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 Aug. 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 Facts

4

(5)

Active: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 3 to 4 servings

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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)
368 Calories
28g Fat
21g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 368
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 506mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 231mg 18%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 128mg 3%
*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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