Real Texas Nachos Recipe

By
Joshua Bousel
a photo of Joshua Bousel, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Joshua Bousel
Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.
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Updated August 29, 2018
20140425-291065-texas-nachos.jpg
Real Texas nachos need nothing more than fresh fried tortilla chips, melted cheese, pickled jalapeño, and—if you insist—beans. . Joshua Bousel

Sometimes, simplicity rules the nacho game. We recreate the Texas tradition of freshly fried chips individually topped with Longhorn cheese and a pickled jalapeño slice: a perfectly balanced snack.

Why this recipe works:

  • Home fried tortillas make for fresher chips that have more corn flavor and retain their crispness longer than store-bought.
  • Longhorn, a variety of Colby cheese, provides the oozy melted factor without the distracting flavor of sharp cheddars
  • Pickled jalapeños stay juicy and add a tang that fresh pepper slices don't have.

Note: Additional toppings in the way of refried beans or sour cream can be added to the nacho as well. They're not traditional, but they are delicious. Just don't over-top these nachos or you'll lose the simplicity that make them work so well.

Recipe adapted from Homesick Texan

Recipe Details

Real Texas Nachos Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 30 mins
Serves 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 cups canola or peanut oil

  • 6 corn tortillas, cut into quarters

  • 4 ounces Longhorn cheese, grated

  • 24 slices pickled jalapeños

  • Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or wok over medium-high heat until it registers 375°F. Adjust flame to maintain temperature. Working in batches, add tortillas and fry, agitating with a metal spider, until edges just start to brown. Flip chips over and continue to cook until crisp and light golden brown. Transfer chips to a paper towel lined tray, sprinkle with salt to taste, and let sit for 2-3 minutes to drain. Repeat with remaining batches.

  2. Transfer chips to a foil lined baking sheet. Top each with with approximately 1 tablespoon of cheese and 1 jalapeño slice (if using beans, add 1 tablespoon of beans before adding cheese). Place in oven and bake until cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
368Calories
28gFat
21gCarbs
9gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories368
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g36%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 506mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 21g8%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 4mg21%
Calcium 231mg18%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 128mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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