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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Vegetarian Nachos For Two

    Jul 23, 2020

    By Michelle Weiner

    These nachos for two make for the best late night dinner or snack when you are hosting a small get-together!
    No ratings yet
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment
    White plate with a serving of vegetarian nachos. Lime wedges and cocktails on the side.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Make these Vegetarian Nachos For Two next time you need a flexible snack or quick dinner. Tortilla chips are layered with refried beans, salsa, melty cheese, and lots of veggies. This recipe makes the perfect amount for a date night or small get-togethers!

    Everybody loves nachos!

    But not everyone loves to struggle through a giant platter. That’s why I’ve created these Vegetarian Nachos for Two! It’s the perfect amount of food for you and a friend or for small get-togethers.

    I can’t even begin to describe how much I love nachos. The combination of chips, melty cheese, spicy jalapenos, and veggies to top it off is irresistible. Better yet, it’s a low-maintenance option for dinner that doesn’t require a trip to the grocery store and will please almost anyone.

    One serving of cooked vegetarian nachos on a white plate and a paloma cocktail on the side.

    I’ve included only simple ingredients in this vegetarian nacho recipe with a few tips to help the flavors pop. You can use any of your favorite toppings, chips, salsa, or cheese to please you and your friends.

    Jump to:
    • Where did nachos come from?
    • Nacho ingredients
    • How to make this recipe
    • Tips for the best nachos ever
    • Recommended kitchen tools
    • Recipe

    Where did nachos come from?

    Just like quesadillas and tacos, nachos originated in Mexico. They were first made in 1943 by simply melting cheese over top of freshly made tortilla chips. Nachos have since turned into so much more after all of these years, taking on a ton of different flavors and spice levels.

    Nachos are delicious as a quick snack or a satisfying meal no matter how you mix them up. Customize your nacho platter with a variety of meats, cheeses, and beans, or simplify the recipe using your favorite salsa and shredded cheese.

    Nacho ingredients

    Classic vegetarian nachos need simple, easy ingredients. I’ve included a few tips to help make this party snack even more exciting:

    Nacho ingredients on a white counter top and wood cutting board.

    Salsa and beans

    We’re mixing these two common ingredients together before adding them on top of the chips to play with the flavors. Feel free to use any type of salsa you have at home.

    You can either use canned refried beans or make your own! It’s a great ingredient to keep in your fridge and can be used in a variety of Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes.

    Melty cheese

    They aren’t nachos without melted cheese! Pepper jack cheese is my favorite because it’s a little spicy, melts flawlessly, and is super creamy. Sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack are two other great choices that will melt nicely on nachos.

    Feeling saucy? Double up the cheese by adding queso on top of the nachos after pulling them out of the oven.

    Cooked vegetarian nachos in a sheet pan with lime wedges and bottled drinks on the side

    Nacho toppings

    The true beauty of nachos is that you can add whatever makes you happy. Layer on all of your favorites or add whatever you have at home. You can clean out your fridge and make a nacho platter at the same time - win-win!

    My favorite toppings are jalapenos, green onion, tomatoes, and avocado. Drizzle on some sauce at the end, whether it’s extra cheese sauce, plain lime juice, crema, or sour cream with lime juice like I’ve done in this recipe.

    Vegetarian nachos with meat

    Looking to add some meat to your vegetarian nachos? Use a soy chorizo or an imitation ground meat to maintain their vegetarian label. Add a little flair by stirring in chili, cumin, or cayenne powder to the meat alternative before adding them on top of the chips.

    Alternatively, use the real thing! Fry up some ground beef or rotisserie chicken for loaded nachos for two.

    How to make this recipe

    These step-by-step instructions show you how to make delicious vegetarian nachos for two:

    Refried beans and salsa mixed together with a spoon in a white bowl

    Step 1: Set your oven to broil. Spread the chips in an even layer on a parchment-lined quarter baking sheet. Set aside. Stir the beans and salsa together in a small bowl until uniform.

    Shredded cheese on top of nacho cheese on a sheet pan

    Step 2: Sprinkle half of the cheese onto the chips. Spoon the bean and salsa mixture on top of the first layer of cheese.

    Shredded cheese, salsa, refried beans, and green onions on top of tortilla chips in a sheet pan

    Step 3: Top the nachos with the remaining cheese and green onions.

