Treat yourself to these scrumptious Texas Nachos! These mouthwatering restaurant-style nachos are made with simple ingredients and feature fully loaded individual tortilla chips ensuring that every bite is as delicious as the last. Perfect for parties!
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When I first moved to Texas, I ate Tex Mex food pretty much nonstop ... I mean, who could resist? And I noticed something interesting about nachos right away. While some restaurants served the usual pile of nachos that you can get anywhere, many served nachos made with individual tortilla chips, each topped with the perfect amount of beans and cheese, plus a jalapeño slice.
I soon learned that those individually topped chips are known as Texas Nachos, and it didn't take long before they become a favorite of mine!
You are going to LOVE these scrumptious Texas Style Nachos! For one thing, they're less messy to eat. And each of these fully loaded tortilla chips has the ideal amount of toppings. Unlike regular nachos, where you might get one chip that's totally overloaded and another that has nothing on it, each bite has the perfect amount of beans and cheese!
Pair this yummy snack with your favorite toppings, like sour cream, salsa, and guacamole, served alongside so everyone can customize their chips to taste (perfect for picky eaters!). You can make this recipe with just cheese and jalapeños (like the original nachos) or add refried beans, like I did. Whatever way you top them, these are the perfect nachos!
Ready to start eating? Then keep reading for all the delicious details!
Ingredients
This meatless recipe uses basic ingredients that you can find in any grocery store! Here's what you'll need:
- Tortilla Chips - For best results, choose thicker tortilla chips that can stand up to the toppings. If you're feeling ambitious, you could also make your own tortilla chips.
- Beans - You'll top the tortilla chips with a generous spread of refried beans. I used Siete Refried Beans, which are vegetarian and vegan friendly (no lard). Use the beans as-is, or season them with a little cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder for extra flavor, like I did.
- Cheese - Of course, you'll need some cheese! The original nachos were made with colby cheese, and that works great. You could also use colby jack cheese, medium cheddar, Monterey Jack, longhorn cheese, pepper jack, or a mixture of cheeses. For the best, most gooey results, make sure to grate the cheese yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
- Jalapeños - These easy nachos have a signature topping: a sliced jalapeño! These pickled peppers (I used La Costeña) add a bright, spicy contrast to the rich beans and cheese. If you can't take the heat, feel free to use mild peppers, serve them on the side, or leave them off.
Tip: If you're vegetarian or vegan, take care when purchasing the refried beans! Many traditional varieties contain lard. These Siete beans and these Rosarita beans are two good vegan options.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl to warm the beans, as well as a large baking sheet (or two) to bake the nachos. The Circulon baking sheets are my fave! I prefer to spread the beans with a butter knife, but any sort of small spreader (or even the backside of a spoon) will work.
How to Make Texas Nachos
These yummy Tex Mex Nachos couldn't be easier to make, though you do need to give each chip a little attention! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Warm + season beans. Transfer the beans to a medium bowl, then gently warm them in your microwave. Then stir in the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Tip: Warming the beans makes them easier to spread.
- Spread beans on chips. Using a butter knife, spread each tortilla with a thin layer of beans.
- Top beans with cheese. Next, top each tortilla chip with a generous pinch of shredded cheese.
- Add jalapeño. Place a jalapeño slice on top of each tortilla.
- Bake. Cook the nachos just until everything is hot and the cheese is melted.
- Serve with your favorite toppings. Eat the plain nachos as-is, or serve with your favorite toppings. You'll find lots of easy ideas below!
Don't those finished Texas Nachos look delicious? This is a crowd-pleasing recipe that won't stick around long!
Variations
While traditionalists might tell you there are no substitutions, we like to get creative around here! A few simple variations to try:
- No Beans - The beans are optional. In fact, the original nachos were made with just cheese + jalapeños! Feel free to make your Nachos Texanos with or without them, depending on your personal preference.
- Black Beans - Use black refried beans instead of the classic variety.
- No Jalapeños - Can't take the heat? Leave the jalapeños off and serve them on the side instead. You could also substitute mild jalapeño peppers.
- Cheese - As mentioned above, you can make this recipe with all different types of cheeses. If you want to go classic, use colby cheese or longhorn cheese. You could also use a colby jack cheese, medium cheddar, or Monterey Jack (or a mixture of cheeses). Like a little heat? Make them with pepper jack.
