Irish nachos are fantastic for parties or for watching the game. I also love to make white queso dip and waffle fry nachos whenever friends or family come over. I think nachos are one of the greatest food inventions. Crispy chips are pretty great on their own, but when you load them up with toppings and put them in the oven they become something magical – the ultimate appetizer! As much as I love the traditional chips-beans-cheese-salsa flavor combination, I think these Irish nachos are even better. This nachos hack uses potato chips instead of tortilla chips, and I continued the potato theme by topping these nachos with baked potato fixings. Best of all, you can assemble these nachos in minutes! I served these nachos at a party, and people absolutely loved them – they taste like a loaded baked potato, except you can eat them with your hands instead of a knife and fork. Irish nachos are sometimes made with roasted potato slices or wedges, but I chose to use the potato chips because it’s less work AND you just can’t get the same crunch from roasted potatoes.
Irish Nachos Ingredients
When you make Irish nachos you will need potato chips, cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream and a tomato.
How DO YOU make Irish Nachos?
Place potato chips on a pan or skillet and top them with a generous amount of shredded cheese. Next up is the bacon – you can cook your own or buy pre-cooked bacon, whichever you prefer! The bacon goes on top of the cheese and the whole pan goes into the oven until the cheese is melted. The final step is to add a good sized dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh tomatoes and chives. Serve these this dish immediately with plenty of napkins!
Tips for the Perfect Irish Nachos
When cooking the nachos in the oven, make sure they are not too close to the upper heating element. You want at least 3 inches of space. For even cheesier nachos alternate layers of cheese and chips so that the bottom chips get plenty of gooey cheese! Make sure when you place the cheese on the chips it doesn’t hang over the side of the pan. If the cheese hangs over the edge of the pan it might drip into the oven. These nachos are best when served immediately, as the chips can get soggy if they sit for too long with all the toppings.
Flavor variations
Like with most nachos, it’s all about the toppings. You can add any toppings you like! Here are some ideas to get you started!
Cheese: Feel free to use cheddar, mozzarella, American, Monterey Jack or other cheeses that melt well. You can mix and match your favorites! Sauce: You can top the chips will a beer cheese sauce like this beer cheese dip. Simply spoon the sauce over the chips after it thickens on the stove. Spicy: Bring the heat by placing pickled jalapenos on top of the cheese and bacon before it goes into the oven. Cold toppings: You can top the nachos with sliced green onions, pico de gallo, olive slices, guacamole or any other nacho toppings you like! Meat: Make the dish just a little more Irish by substituting the bacon for cooked pieces of corned beef.
These Irish nachos are great for St. Patrick’s Day, perfect for game day, or just for when you want a hearty and filling snack. It’s a unique offering that will have your guests begging for the recipe!
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