    Close up of melted cheese on top of nacho chips

    Step 4: Broil until the cheese is melty, bubbly, and browned around the edges, about 10 minutes. While the nachos cook, stir together the sour cream and lime juice until uniform.

    sheet pan with nachos layered with vegetables and cheese on top

    Step 5: Once the nachos are done, drizzle them with the lime sour cream and top with avocado, tomatoes, and jalapenos. Enjoy while hot!

    Vegetarian nachos are best enjoyed hot out of the oven while sipping on a fresh grapefruit Paloma.

    Tips for the best nachos ever

    Make your own chips

    Heck ya, you can make your own nacho chips! It’s surprisingly easy and you only need three ingredients. Follow this guide and make your own chips out of corn tortillas.

    Layer them however you like

    There is no wrong way to layer nachos. My favorite way is to lay out the chips, add half of the cheese, add the beans and toppings, and finish it off with the rest of the cheese. This way there is no shortage of tasty toppings sandwiched between melted cheese in every bite.

    2 servings of vegetarian nachos on white plates. Paloma cocktails in glasses on the side.

    Mix up the beans

    Vegetarian nachos with beans are filling and satisfying, no matter the type of bean. You can swap the refried beans for cooked black beans, pinto beans, lentils, or a combination of all three.

    More topping suggestions

    Need to satisfy more than your own cravings with these nachos? Try adding more toppings like roasted corn, bell peppers, onion, black olives, salsa verde, pulled pork, barbeque jackfruit, or chicken breast.

    Broiling vs. baking

    We’re using a broiler to cook the nachos because this recipe has only one layer of chips, cheese, and toppings. The layer of cheese will melt and cook evenly in just 10 minutes. Save yourself some time and melt the cheese faster using a broiler.

    Baking nachos in the oven is the way to go when cooking a larger batch with multiple layers. This way, the cheese melts on every level and will cook the nachos evenly.

    2 servings of vegetarian nachos on white plates. Paloma cocktails and lime wedges on the side.

    Recommended kitchen tools

    The best (and only) tool for this two-person nacho recipe is quarter sheet pans. Using this size of a pan will help the nacho chips and toppings stay in a uniform layer and cook evenly in the oven. Plus, you can serve them right on the sheet pan!

    Time to cook!

    Okay, friend! It's your turn to put together your own small batch of nachos! I can't wait to see what you come up with. When you make them, snap a pic and share with me by tagging @cupofzest so I can see how ya did!

    Recipe

    White plate with a serving of vegetarian nachos. Lime wedges and cocktails on the side.

    Vegetarian Nachos for Two

    These nachos for two make for the best late night dinner or snack when you are hosting a small get-together!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Rate Pin
    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: party food, quick
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Makes: 2 servings

    Equipment

    quarter baking sheet
    oxo cutting board
    bowls

    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces tortilla chips about 4 ½ cups
    • 4 ounces pepper jack cheese, grated about 1 ¼ cups
    • ½ cup refried beans
    • ¼ cup salsa
    • 1 green onion, chopped about ¼ cup
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice about ½ lime
    • ½ avocado, chopped
    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
    • ¼ cup pickled jalapenos
    • cilantro for garnish
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Set oven to broil and line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper.
    • Spread chips in an even layer on the baking sheet.
    • Evenly sprinkle with half of the cheese.
    • Stir beans and salsa together until uniform, and spoon on top of the first layer of cheese.
    • Top with remaining cheese and green onions.
    • Broil until the cheese is melty, bubbly, and browned around the edges, about 8 minutes.
    • While the nachos cook, stir together the sour cream and lime juice until uniform.
    • Once the nachos are done, drizzle with the lime sour cream, and top with avocado, tomatoes, and pickled jalapenos. Top with cilantro if you like!
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!

    Watch the Video!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 689kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1433mg | Potassium: 659mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1425IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 589mg | Iron: 3mg

    More Small Batch Party Foods!

    • Blueberry Galette for Two
    • Refreshing Paloma Cocktail for Summer
    • Spicy Queso Dip for Two
    • 5 Minute Blood Orange Gin and Tonic Recipe
    « Spicy Queso Dip for Two
    Sparkling Hibiscus Lime Punch »

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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

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