What to Serve with Nachos

Nachos are a beloved Tex-Mex dish featuring crunchy tortilla chips, gooey-melted cheese, and colorful toppings. Whether you’re having a game night with friends or just in the mood for a tasty snack, nachos are always a good choice.

Shake up regular nachos with my sheet pan birria nachos, loaded with tender shredded beef and a side of rich comsome for dipping.

Ditch tortilla chips and use crispy tater tots to make sheet-pan tachos with seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese, and your favorite toppings.

Guacamole without tomato is ready in 10 minutes! Serve it as a dip, or use it as a topping for your favorite nacho recipe. 

Don’t feel like making guacamole? Prepare homemade avocado lime crema!

Make super simple and fresh-tasting pico de gallo with vine-ripe tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice.

Prepare chunky salsa with cilantro and avocado with little to no work. The salsa combines simple ingredients, and it’s on the table in 20 minutes!

If you’re craving nachos with more of a tropical flavor, make sweet and spicy mango pico de gallo.

The homemade salsa is so good you will want to eat it with a spoon, and it’s a perfect topping for grilled chicken, fish, and nachos.

For a fresh spin on pickled onions, try marinated sumac onions! Serve the bright and tangy red onions with kabobs, salads, wraps, and nachos!

After trying homemade pickled jalapeños, you will want to always keep a jar on hand. Make the easy-to-make topping from simple ingredients, and there are so many ways to use them.

I usually serve creamy serrano crema with roasted Peruvian chicken, but the spicy green sauce tastes great with nachos. 

What are nachos without cheese? And gooey nachos aren’t just for ball games!

The creamy goodness of Velveeta cheese dip is the perfect way to finish nachos, especially when you’re feeding a crowd.

Transfer the sauce in a Crockpot or Instant Pot to keep it warm, and serve it on a table with other toppings for a fun and delicious nacho bar idea.

Our family can’t get enough mangos in the summertime! I mean – have you tried Indian mango lassi? 

For another fresh mango recipe, try mango corn salsa. The sweetness of the mango complements the more savory ingredients in the salsa. Serve it as a healthy dip with nachos, or spoon it over the top. 

Make chile con queso with authentic roasted New Mexican green chiles. The slightly spicy dip pairs perfectly with tortilla chips for nachos, and it’s ideal for Cinco de Mayo and game day celebrations like the Super Bowl!

Salsa verde combines roasted tomatillos and jalapeño peppers for a quick and easy salsa.

These extra-crispy baked chicken wings are a tasty main course, but they pair well with different nacho recipes at any party or get-together.  

Whether you top the chicken wings with a classic buffalo sauce, sweet BBQ sauce, or a fiery sriracha coating, wings are an excellent addition to the table. 

Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! Since you’re making nachos, why not melt extra shredded cheese between tortillas to make these loaded chicken quesadillas?

Enjoy crispy, golden air fryer mini tacos  – perfect for dunking in guacamole, chunky salsa, black bean corn feta dip, and warm nacho cheese.

This easy appetizer is a good idea for serving a large group when you need a lot of food to go around.

Combine fresh herbs, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado to make this easy, light side dish. 

Vegan Mexican rice simmers with tomato puree, vegetable broth, fresh jalapeños, and garlic for a highly concentrated and flavorful side to serve with steaming hot nachos. 

​Rich and creamy slow cooker refried beans topped with melty cheese or crumbled cotija cheese are a great addition to a crispy layer of tortilla chips.

Whether you spoon the beans onto the chips or serve them as a side dish, these refried beans are a great way to finish the meal.

Homemade coleslaw combines crisp vegetables like cabbage and carrots with fresh mint, cilantro, scallions, and zesty dressing – the coleslaw is a fantastic side dish or adventurous topping for nachos.

Serve nachos with healthy, refried black beans that simmer in the slow cooker. Layer them onto nachos or serve them on the side. 

Refreshing and tangy, this cucumber carrot salad is a perfect way to enjoy fresh vegetables.

Serve cilantro lime slaw as a crunchy side or topping. The tangy yogurt-based dressing complements savory meals like tacos, fried seafood, and nachos. 

Prepare refreshing Mexican fruit salad using sweet honey, fresh lime, and chili lime seasoning. The salad is a great option for summer potlucks, BBQs, or a nacho bar party with a Mexican theme.

Toss crispy roasted pumpkin seeds in a seasoning that’s the perfect blend of tangy and sweet. Sprinkle them on top of the nachos or serve them on the side.

Take simple nachos up a notch by piling them high with vegetable or meat toppings. 

One of my favorites will always be mouthwatering beef birria con consome – a flavorful blend of tender beef, rich broth, and aromatic spices.

Top it with fresh onion, cilantro, shredded cheese, and avocado slices. Serve the chili with warm corn tortillas, tostadas, or scoop it up with the chips from nachos.

Ladle creamy white chicken chili over the top of nachos or serve it in a bowl on the side for a perfect balance of flavor.

Authentic Instant Pot pozole rojo is a rich stew made from tender pork, hominy, and a savory chili-based broth. Pile your bowl high with fresh toppings like radishes, cilantro, cabbage, onions, and Mexican oregano.

Eat it as a main dish or shred the leftover pork to make flavorful pulled pork nachos. 

Guatemalan black bean soup is creamy, packed with flavor, and hearty enough to be a full meal, or it’s a perfect appetizer to serve before a delicious plate of nachos

Start your meal with Mexican picadillo soup, a comforting dish with classic picadillo flavor.

Tender and juicy carne asada is marinated and grilled to perfection to make the best street-style carne asada tacos.

For a more complete meal, try this restaurant-style carne asada platter.

Fill a warm tortilla with tender melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder and top it with fresh cilantro and red onion for Instant Pot carnitas.

Chicken tinga is spicy shredded chicken with chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, tomatoes, and onions – perfect for tacos, quesadillas, and nachos.

Air Fried Plantains are a quick and easy side dish or dessert to make, and they pair well with everything from Instant Pot beef stew to tacos and nachos.  

Fried plantains are irresistibly sweet and savory – learn how to cook plantains or Ghanaian-inspired kelewele. Fry them in a large skillet until perfectly caramelized and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.