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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Appetizers

    Oven Baked Nachos Party

    Published: Aug 18, 2023 · Updated: Jun 17, 2024 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Oven Baked Nachos Party
    Oven Baked Nachos Party

    For gatherings, game days, movie night, and even dinner these oven baked nachos for a party are easy to make on just a sheet pan. Layer your favorite fixings and bake until the cheese has melted. You'll make the best nachos recipe that isn't soggy.

    When I entertain at home I take a step away from the brain-work of major creativity (I cook for a living) and stick to things that are easy, crowd-pleasing and fun.

    I like a simple recipe that uses minimal ingredients and minimal cookware.

    Nachos For A Party Crowd

    For the big game, or just a weekend snack, I make these sheet pan layered nachos with all the fixings. Along with some drinks, like my mint limeade and my soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, I'm going to be totally set.

    Jump to:
    • How To Make Oven Baked Nachos
    • What Type Of Cheese Is Best For Nachos?
    • Nachos With Meat
    • Best Nachos Recipe Tips
    • Nacho Party Recipe Ingredients
    • FAQs
    • More Party Food Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Oven Baked Nachos Party
    • 💬 Comments

    See this recipe on KSL.com where it was originally published.

    How To Make Oven Baked Nachos

    I make my best nachos recipe in the oven. No melting cheese sauces and cleaning up drippy messes, and no heating small batches of chips and cheese in the microwave.

    Depending on my party guests, I'll make loaded vegetarian nachos with beans or nachos with shredded meat, like chicken or pork.

    I put sour cream, salsas, and tableside guacamole in bowls to make a nacho bar for guests to add to their plates.

    Making nachos for everyone all at once is easiest by cooking them on a half sheet pan. I line it with foil (for easy cleanup), and layer the goodness of chips, cheese and other tasty additions, then bake for about 10 minutes.

    Making Nachos

    What Type Of Cheese Is Best For Nachos?

    When making nachos, the cheese is most important. For the best cheesy nachos recipe, I like a variety.

    Mixing cheeses gives depth of flavor and texture. Some cheese melts silky smooth, some cheese gets a bit chewy, and others are crumbly and salty delicious like Cotija.

    My favorite is a Monterey Jack, and his cheese brother Pepper Jack to add spice. A little mild or sharp cheddar adds classic flavor and even pieces of Velveeta or shredded American cheese gives a silky smooth melt on top of the crunchy chips.

    Nachos With Meat

    If I'm adding meat to my sheet pan nachos, I love carnitas (braised pork), shredded steak, or chicken. An easy addition is ground beef taco meat too! Adding meat makes the layered nachos more substantial, closer to a meal, if you eat enough like I usually do.

    Nachos For A Party Crowd

    Best Nachos Recipe Tips

    Check my list below for any extras you can add and layer, layer, layer. It's an oven-nacho trick.

    One layer of chips, cheese, toppings, covered by another layer and sometimes even a third.

    The even heat from the oven melts all the cheese and heats everything perfectly. Serve with tongs so guests can grab an entire serving at once.

    The key to not having soggy nachos is to put the toppings in bowls and have everyone garnish right before they eat. Garnishing this cheesy nacho recipe too early will make the chips soggy.

    Nacho Party Recipe Ingredients

    Cheesy Nachos

    Monterey Jack is perfect for melting. Pepper Jack adds great spice. Crumble Cotija or other Mexican cheese on top when the nachos come out of the oven for a salty bite.

    Layer Nachos

    Two or three layers of chips, cheeses and toppings are perfect in the even heat of the oven.

    Meat Or Beans, Or Both?

    Add black beans or pinto beans for loaded vegetarian nachos. For meat lovers, add braised pulled pork for carnitas nachos, or shredded chicken, or ground beef.

    More Ingredients For Layered Nachos

    Additions like canned beans, white onions, pickled jalapeños, fresh tomatoes, and sweet peppers are added in layers with the cheese and cooked along with the chips.

    Nacho Bar Toppings

    Have bowls of these add-ons for guests to try on their servings: sour cream, cilantro, sliced scallions, olives, tableside guacamole, salsa, and hot sauce.

    Nachos For A Party Crowd

    FAQs

    How do you keep sheet pan nachos from getting soggy?

    The key is to bake your nachos during the party right before serving. Place additional toppings for nachos in bowls and have guests use the nacho bar to garnish their own nachos just before eating.

    Do you put cheese on the top or bottom of nachos?

    For the best cheesy nachos recipe, layer the cheese in between the chips. Start with one layer of chips, then a layer of cheese and repeat two or three times. This makes for the best cheesy nachos.

    Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!

    More Party Food Recipes

    • Tailgating Kabobs
    • Classic Totchos
    • Mozzarella Bites
    • One-Hour Meatball Subs
    • 7 Layer Dip

    📖 Recipe

    Sheet pan nachos on silver tray with cilantro, guacamole, sour cream and jalapenos.

    Oven Baked Nachos Party

    Tara Teaspoon
    For gatherings, game days, movie night and even dinner these baked nachos for a party are so easy and made on a sheet pan. Layer fixings and bake them until crispy, no soggy nachos here!
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Servings 12 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 bags (11 ounces each) tortilla chips
    • 5 cups shredded cheese
    • 1 can black beans ( drained)
    • ½ cup white onion (chopped)
    • ½ cup pickled jalapeños
    • Toppings such as cilantro (scallions and olives)
    • Serve with sour cream (guacamole and salsa)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 350 F. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with foil. Arrange half of the chips on pans and top with some cheeses, beans, onion, and jalapeño. Repeat layers for two to three layers total. (These can be assembled up to one hour before baking.)
    • Working with one sheet at a time, bake until cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions and olives if desired and serve with desired toppings. Heat a second pan as the first for fresh, hot nachos.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 294mgPotassium: 54mgVitamin A: 355IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 237mgIron: 0.2mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara


    Recipe and photography by Tara Teaspoon. Updated August 2023.

    Comments

      4.60 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Mary Bench says

      July 16, 2018 at 3:57 pm

      We love this recipe at our house! So easy for a crowd!

      Reply
    2. Kerryn says

      March 02, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      It doesn’t say for how many this feeds so not helpful

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 07, 2019 at 6:44 pm

        Thanks for pointing that out! It was hidden in the recipe form. All fixed!

        Reply
    3. Tessa says

      June 27, 2019 at 10:35 am

      I have been craving nachos all week! I love the oven-baked way. Whenever I put nachos in the microwave they end up too soggy! I know what's for dinner tonight...;)

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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