The Best Irish Nachos Recipe

There are Mexican nachos, and then there are Irish nachos ... and we promise you that they are both equally good. If you've never heard of Irish nachos, then we must tell you that you are missing out. Instead of using tortilla chips, like in traditional nachos, Irish nachos use crispy potato slices as the base. Then, you layer all the usual goodies, like sour cream, cheese, onions, and jalapeños on top. This would be great to serve as a main course, but it also makes a great appetizer.

Recipe developer Ting Dalton is the brains behind these Irish nachos, and there's so much to love about them. "I love this Irish Nachos recipe because it combines so many of my favorite flavors. Plus, [it's] a great way to use up leftover chili con carne," Dalton shares. "This is the perfect dish for a weekend treat with family or friends. Serve [it] up in a big skillet and let everyone dig in. It's a great sharing dish. Serve [it] with lots of extra guacamole dip and sour cream." 

Dalton also loves the fun twist on this dish. "I love how this is a different take on traditional nachos and a fantastic way to use leftover over chili con carne," she says. 

Gather the ingredients to make Irish nachos

The first thing you need to do is make a list of ingredients and head to the store. Start with potatoes and olive oil. You'll also need a few things from the spice aisle like Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. Hopefully, you may have a few of these at home already. To make these nachos super filling (and even more delicious), you need to grab a can of chili con carne and a container of guacamole.

As far as other nacho toppings, be sure to pick up shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and canned jalapeño peppers. Last but not least, get sliced green onion and freshly chopped cilantro.

Preheat the oven and rinse the potato slices

You'll be using your oven for this recipe, so the first thing you need to do is preheat it. The perfect temperature for these Irish nachos is 390 F. While you wait for the oven to preheat, you can do the rest of the prep work. 

Grab a large bowl and add the potato slices. "Make sure to use a very sharp knife and hold the potato firmly," Dalton says of slicing the potatoes. When the potatoes are sliced, rinse them to remove the extra starch. Carefully pat the potatoes dry with a clean tea towel.

Season the potatoes

Once you dry the potatoes off, put them back in the same bowl that you had them in earlier. Add the olive oil, which helps the potatoes brown in the oven and also helps the spices stick to the potatoes. 

Then, toss in the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. That should be all of the spices that you need. Use your hands to combine everything together. The most important thing is to make sure that the potatoes are well-coated so they all share the same wonderful flavor. 

Bake the potatoes

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the potato slices on top. "The hardest part of this recipe is making, slicing, and baking the potatoes," Dalton shares. "Every other ingredient can be made before assembling the nachos. So you can use leftover chili, and you can use store-bought guacamole or, if you want, make your own."

Pop the potatoes into the oven for about 20 minutes. Turn the potatoes over and continue cooking for 15-20 more minutes, until the potatoes are golden and crispy.

Add the toppings and serve

When the potatoes are ready, remove them from the pan and layer them inside an ovenproof dish or skillet. Add the chili con carne and cheddar cheese on top. Place the layered potatoes back in the oven for about 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.

Before serving the dish, add a dollop of guacamole and sour cream on top. Then, layer the jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro. "[These nachos are] best served straight away — but you can keep [them] in the refrigerator for 2 days and reheat [them] in the microwave," Dalton notes.

We hope these Irish nachos hit the spot!

The Best Irish Nachos Recipe
5 from 32 ratings
Who says nachos have to be served on a bed of tortilla chips? The best Irish nachos recipe is served on sliced and baked potatoes for a hearty nacho twist.
Prep Time
10
minutes
Cook Time
45
minutes
Servings
6
Servings
irish nachos in bowl
Total time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1½ pounds potatoes, cleaned and sliced into thin rounds
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • sea salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups chili con carne
  • 1 cup guacamole
  • 1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup jalapeño peppers
  • 1 green onion, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 390 F.
  2. In a large bowl, rinse the potato slices to remove the starch. Carefully pat them dry with a clean tea towel.
  3. Put the potatoes back in the bowl and add the olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper, to taste. Combine well using your hands. Make sure all the potatoes are well-coated.
  4. Place the potatoes onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes, then turn the potatoes and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes, until they're golden and crispy.
  5. Get an ovenproof dish or skillet and layer the potato slices across the bottom. Then, add the chili and the cheddar cheese.
  6. Put the pan back in the oven so the cheese melts, around 5 minutes.
  7. Before serving, dollop the guacamole and sour cream on top, then sprinkle with the jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro.
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