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    Home » Party Food

    Nacho Bar

    Published: Mar 7, 2023 · Modified: Mar 7, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    Build your own Nacho Bar for an easy appetizer or main dish any night of the week, but especially on game day or a special movie night. With a base of tortilla chips and cheese, you can provide a variety of nacho toppings, including taco meat, chicken, refried beans, sliced black olives, and more. 

    A Nacho Party is super fun to host with amazing food that’s super easy to prepare and easy on the wallet. Be sure to include lots of yummy nacho toppings, like homemade pico de gallo, easy guacamole, and chopped fresh cilantro. Any leftovers can be assembled like our Six-Layer Nachos and frozen for a later date!

    close up of a pie plate of loaded nachos. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Money-Saving Tip
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • More Nacho Bar Ideas & Nacho Topping Ideas
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Nacho Bar

    I love a good party. And I love good eats. When the two come together — with as little work and mess as possible — I am beyond happy. Serving a nacho bar is ideal for a Super Bowl party or a backyard movie night.

    Or any night when you need a little comfort food. This fits the bill!

    A step up from chips and salsa, a nacho bar allows folks a fun DIY appetizer while they wait for the main event or with plenty of proteins, nachos can make a full meal. Serve lots of hot chips and cheese or a nacho cheese sauce, allowing diners to add their favorite toppings. 

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. A Nacho Bar is a really simple way to serve a crowd, especially when you’ve got a lot of nacho toppings for folks to choose from. You can keep hot ingredients ready in crock pots and slow cookers so a lot can be made ahead of time.

    It’s delicious. Nothing says, “YUM” like chips and queso of many kinds. You can add as many other toppings as you like for a nacho bar party that can’t be beat! It’s a perfect meal plan for picky eaters.

    It’s affordable. Since you don’t need to load up on a lot of pricey proteins, you can keep the cost of a Nacho Bar pretty low. Shop your kitchen and use what you have on hand for toppings, and watch for a chip sale at the store. This is a great budget-friendly meal kids love. It’s also one of those budget-friendly appetizers everyone raves about.

    Money-Saving Tip

    Remember you can freeze cheese that you won’t use right away. Package shredded or crumbled cheeses in portion sizes so you can whip up recipes in a matter of minutes.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need for your Nacho Bar:

    ingredients for nacho bar laid out on table.

    tortilla chips – Chips are the base of nachos. To keep your nacho bar interesting, offer a few different types or colors of chips. Blue corn and white corn chips look striking together. Air Fryer Tortilla Chips will take it over the top!

    cheese – You’ll need a good melting cheese for nachos, such as cheddar or Monterey jack. Our Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip, similar to a nacho cheese dip, is a great option as well. If you have a favorite queso recipe, definitely include it.

    Taco Meat – Ground beef or ground turkey cooked with taco seasoning is an easy protein to add to your Nacho Bar. You can also include Grilled Chicken Strips, Pulled Pork, or Shredded Beef. Barbacoa is a fun addition as well.

    beans – Beans, such as pinto beans, black beans, or refried beans canned beans are great on nachos. Remember you can cook dried beans quickly in the instant pot to save time and money over canned. Leftover beans are good to use in my versatile Instant Pot Bean Soup.

    salsa – Salsa is super easy to make yourself or buy your favorite jarred varieties.

    extra nacho toppings – Loaded nachos call for some yummy toppings that will really level up your nacho bar. Include avocado or guacamole, sour cream, sliced black olives, chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeno, and chopped fresh cilantro.

    Variations

    Here are some fun combinations to consider:

    Chicken Nachos: serve chips and Monterey jack cheese with shredded chicken, chopped green chiles, white beans, and chopped fresh cilantro.

    Buffalo Chicken Nachos: serve chips with Buffalo Chicken Bites and cheese with extra Frank’s Hot Sauce. Spicy Chicken Dip is excellent here.

    Chili Cheese Nachos: serve chips, cheddar cheese, and hot chili

    BBQ Nachos: serve chips, cheese, pulled pork, and barbeque sauce

    Taco Bar: since nacho toppings are so similar to taco fillings, consider laying out some corn tortillas or taco shells for folks to assemble tacos as well.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make nachos in a DIY Nacho Bar:

    two color chips in a brown pie plate.
    cheese atop chips in pie plate.
    meat, beans, and more cheese atop chips and cheese in pie plate.
    the finished plate of loaded nachos.

    Assemble your baking dishes. You can make individual plates of chips and melted cheese using pie plates or other small baking dishes so each person can have his own nachos plate. Or you can make Sheetpan Nachos to feed many people at once.

    You can broil the chips until the cheese is melted for a quick dish or bake the pan for about 10 to 15 minutes at 350, or until the cheese is melted. You can also heat the plates in the air fryer.

    (For easier cleanup, you can line the pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil or use disposable pie plates.)

    Serve the hot chips and cheese, allowing diners to add their favorite toppings. 

    FAQs

    What chips should you use for a nacho bar?

    Any tortilla chip is good for nachos, but having a mix of types is fun, such as white corn, blue corn, lime chips, Nacho Cheese Doritos, or even black bean chips.

    What should be on a nacho bar?

    In addition to chips and melted cheese, a nacho bar will also include cooked meats, beans, and other taco toppings, like chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, and avocado.

    How many pounds of meat do I need for a nacho bar?

    Allot ¼ to ⅓ pounds of meat per person. If you will have more than one kind of meat, the lower amount should suffice. 

    What are the best side dishes that complement nachos?

    Nachos are a finger food, so consider offering side dishes that can be eaten with your hands as well, such as taquitos, fruit skewers, cornbread muffins, or chicken wings. This makes for easier serving and fewer dishes to wash.

