set a bit, you can grab a handful and watch the marshmallow mimic stretchy cheese.
I'd pair this with a cold glass of milk for the perfect dessert.
Apple nachos
If you're not into the marshmallow and peanut butter combo, fear not — there's other pretzel nacho recipes out there to fulfill your sweet and salty craving. And even though the base of this recipe from Delish is apples, after that there's no attempt to make it any healthier, so your sweet tooth will definitely be indulged.
Once you've thinly sliced some Granny Smith apples, all you need to do is drizzle melted white chocolate chips and caramel all over the top. Crumble a couple of Heath bars and add them to the mix. Then you're done! And while it's a simple recipe, the sweetness from the combined ingredients is super satisfying.
Since it's such a sugar bomb, I'd pair this with a lime-infused sparkling water to cleanse the palate.