Toppings make a world of difference when you’re serving nachos. While everyone can have different ideas on the best toppings for nachos, some are quite common.
Besides, you don’t always have to stay with conventional recipes. Experimenting and following your instincts can make for amazing food and toppings.
Try out our ideas for the toppings and we’re sure you’ll love your nachos even more!
Top Toppings For Your Nachos
1. Guacamole
Guacamole is one of the classic toppings for nachos and it still holds up pretty great! The creamy and fresh guacamole is perhaps the best way to enjoy nachos.
It brings heat to the food, while also adding to the texture and overall flavor. Want something more? Give this combo the company of some melted cheese and your dish is going to be fantastic.
2. Grilled Chicken
Throw in some grilled chicken with the nachos and you’ve got something very delicious. This combination works by itself, but you might find that it wants some flavor. Season it with taco seasoning, and it’s going to taste legendary!
3. Ground Turkey
Got some ground turkey all cooked up and ready to enjoy? Well, it will go fabulously with nachos. Honestly, this is also a great way to deal with ground turkey leftovers. Nachos will make a proper meal out of them!
4. Ground Beef
Ground beef is one of the most enjoyed nacho toppings. It’s delicious and easy to make. A quick browning of the meat should get it ready for a tango with the nachos. Add some seasoning for a dash of flavor and you’ve got something very delicious on your hands.
5. Cheese
Don’t forget to say cheese to your nachos. Cheese is one of the most common nacho toppings and it works great. There are plenty of choices here, but think of picking cheese that melts with some ease. Cheddar is a lovely choice, but you can also consider pepper jack or monterey jack.
6. Avocado
Guacamole is an amazing topping for nachos. But, if you can’t work with that, chunks of avocado should fit in just fine. Diced avocado works well with nachos, especially if you want something that tastes a bit mild.
7. Shrimp And Avocado
Want avocado for topping your nachos? It doesn’t necessarily have to be plain or guacamole. Avocado and shrimp make a wonderful couple to pair with nachos. Add some sliced avocado and grilled shrimp, top it up with some lime juice, monterey jack cheese, and sliced jalapenos.
8. Black Beans
Beans in general will go great with nachos. You could pretty much pick any bean you like, prepare it, and top it on some nachos. Black beans are my favorite, though I think lima beans make for a good choice as well.
9. Eggs And Bacon
Eggs, bacon, nachos. What’s not to like?!
Top the tortilla chips with eggs prepared in whatever way you like. Then add some bacon and round up this combination with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.
10. Chicken And Pineapple
Pineapple as a topping has been made infamous with pizzas. But let’s face it, those pizzas do sell pretty well and there are plenty of people who love that topping.
Thankfully, no such controversy exists for pineapples on tortilla chips! Top the tortilla chips with grilled/BBQ chicken and match grilled pineapple for the treat. Shredded BBQ chicken with grilled pineapple could very well be just the taste and texture combo you want for your nachos.
11. Sour Cream
Add a drizzle of sour cream and it will work just fine as a topping. A dollop is okay too, but that might turn out too much. Sour cream is also good with other toppings. It makes some of the spicier ones milder and provides a nice contrast and coolness to some hot and spicy toppings.
12. Banana Chips (Plantain) + Topping
The banana we usually consume is the cavendish. However, this plant has several types of offerings, including the other common variety, Plantain. These are great for cooking and usually aren’t nearly as sweet as cavendish.
For your nachos, you can use plantain chips and cover them with the topping of your choice. The tortilla and plantain chips combo seems weird to some (chips and chips).
So, if you prefer, you can remove the tortilla chips, and enjoy the nachos with the plantain chips and the topping of your choice.
13. The Traditional
How about sticking with the old way of managing the toppings for nachos? Put together some chopped jalapenos, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, black olives, and cheddar cheese.
Throw in some ground beef and you’ve got a filling and somewhat decadent topping for your nachos.
14. Pico de Gallo
Pico de Gallo is a well known Mexican salsa. It’s a rich and wonderful addition that usually amps up the overall flavor of food. It’s conventionally made from onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice.
Some variations of Pico de Gallo may also include jalapeno for spiciness, while others may use peaches for a fruity sweetness. Read the labels and pick what works best for you!
15. Sweet Corn
A touch of sweet corn gives nachos a touch of a sweet and savory freshness. You could get the corn after making corn on the cob and put it on the nachos. Some cheese on top will complete the flavor and texture profile, though it’s not really a necessity.
