Nobody can underestimate or deny the majesty of nachos. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, nachos are the ultimate party food – for game day, for graduation – even for a fun, romantic dinner for two (especially when paired with one, two or more glasses of beer). Seriously, who Doesn’t love nachos?
Nachos are great because you can transform them from anything into everything. Just imagine if you could wake up one day and be a different form of yourself, with a different superpower than you possessed the day before. That’s nachos.
However, nachos are so versatile that you need to consider your options before diving in. But we are here to help.
To have a great tray of nachos, just pick and choose at least one ingredient from each of the following lists. Combine your choices, layer them with care, and bake! Then, try a new combo next time, and so on down the line. It’s not like you’ll ever get sick of eating nachos anyway. That’s impossible.
Chips
You can by one of the following, or mix and match, to lay a great foundation for your nacho tower.
- Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (Thin and crispy)
- Dipping Style Tortilla Chips (Crunchy)
- White, Yellow, or Blue Corn Chips (Hearty and crunchy)
- Unsalted Tortilla Chips
Cheese
Obviously, cheese is an essential ingredient. How else will you convince your friends that the unholy mass of cheesy chips you just lifted off the plate is actually one chip? You will be doing yourself a favor by combining at least two of the following cheeses for maximum flavor diversity.
- Cheddar (Mild, Sharp, Extra Sharp)
- Jack (Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack)
- Queso Blanco
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Blue Cheese
Beans
Some assortment of beans will provide texture, flavor, and vegetarian protein.
- Refried Beans (traditional)
- Black Beans (Nice texture)
- Kidney Beans (Hearty)
- Chickpeas (Healthy)
- Lentils (Healthier)
Peppers
No nacho ever suffered from the addition of a spicy pepper. However, anything above and beyond these peppers may risk tongue-scorching and distract your taste buds from more pressing, nuanced complexities.
- Jalapeno pepper (pickled or not)
- Long Hots
- Poblano Pepper
Meat
Although not necessary, these meats will enhance your overall experience and provide more opportunity for experimentation.
- Chicken
- Beef (Ground beef is common, and for good reason)
- Pork (Bacon is best)
Don’t make the mistake of baking nachos without including some form of tomatoes and onions. These additions are of the utmost importance!
Also, in the category of miscellany, feel free to throw on black olives, shredded potatoes, spinach, avocado, or shredded iceberg lettuce.
Don’t forget to add pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, bbq sauce on top or on the side for dipping. Keep a bottle of hot sauce nearby too, for added kick and flavor.
In the end, this list should serve only as a launching pad for your own creative endeavors in the nacho universe. Countless galaxies of combinations exist, and simply wait to be discovered by your nacho intuition, ingenuity and hunger for more.
