Get nacho recipes for days to celebrate the holiday
Nov. 6 marks National Nachos Day and we’re so here for it at culture.
Historically, nachos are a simple meal that surged in popularity during the ’50s from humble beginnings. “Supposedly, in 1943 several ladies on a shopping trip wandered into the Victory Club restaurant after it had closed,” says writer Virginia Hyde in a culture article from 2014. “Not wanting to turn paying customers away, Ignacio Anaya, [a maître d’ turned chef], made the simple dish and called it Nachos Especiales.” Hyde tracked down a recipe for nachos from a mid-century Texas church cookbook, which reads as follows: “Cut a stack of corn tortillas into 4 wedges. Fry them in about an inch of vegetable oil till crisp. Place on a baking sheet and top liberally with longhorn cheddar cheese and jalapeño pepper slices. Bake at 400 degrees till melted and bubbling. Serve with salsa and sour cream if desired.”
According to Hyde, somehow nachos found their way onto menus in Los Angeles. There, actors like Jack Nicholson ordered them at El Cholo, a Mexican restaurant that’s an institution today. Nachos also started being sold at Texas Rangers baseball games in Arlington, Texas, where a cheese sauce was developed on the cheap. This style of liquid cheese would go on to capture the hearts and stomachs of Americans, and it’s one you can still find at movie theaters and fast food restaurants pretty much anywhere across the country.
We’ve got a slew of recipes to help you celebrate National Nachos Day. Scroll for everything you need to make the classic Tex-Mex dish and several variations. No matter your preference, dinner is guaranteed to be delicious (and cheese-laden) tonight.
Chile Con Queso
No plate of nachos would be complete without the perfect recipe for nacho cheese. This one is velvety, has kick, and goes especially well with totchos—as in tater tot nachos. Drooling yet?
Plantain Nachos with Grilled Corn, Jack, & Cotija
This recipe is inspired by Esquites, a traditional Mexican street food.
Pita Chip Nachos with Feta & Citrus Tapenade
A Mediterranean variation on nachos.
Pappadum Nachos with Lebaneh & Coriander Chutney
And a Middle Eastern version you can load up with plenty of Bezi labneh.
Endive Nachos with Lemon-Ricotta, Salmon, & Capers
A classy and sophisticated take for tonight’s girl dinner that’s also keto-friendly.
A Nacho Party Guide
Looking for more ideas? This guide not only shows you how to host your own nacho party, but provides inspo for five different styles of nachos.
Alana Pedalino
Alana Pedalino serves as Managing Editor of culture. Her work has been featured in Bon Appétit, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. She loves to write, cook, and kayak. Find her bylines at alanapedalino.com.