- Vegan - Use vegan refried beans, plus your favorite plant-based cheese. Make sure to choose a cheese that melts well, like these VIOlife Just Like Colby Jack Shreds. Pair with vegan toppings, like cilantro, guacamole, and salsa.
- Loaded - Don't forget to serve your favorite toppings alongside these Lone Star Nachos! You'll find lots of tempting ideas below.
Topping Ideas
You can enjoy these simple nachos as-is, but they're even more delicious with a few flavorful toppings! I recommend serving the toppings alongside the nachos, so everyone can choose their favorites. Here are some ideas to try:
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Mexican Crema
- Guacamole (or Guacamole without Tomatoes)
- Diced Avocado
- Avocado Crema
- Thinly Sliced Red Onion
- Pickled Onions
- Sliced Green Onions
- Chopped Cilantro
- Diced Tomatoes
- Sliced Olives
- Hot Sauce
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with these authentic, restaurant-style nachos? I love pairing them with other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes to keep the theme going! They're versatile, too ... serve them as part of an appetizer spread or even as a main dish.
Whether you're planning a party or just a fun weekend dinner, I love serving them with tacos (like these crunchy Black Bean Tacos or these quick Tofu Tacos), enchiladas (try my Black Bean Cream Cheese Enchiladas or my Harvest Veggie Enchiladas), fajitas (you'll love these Easy Veggie Fajitas and for a twist on a classic, these yummy Halloumi Fajitas), or a Roasted Veggie Quesadilla or Veggie Stuffed Chiles Rellenos. You could even serve them with a homey casserole, like this Veggie Taco Casserole or this Mexican Lasagna! For something lighter, pair them with this Tex Mex Sweet Potato Salad or this Mexican Kale Salad.
Related Recipes
Looking for more Tex-Mex and Mexican inspired appetizer ideas? Try one of these delicious recipes next:
- Bell Pepper Nachos - A fun (and tasty) recipe made with mini peppers rather than chips.
- Homemade Guacamole - My go-to recipe ... the best!
- Black Bean Hummus - A creative Tex-Mex twist on the classic dip. Try this Chipotle Hummus, too.
- Watermelon Salsa - So delish in summer!
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa - You'll love the fresh flavors.
- Mexican Spinach Dip - A south-of-the-border twist on baked spinach dip.
- Black Bean Taquitos - This crispy snack is baked (not fried) and absolutely irresistible!
- Mini Tostadas - These bite-sized tostadas make a fun party appetizer.
- Baked Black Bean Dip - Perfectly cheesy and oh so delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Texas Nachos are individual tortilla chips topped with a layer of refried beans, shredded cheese, and a sliced jalapeño before baking. The toppings are added directly to each chips rather than piled over a bunch of chips like regular nachos.
Nachos were invented in 1940 by Ignacio Anaya (whose nickname was Nacho) at the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico. The story goes that a group of army wives from across the border in Eagle Pass, Texas stopped by the Victory Club after shopping, looking for a drink and bite to eat. The kitchen was closed, but Ignacio made them a quick snack of totopos (tortilla chips) topped with melted cheese and a jalapeño slice. They were a hit, and the women dubbed them Nacho's Special. The nachos quickly became a standard dish on the Victory Club's menu! Read more about Ignacio and the history of nachos.
Nachos are Mexican. The original nachos were created by Ignacio (Nacho) Anaya in Piedras Negras, Mexico in 1940. However, they quickly became popular in Texas and considered an integral part of Tex-Mex cuisine.
The secret to good homemade nachos is choosing the perfect balance of flavors and texture. Choose thicker tortilla chips that can stand up to the toppings, make sure to use freshly shredded cheese (it melts better), and choose a variety of toppings with a balance of rich, fresh, and spicy flavors. Don't go overboard with the toppings though, or your nachos will be soggy and difficult to eat (less is more).
Texas Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce / 454 gram) can refried beans
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- pinch kosher salt
- 30 to 40 tortilla chips
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (see note)
- 1 (12 ounce / 340 gram) can pickled jalapeño slices
Equipment
- Baking Sheet (use two if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Transfer beans to a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave just until warm (about 1 minute).
- Stir in cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- Using a butter knife, spread a layer of beans on each chip. Place chips in a single layer on baking sheet when done. (Use two baking sheets, if needed.)
- Top each chip with a generous pinch of cheese.
- Place a jalapeño slice on each chip.
- Bake nachos until hot and cheese is melted (about 10 minutes).
- Serve nachos immediately, plain or alongside your choice of toppings (such as cilantro, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole). Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
