If you're craving nachos but aren't buying or ordering them, try making them at home. Baked nachos are quick and easy to make. Not only do they require a few easy-to-find ingredients, but the procedure doesn't make the kitchen too dirty. Simply place a handful of tortilla chips on a baking sheet, garnish them as you wish and bake them until the cheese has melted. In this way, you will be able to prepare a delicious and crunchy snack in just a few minutes. You can use it both to have a midnight snack and to serve it as a full meal by making the appropriate adjustments.
Ingrediants
- 1 bag of large corn chips
- 1-2 cups of fresh cheese, grated or cut into strips
- Sliced jalapeño peppers
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Corn
- Black beans
- Black olives
- Sour cream
- guacamole
- Mexican tomato sauce
- Coriander
- Ground beef, chicken, or another source of protein (optional)
- Optional additional seals (optional)
Doses for 2-3 servings
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Bake the Nachos
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 180 ° C
Free the center rack and let it heat while you make the nachos.
Setting a low temperature allows you to heat the ingredients evenly, without risking burning the chips
Step 2. Prepare a large baking sheet by greasing it with olive oil or cooking spray
Care must be taken: if the cooking surface is not greased, melted cheese and other similar ingredients can stick to the bottom and harden. Greasing the pan should prevent this from happening, even if large amounts of cheese are used.
- The non-stick cookware can be easily cleaned with a cloth. This way you won't waste time and energy.
- Choose a roasting pan or deep roasting dish that fits all the ingredients you plan to use to make nachos.
Step 3. Place the corn chips at the bottom of the pan
Spread them out to the edges and be sure to spread them out as flat as possible. In this way, they will support the sauce better and are unlikely to break.
- Choose chunky corn chips so they can withstand even the heaviest toppings.
- Try to overlap the edges of the chips so that there are no open spaces between them.
Step 4. Cover them with grated cheese or cut into strips
Spread the cheese evenly over the chips. Use as much as you like - a handful should be enough for smaller portions, and a whole packet for a party.
- Freshly grated cheese tends to melt better than variants cut into strips and wrapped.
- To keep the nachos crunchy and creamy at the same time, make 2 layers of chips and cheese.
Step 5. Add the remaining ingredients
Once the first layer is complete, you can add as many other toppings as you like. Here are some of the most popular: fresh tomatoes, diced red onion, black olives, refried beans, jalapeño peppers, corn and black beans. Remember to evenly coat the fries.
- For a smoother result, sprinkle larger amounts of cheese over the fries.
- Experiment with various types of toppings as well. Try pairing them with bacon, blue cheese and sliced shallots or serve them as if they were fajitas stuffed with caramelized peppers and onions.
Part 2 of 3: Bake and Garnish the Nachos
Step 1. Bake the nachos for 5-10 minutes
Place them on the center rack of the oven and let them cook until the cheese has melted completely. Keep an eye on them to prevent them from overcooking than necessary.
- Turn on the oven light to better control them and take them out of the oven at the exact moment when cooking ends.
- Make sure to take them out of the oven before the fries begin to brown on the edges.
Step 2. Complete the preparation with any cold toppings
Freshly baked nachos are piping hot, so let them cool for 1 to 2 minutes. At this point, you can add some cold ingredients. Top them with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, or Mexican salsa, then top with a few sprigs of chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime.
- Add the cold toppings just before serving the nachos. If you let them sit too long, they may get mushy.
- Ingredients such as sour cream and guacamole should not be heated, otherwise you risk altering the flavor.
Step 3. Use some spices
If you prefer spicy nachos, you can use other toppings, such as fresh jalapeño peppers, roasted poblano peppers, or cayenne pepper. You can also use hot sauce or chipotle pepper to add subtle smoky notes.
If you have guests who don't like pungent flavors, serve the spicy toppings separately
Part 3 of 3: Making Nachos for Any Occasion
Step 1. Make a single serving of nachos
If you want to treat yourself to a tasty snack, use about half a bag of corn chips, otherwise calculate an approximate single portion considering the amount of chips you would be able to eat alone. Mix them with the other ingredients (measured in small doses) and bake them for about 5 minutes. In this way, you will be able to prepare enough of it to satisfy your hunger, while avoiding any leftovers.
Nachos-based snacks are perfect for picking up in the afternoon or preparing a tray of nibbles to munch on in front of a movie
Step 2. Prepare a tray of nachos for a party
If you don't know what to offer your guests, homemade nachos are a simple and practical idea. Just use a large baking sheet to make sure you can cook them all at once.
- Arrange the toppings in a buffet style so that all guests can customize the nachos to their liking.
- Serve the nachos in disposable plates and invite guests to eat them with their hands, that way you don't have to worry about serving them to every single person and you won't have to do a lot of cleaning after the party.
Step 3. Include a source of protein
Just add ground beef, chicken, sausages or even a fried egg to turn a simple plate of nachos into a hearty lunch or dinner. The chosen protein source should be cooked considering that it must be ready when you need to add the second layer of garnish, so you can mix it with the nachos while it is hot. With its high satiating power, this dish is perfect when you're hungry.
Garnish the nachos with smoked marinated chicken or pulled pork with barbecue sauce. You will be able to prepare a meal inspired by American fast food
Step 4. Make vegetarian nachos
Nachos are certainly not reserved for meat lovers only. It is a very easy dish to change even for those who follow a vegetarian diet. In fact, many nachos without animal products are considered suitable for vegetarians. If you are vegan, just replace the cheese made from cow's milk with the vegetable cheese of your choice.
- To make them more full-bodied, add tofu, sweet potatoes, or baked tempeh.
- Vegans should make sure that corn chips and other packaged products do not contain ingredients of animal origin.
Step 5. Enjoy your meal
Advice
- Making nachos at home is a great way to use up leftovers from your fridge or pantry.
- All ingredients should be bite-sized in order for the nachos to be easy to eat.
- If you're on a strict calorie diet, use low-fat cheese made from skim milk.
- Baked nachos are perfect for making a quick and easy dinner.
- Stock up on all the ingredients you need, so you can quickly make nachos when you need them.
- Serve nachos to your friends when you invite them to a party or to a game.