    What desserts go with a nacho bar?

    Since a nacho bar usually features Mexican foods, serve desserts that feature Mexican dessert flavors, such as cinnamon, caramel, and chocolate. Our Snowball Cookies (aka Mexican Wedding Cakes) are a perfect touch as well as our Easy Cinnamon Twists that resemble churros. Add a shot of Kahlua to our Cocoa Brownies for a tasty treat.

    What can you do with leftover nachos?

    Store leftover nacho toppings in separate, covered containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze meats, beans, and shredded cheese for longer storage. Cooked nachos can be repurposed in this Lawnmower Taco Casserole Recipe. (Add to a chip layer.)

    close up of plate of loaded nachos.

    More Nacho Bar Ideas & Nacho Topping Ideas

    • mango peach salsa on a blue corn tortilla chip over a bowl of salsa.
      Mango Peach Salsa Recipe
    • overhead shot of large spoonful of corn salad held above a bowl of salad.
      Corn Salad with Cilantro Dressing
    • hand holding chip piled with salsa above a marble pestle of salsa.
      Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa
    • brown pie plate holding taco layer dip.
      Taco Layer Dip Recipe (52 cents/serving)
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    the finished plate of loaded nachos.

    Nacho Bar

    Serve a fun nacho bar with tortilla chips and cheese dip, along with a variety of nacho toppings so that your diners can make their own plates with their favorite taco toppings.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: Cal-Mex, Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 1093kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $10

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz tortilla chips
    • 1 lb cheddar cheese (shredded)

    Optional nacho toppings

    • 1 batch Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip hot
    • 1 lb Taco Meat hot
    • 2 cup hot cooked beans, such as pinto, black, or refried beans canned beans can also be used
    • 1 cup salsa
    • 1 avocado or guacamole
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ½ cup sliced black olives
    • 2 green onions chopped
    • 1 tomato seeded and chopped
    • 1 jalapeno sliced
    • fresh cilantro (chopped)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Divide the tortilla chips among four pie plates. Top with cheese.
      16 oz tortilla chips, 1 lb cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • Add whatever toppings you like that can be heated, such as cheese dip, meat, and beans. Top with additional shredded cheese if you like. Place in oven until cheese is melted. You can also heat the plates in the air fryer.
      1 batch Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip, 1 lb Taco Meat, 2 cup hot cooked beans, such as pinto, black, or refried beans
    • Serve with cold nacho toppings.
      1 cup salsa, 1 avocado, ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup sliced black olives, 2 green onions, 1 tomato, 1 jalapeno, fresh cilantro (chopped)

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and will vary based on nacho toppings served.
    To keep things exciting, offer several types of chips, cheese, beans, and meat. This allows diners to choose exactly what they want and keeps the plates colorful.
    Store leftover toppings separately in the fridge for up to 4 days. Beans, meat, and cheeses can be frozen for later use.
    Variations
    Chicken Nachos: serve chips and Monterey jack cheese with shredded chicken, chopped green chiles, white beans, and chopped fresh cilantro.
    Buffalo Chicken Nachos: serve chips with Buffalo Chicken Bites and cheese with extra Frank’s Hot Sauce. Spicy Chicken Dip is excellent here.
    Chili Cheese Nachos: serve chips, cheddar cheese, and hot chili
    BBQ Nachos: serve chips, cheese, pulled pork, and barbeque sauce
    Taco Bar: since nacho toppings are so similar to taco fillings, consider laying out some corn tortillas or taco shells for folks to assemble tacos as well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1093kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1843mg | Potassium: 1065mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1087IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 250mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on May 30, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pam@behealthybehappywellness

      May 31, 2012 at 8:40 am

      Your nacho bar looks terrific! We often have build your own tacos or burritos for dinner. Both my kids love coming up with their own creations and it’s a good way to ensure they eat a healthy (and easy to prepare) dinner!

      Reply
    2. Cherry

      May 31, 2012 at 6:35 am

      Your Nacho Bar looks great – love foods like this!

      Reply
    3. Jackie

      May 31, 2012 at 5:00 am

      Great idea for party, Jessica. I usually build our own and call it nachos grande, but I like the idea of having a party with the baked chips and cheese. I’ll throw in some sneaky meat (I’ve added shredded veges to cooked taco meat, which I’ve frozen and reheated) and we’re good to go.

      Reply
    4. Wendy (The Local Cook)

      May 31, 2012 at 4:48 am

      I LOVE summer because it’s a great excuse to party 🙂 I’m linking up a recipe for a rhubarb cosmo – super delicious, and I’m definitely taking it to my next party.

      Reply
    5. Jen Blacker

      May 31, 2012 at 4:27 am

      Thank you for hosting today. I love appetizers but don’t often have parties. Instead I do an appetizer night every few months. For dinner I just make a bunch of different finger foods and we all sit on the floor, eat, and relax.

      I shared my Cream Cheese Bacon Crescents this week.

      Reply
    6. Denise

      May 31, 2012 at 3:21 am

      I love this idea, and plan on using it soon!
      I have a question about your beautiful plates. what are they, where did you get them–they are eye catching, and I’d love to more about them. Thanks [email protected]

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        May 31, 2012 at 6:09 am

        They are the Francesca design from Nancy Calhoun. I’m not sure they make them anymore, but I’ve purchased replacement pieces on ebay.

        Reply
    7. Lisa

      May 30, 2012 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks for hosting yet another great link party! The nacho bar is a great idea! I love to have appetizers available while I’m finishing up the main course. I linked up with Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Appetizers…so simple, and so good.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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