When life gives you leftovers, make nachos. From game day to easy weeknight dinners, this Leftovers Nachos recipe gives a great appetizer a main dish makeover.
Table of Contents
Great Nachos For Busy Nights
Whether you need to make a big platter for Cinco de Mayo or your weekly game night, a great plate of nachos takes you far with very little effort needed—especially when you’re using leftovers. Double whammy, right? You get to eat one of your favorite finger foods and clean out the fridge? That’s a win in my book.
I had some leftover chicharrón (roasted pork), leftover corn and a partially used can of green chiles, so I pulled out the baking sheet and began to layer on the goodness. Six cheeses later, this was a great naughty dinner treat just for me. I almost ate the whole pan, but I had to stop myself. I know.
I used the Mexican blend of shredded cheese, which includes four types. I also added cotija and pepper jack cheese because they were in the fridge. I dolloped on Greek yogurt and fresh tomatoes to make myself feel less guilty. Veggies are good for you, right? Don’t they cancel out the cheese?
I loved this method. Each chip had lots of melty cheese and the nachos were nice and hot. I’ll definitely be making these again when I have other leftovers to use up.
Leftovers Nachos
Ingredients
- Tortilla Chips
- Cheese, like pepperjack, cheddar, monterey jack
- Leftovers, Any meat and/or veggies
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Tomatoes
Instructions
- PREP: Layer some tortilla chips onto a sheet pan
- SPRINKLE: Top with cheese. True nachos are covered with gooey cheese so go wild!
- ASSEMBLE: Evenly distribute your toppings of choice.
- LAYER: Add another layer of chips then more cheese, toppings…and extra cheese for good measure.
- BAKE: Bake for 10 minutes in a 350-degree oven.
- TOP: Top with sour cream or yogurt dollops and fresh diced tomato.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ingredients for easy sheet pan nachos
- Tortilla Chips. Crispy chips are the key here. I recommend corn chips as they have a little more heft and can withstand all the toppings.
- Cheese. The best cheese to use is the one you love most. I recommend using a mix of different cheeses, such as sharp cheddar cheese, taco blend pre-shredded cheese and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Leftovers. This is where your creativity comes in! Try a mix of hot and cold toppings. I love the combination of melted cheese with freshness from red onion or black olives.
- Sour cream. Sour cream is the classic choice, but Greek yogurt provides similar tang and coolness but with a bit more protein.
- Tomatoes. Chop fresh tomatoes or make your own pico de gallo mix.
See the full recipe card for servings and a full list of ingredients.
How to make oven-baked nachos
- Prep: Layer some tortilla chips onto a sheet pan.
✔️ PRO TIP
Start with a single layer of chips that overlap slightly as a strong base for the toppings.
- Sprinkle: Top with cheese. True nachos are covered with gooey cheese so go wild!
- Assemble: Evenly distribute your toppings of choice.
- Layer: Add another layer of chips then more cheese, toppings…and extra cheese for good measure.
- Bake: Bake for 10 minutes in a 350-degree oven.
- Top: Top with sour cream or yogurt dollops and fresh diced tomato.
How to serve oven nachos
One of my favorite ways to serve nachos is straight from the pan, but this easy meal can easily be spruced up. Try making a nacho bar of various leftovers and toppings and let your family and friends make their own perfect plate. Since it’s such quick prep, everyone can pick their favorite toppings and have dinner in just ten minutes. Take your nachos to the next level with fresh toppings and taco seasonings like cayenne pepper, chili powder, hot sauce, lime crema and green onions. There’s really no wrong way to eat nachos so follow your heart!
Storage
Leftover nachos? Never heard of them. But if you have some, you can store them in an airtight container for up to three days.
Frequently Asked Questions
No one likes soggy nachos and it can be pretty easy to avoid! I recommend using a heftier chip for stability and making sure you don’t overdo the toppings on each layer. Also, make sure you’re putting cheese on the chips before any other toppings since the melted cheese is the glue that keeps everything together!
When I think of classic nachos, I think of beans, that yellow nacho cheese and sour cream with jalapeños. But don’t forget, that nachos can be any and everything you want them to be so follow your heart when it comes to these easy nachos.