16. Pulled Pork
Pulled pork comes with a savory sweetness that makes it quite a delicious treat. The meat is juicy, tender, and goes fabulously as a topping for nachos. For a deeper flavor profile, you could consider adding more ingredients like shredded lettuce, BBQ sauce, or ranch dressing.
17. Chorizo
Pork goes well with nachos. Chorizos even more so. They’re quite a treat to enjoy with nachos, though you’ll usually want a few extra ingredients to fix the taste and feel. Adding a few bits of pineapple for freshness or perhaps other toppings should get the job done.
18. Salmon
Feeling like fish and nachos? Some shredded salmon goes wonderfully with the tortilla chips. Need more flavoring?
Add in some BBQ sauce. Some people suggest fish sauce too, but that’s not as good a fit in this scenario. One of the key properties of salmon is that it doesn’t taste fishy, especially when fresh.
Adding fish sauce will take away a key property from the recipe. Once you’ve added salmon and BBQ sauce, seal the deal with some melted cheese.
19. Tater Tots
Can you add tater tots to nachos? Well, yes. Also, you had me at tater tots!
Though the tortilla chips and tater tots combo is delicious, it leaves something to be desired. That’s because they’d both be hanging around separately in the same dish. To complete the texture and flavor, we’ll need more ingredients.
That ingredient could very well be some nicely melted cheese. Cheddar works just fine. Though you can also add more ingredients like bacon and some veggies to complete the look and texture.
20. Fried Chicken
We’ve seen plenty of recipes with shredded chicken, where the fried chicken lovers at? Fried chicken is a bit unusual for this recipe, but it feels right at home when you chomp down on it.
Chop some fried chicken strips and mix them up with some cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Now that’s a meal you’ll love!
21. Jalapenos
Jalapenos show up in several toppings for nachos, but they can be the star of the show all by themselves as well. The idea is really simple.
Acquire jalapenos. Get them some action with melted cheese and pour on top of tortilla chips. You’re ready to rock.
Want more flavors and action? Shredded lettuce, black beans, even chorizos can make the combo you’ve always wanted!
22. Queso
Queso is a wonderful companion for nachos and we’ve all very likely enjoyed this food in all its goodness. Sometimes also known as nacho cheese, queso makes for a wonderful dip that accompanies the tortilla chips with excellence.
23. Scallions
You can use scallions or green onions for a touch of freshness to your nachos. They add a nice crunch and an interesting flavor. However, scallions are best used in conjunction with other ingredients for toppings to better match the taste and expected texture.
24. Olives
Olives are one of the most common and traditional toppings for nachos. Black olives fit the role pretty well. Slice them and add them to the tortilla chips. If you prefer, you can use some melted butter for flavor and texture.
25. Onion And Pepper
A few sliced bell peppers and onions can make for a lovely topping. The combination makes for a lovely topping that adds both texture and flavor.
26. Chili
Get your choice of chili and use it to top nachos. The solution seems so simple that it might even be crude. However, the chili and tortilla chip combination is something your tastebuds will absolutely love.
27. Fruits
Want to swing the non-traditional way? Fruits can make for a wonderful topping for nachos. The idea is somewhat in contrast with the usual toppings which tend to be savory. However, the fruity flavors and sweetness can be remarkably useful for several toppings.
Mango salsa is a good option if you don’t want to go too far from the conventional trajectory of preparing nachos. Or, you could just use several fruits carefully added to the food to make a nachos dessert that’s impossible to forget.
Some Super Cool Nacho Recipes For You To Enjoy
Many nacho recipes can work their wonder with tortilla chips and one of the toppings listed here. But, let’s look at a couple of recipes to get it all ready in a clean and delicious way.
Many conventional recipes still go the old way, though with modern ideas, you can work with newer appliances. Air fryers, for example, are great for creating toppings and getting your nachos ready.
For example, top some tortilla chips with meat, beans, jalapenos, black olives, and cheese, and give it some time in the air fryer. Pretty soon, you’ll have your perfectly crafted nachos ready to roll.
If you’re in a hurry, simply adding some guacamole to the tortilla chips will get the job done for you. Those fond of more moisture and flavors will love the effect that black beans bring to the nachos.
Conclusion
Popular and versatile as nachos are, there are countless ideas and options to make the best toppings for nachos that you’ll love. Take a look at some of the suggestions above to see if there’s a right fit for you. Or, experiment to your will until you find a combo that’s fun for your tastebuds.