Jazz up your nachos so your guests will want to dig in.
Nachos are a universal appetizer because they can be served at so many different types of functions. Football parties, birthday parties, office parties, bachelorette parties and baby showers are all great excuses for serving a batch of nachos. Of course, you don't just want to throw out a bowl of plain nachos and wait around for the crowd to munch on them. You need to jazz them up a bit, and there are plenty of ways this can be done that will entice your guests to start chowing down.
Baked Chicken Nachos
Spread your chips on a baking dish that can also be used as a serving dish. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil and add 4 cups of shredded cooked chicken. Remove from the heat and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Toss in 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. white distilled vinegar, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 2 tbsp. brown sugar. Stir until combined and then spread over the chips. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese over the top of the chicken mixture. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve hot.
Nachos with Homemade Salsa
Set your chips on a platter, leaving a small empty bowl in the middle. In a mixing bowl, combine 5 diced tomatoes, 1 small chopped onion, 1 chopped jalapeno pepper, 2 chopped cloves of garlic, 1 1/2 tbsp. lime juice, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. white distilled vinegar, 3 oz. tomato sauce and 1 tsp. chopped parsley. Fill the serving bowl in the middle of the nachos with this homemade salsa. Store the extra in the refrigerator in case you need to refill the serving bowl later.
If you don't like your salsa chunky, just puree it in a blender before pouring it in the serving bowl.
Bean and Guacamole Nachos
Spread your nachos over an oven-safe serving plate. In a blender, combine 2 cups cooked black beans, 1 tbsp. oregano and 3 tsp. lime juice. Blend until smooth, and spread across the nachos. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Place in the oven at 350 F for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted. Serve hot with sour cream and chives.
Mexican Dip Nachos
Brown 1 lb. ground beef. Add 1 packet of taco mix and 3/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Spread 8 oz. cream cheese on the bottom of a baking dish. Cover the cream cheese with the taco meat. Sprinkle 8 oz. cheddar cheese on top of the meat. Chop two jalapeno peppers and sprinkle them on top of the cheese. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 F. Serve hot as a dip to go with a bowl of nachos.
Tags: cheddar cheese, serving bowl, , bowl middle, , distilled vinegar