Our 10 Best Creative Nacho Recipes

Super-Deluxe Steak Nachos
Super Deluxe Steak Nachos | Photo by Chef John.

Just in case you've fallen into a nacho rut, here are 10 different ways to dig yourself out, one cheesy, saucy, crispy, crunchy nacho at a time. Bonus: The last slide will help you crush at food trivia. #themoreyouknow

01 of 11

Buffalo Chicken Nacho Bowl

Buffalo Chicken Nacho Bowl
Buffalo Chicken Nacho Bowl | Photo by Amanda Frederickson. Amanda Frederickson

It's everything you love about Buffalo chicken, down to the hot sauce and blue cheese.

02 of 11

Shrimp and Jalapeño Nachos

DIGITAL CAMERA
DIGITAL CAMERA.

You're going to love this combination of succulent shrimp, zesty jalapenos, and silky avocado cream sauce. You can sub in crab if you like, or pickled jalapeños instead of fresh.

03 of 11

Italian Nachos Restaurant-Style

Italian Nachos Restaurant-Style
Italian Nachos Restaurant-Style | Photo by Christina.

Can't decide between pizza night and nacho night? Who says you have to?

04 of 11

Caribbean Nachos

Caribbean Nachos
Sherri

Spicy Caribbean jerk shrimp meets sweet pineapple for an island getaway, and you're invited to tag along.

05 of 11

Totchos Libre

Totchos Libre
Sheila LaLonde

Tater tots + nachos = a fun way to use up that bag of tots in your freezer.

06 of 11

Breakfast Nachos!

Breakfast Nachos!
Breakfast Nachos! | Photo by Linda T.

Who says you can't have nachos for breakfast? We sure don't. Crunchy potato chips topped with chorizo, eggs, and cheese sounds pretty good any time of day.

07 of 11

Outrageous Warm Chicken Nacho Dip

Outrageous Warm Chicken Nacho Dip
Marianne

We're here for any hot and cheesy snack with the word "outrageous" in the title, and we'll bet you are, too.

08 of 11

Beef Nacho Casserole

Beef Nacho Casserole
Beef Nacho Casserole | Photo by mis7up. Photo by mis7up

This has family-favorite written on it in melted cheese.

09 of 11

Super Deluxe Steak Nachos

Super-Deluxe Steak Nachos
Super Deluxe Steak Nachos | Photo by Chef John.

Go on and treat yourself to these mighty meaty steak nachos. Avocados, tomatoes, onions, and beans bring even more fun and flavor to the party in your mouth.

10 of 11

Chocolate Allspice Dessert Nachos

Dessert Nachos
Melissa Goff

Warm and melty chocolate and marshmallows over sugar-and-spice flour tortilla chips. Yes, please.

11 of 11

A Brief History of Nachos

nachos
Photo: Victori Protasio; Prop Style: Mindi Shaprio Levine; Food Style: Torie Cox.

Nachos have a backstory, and you can flash it out the next time you're elbow-deep in nachos with your friends. Because you crush at food trivia.

There really was a guy nicknamed Nacho who invented nachos. His name was Ignacio Anaya, and he was the maitre d' at the El Moderno restaurant in Piedras Negras on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.

One day in 1943, a group of wives from the Eagle Pass military base on the Texas side of the river came in for a bite, but the cook had stepped away. So Nacho donned the apron himself, and using what he found in the kitchen — tortillas, cheese, and jalapeños — he whipped up a a pile of mmm mmm good, earning him and it a spot in Snacktown's Hall of Fame. (If there really was one, Nacho's nachos would be in it.)

Mark your calendars to celebrate National Nachos Day on November 6.

Was this page helpful?