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What to Serve with Nachos

Whether you serve nachos for dinner or a snack, here are some tasty ideas for what to serve with nachos. Enjoy handpicked toppings, saucesappetizerssoups, and entrees to make your next meal or get-together a hit.

Cover image for what to serve with nachos.

Need a Nacho Recipe?

Birria nachos on a sheet pan.

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.

Tachos on a plate.

Ditch plain tortilla chips for crispy tater tots to make easy sheet-pan tachos. Finish the dish with seasoned ground beef, gooey nacho cheese, and all your favorite toppings!

Toppings for Nachos

1. Guacamole

Guacamole without tomato in a bowl.

Guacamole is a fuss-free topping for nachos, and you can make it as simple or complicated as you like.

If you prefer something more saucy, make homemade avocado lime crema!

2. Pico De Gallo

Pico de gallo in a serving bowl.

Whip up a fresh, flavorful pico de gallo with a handful of simple ingredients.

3. Chunky Salsa

Chunky salsa in a serving dish.

Try chunky salsa with cilantro and avocado. With a bit of chopping and mixing, the salsa is on the table in just 20 minutes!

4. Mango Pico De Gallo

Mango pico de gallo in a bowl.

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

It’s so good you will want to eat it with a spoon, and it’s an ideal topping for grilled chicken, fish, and of course, nachos.

5. Sumac Onions

Sumac onions in a serving bowl.

Pickled onions and nachos complement each other perfectly. Of course, you can go for classic red or pickled yellow onions, but why not put a fresh spin on the side with citrus-marinated sumac onions?

6. Pickled Jalapeños

A spoon scooping pickled jalapeños.

After making homemade pickled jalapeños, you will want to always keep a jar on hand. 

The topping calls for simple ingredients, and there are so many ways to use them.

Photo Credit: It’s Not Complicated

7. Serrano Crema

Serrano crema in a bowl.

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

8. Velveeta Cheese Dip

Velveeta cheese dip in a bowl.

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.

Photo Credit: Joyous Apron

9. Pineapple Corn Salsa

Pineapple corn salsa in a serving bowl.

It’s salsa time! Savory and sweet pineapple corn salsa is just what you need to serve with corn tortilla chips or use as a topping for burgerstacos, and fresh salad greens. 

10. Chile Con Queso

A bowl of chile con queso.

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!

Photo Credit: Food Meanderings

11. Salsa Verde

Salsa verde with tomatillo in a serving bowl.

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

12. Chipotle Lime Sauce

Chipotle lime sauce in a small bowl.

Add a smoky flavor to tacos, burrito bowls, salads, and nachos with creamy 5-minute chipotle lime sauce.

More Nacho Toppings

Don’t forget a few dollops of sour cream, hot sauce, chopped onions, fresh cilantroblack olives, green onions, sliced avocado, and fresh jalapeños as toppings for nachos!

While these simple ingredients don’t require a recipe, they taste just as good piled onto nachos. So when someone needs ideas for what to serve with nachos, these no-prep ingredients always top the list.

Appetizers

Finding tasty side dishes is easy when deciding what to serve with nachos since it’s a versatile meal. From simple sides like fresh salad to heartier additions such as beans, Spanish rice, or roasted vegetables, it’s easy to take nachos from a simple snack to a filling meal.

13. Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Wings with three different sauces.

These 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. 

More Chicken Wing Recipes:

14. Quesadillas

Chicken quesadillas stacked on a plate.

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

Photo Credit: The Foodie Physician

15. Jalapeno Poppers

A plate of jalapeño poppers.

Name a better duo than jalapeño poppers and nachos. The air fryer jalapeño poppers are loaded with cream cheese, garlic powder, sharp cheddar, and panko breading, making them a perfect pairing for nachos.

Photo Credit: Little Sunny Kitchen

16. Mini Tacos

Mini tacos on a plate.

Serve air fryer mini tacos on a party tray with nachos when you are feeding a crowd or need to stretch your spread.

Pair the crispy, golden tacos with guacamolechunky salsablack bean corn feta dip, and warm nacho cheese.

The Best Side Dishes for Nachos

The side dish options are endless when deciding what to serve with nachos. From simple sides like salad to heartier additions such as beans, rice, or vegetables, it’s easy to take nachos from a simple snack to a filling meal.

17. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad

Avocado cucumber tomato salad in a serving bowl.

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

18. Mexican Rice

Vegan Mexican rice in a serving 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. 

19. Refried Beans

A crockpot of refried beans.

​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.

Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

20. Purple Cabbage Coleslaw

Purple cabbage coleslaw in a serving bowl.

Purple cabbage coleslaw combines crisp vegetables like cabbage and carrots with fresh mint, cilantro, scallions, and zesty dressing. It’s a fantastic side dish or topping for nachos.

21. Refried Black Beans

A bowl of refried black beans.

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

Photo Credit: Bake It With Love

22. Cucumber Carrot Salad

Cucumber carrot salad in a bowl.

Tangy cucumber carrot salad is a perfect way to enjoy fresh vegetables alongside your favorite nacho tray.

23. Cilantro Lime Slaw

A bowl of cilantro lime slaw.

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

Photo Credit: The Healthful Ideas

24. Fruit Pico De Gallo

Fruit pico de gallo in a serving cup.

Fruit pico de gallo in a cup is a refreshing snack that’s easy to throw together and perfect for gatherings, summer potlucks, BBQs, or a nacho bar party with a Mexican theme.

25. Chili Lime Pepitas

A bowl of chili lime pepitas.

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

Photo Credit: The Honour System

What to Serve with Nachos—Soup and Stew!

Adding a comforting bowl of soupstew, or chili to nachos is a huge hit, especially during the cooler winter months.

26. Birria Con Consume

A bowl of birria con consome.

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

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

27. Chili Con Carne

Chili in a small bowl.

Serve chili con carne with warm corn tortillas, tostadas, or scoop it up with the chips from nachos.

28. White Chicken Chili

Instant pot white chicken chili in a small bowl.

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

More Chili Recipes:

29. Pozole Rojo

A bowl of pozole rojo.

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. 

30. Black Bean Soup

A bowl of black bean soup.

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

Photo Credit: A Taste for Travel

31. Picadillo Soup

Picadillo soup in a bowl.

Mexican picadillo soup is a comforting dish to serve on the side with nachos.

Best Main Courses for Nachos

32. Carne Asada Tacos

Three carne asada tacos with toppings.

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.

33. Soft Ground Beef Tacos

Soft ground beef tacos on a plate.

Prepare easy soft ground beef tacos for your next weeknight meal, complete with all your favorite toppings.

Or you can spread the taco meat onto homemade tortilla chips with cheddar cheese for the ultimate nachos.

Photo Credit: Recipes They Want

34. Carnitas

Instant Pot carnitas tacos on a plate.

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.

35. Chicken Tinga

Three up close chicken tinga tacos.

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

Photo Credit: Joyous Apron

What Dessert to Serve with Nachos?

Churros are a perfect dessert to serve with nachos. Drizzle the cinnamon sugar-coated and deep-fried pastries with warm caramel or rich chocolate sauce. For a lighter, reach for fruit salsa with diced strawberries, mangoes, pineapples, and kiwi, tossed with agave nectar and lime juice. You can also serve the nachos with a scoop of ice cream, like vanilla, dulce de leche, or cinnamon.

36. Plantains

Air fried plantains on a plate.

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.  

37. Kelewele

Plantains on a serving plate.

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.

More Dessert Ideas:

  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Mexican Rice Pudding
  • Flan
  • Fruit Empanada
  • Fried Ice Cream

What To Do With Leftovers

  • Refrigerate: Nachos are best served hot and fresh. However, if you end up with leftovers, wrap them in plastic and keep them in the fridge for 1-2 days.
  • Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the microwave or oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best meat for nachos?

Ground Beef: Ground beef is a classic choice, but you can use ground turkey or ground chicken for a light option. 

Chicken: Shredded or diced chicken works well, especially when seasoned with warm Mexican spices or simmered in salsa. You can use rotisserie chicken for convenience or cook and shred chicken breasts or thighs.

Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked pulled pork adds a rich, smoky flavor to nachos.

Steak: Thinly sliced and marinated steak, such as flank or skirt steak, is a solid option, but you can also use grilled carne asada. 

Chuck Roast: I love preparing a heaping pot of birria con consome and using some of the leftovers to make nachos.

Chorizo: Chorizo is a staple in many authentic Mexican food recipes. Crumble the spicy sausage over nachos for additional flavor. 

Brisket: Use juicy leftover beef brisket to make an out-of-the-box BBQ-flavored nacho plate, or try my brisket sliders.

What’s the best cheese for nachos?

Use traditional options like Velveeta, cheddar cheese, Monterey jack, Colby, or pepper jack. Try queso blanco, a mild and creamy cheese used in Mexican cuisine with a smooth and silky texture once melted. Oaxaca is a type of cheese with a stringy texture, similar to mozzarella, making it an excellent choice for nachos.

For the best results, consider mixing a few different kinds of cheese, or you can prepare a creamy cheese sauce by melting the cheese with milk or cream for a gooey, ballpark nacho cheese sauce.

More Recipe Collections:

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