There was a time in my life when I deleted pizza and nachos from my diet. Cheese is bad for you, they said. I ate my ice cream with too few of calories. My eggs with no yolks. And bought low-fat butter that was mostly hydrogenated oil. It was as awful as it sounds. But I stuck with it long enough to learn that my issue wasn’t solely what I was eating, rather how much I was eating. (You can read way too much about my food history here.) Pizza, full-fat ice cream, whole eggs, and real butter have been apart of my diet for many years now. But it wasn’t until a couple weeks ago that I allowed nachos back into my life.
This post is sponsored by Food Should Taste Good. Their sweet potato tortilla chips have been a pantry staple for quite some time now. They’re a little bit sweet with just enough salt. They’re also GMO-free, gluten-free, and made with real ingredients. For more information, visit foodshouldtastegood.com.
Do you have those things you don’t allow yourself to eat? I could win a nacho-eating contest. Not the drippy cheese kind, the melted cheese kind. These are important details. That’s mostly why I’m just now allowing them back into my life. Because I could beat you in a nacho-eating contest.
It was a clean out the fridge day, the day I reintroduced them. There was leftover BBQ pork from Ashley’s book, Date Night In. Radishes and cilantro from tacos. And pineapple because we were pretending it was summer. Also because Kev says, “If it’s on the shelf at Trader Joe’s, it’s in season.”
I started with a small baking sheet. Automatic portion control. Then added sweet potato chips and just enough cheese to call it enough, plus the leftover BBQ pork. After a quick broil and just before sitting down at the table with my small baking sheet and pot holder, I added everything else in the fridge. And then I said it out loud like a 3-year-old discovering something for the first time, “This is how you eat nachos! With a salad on top.”
So that’s how I eat nachos now. Again. With a salad on top and sweet potato chips underneath.
This nacho recipe is one part Mexican, one part Texan. Or as they say where I grew up, it’s Tex-Mex. Use this recipe as a general guide. It can serve one to many.
Ingredients
black beans, drained and rinsed (or cooked chicken or pork)
Into a small pan, add black beans (or cooked chicken or pork), BBQ sauce, salt, and just enough water to keep the beans from sticking. Heat on medium-high for about 5 minutes or until BBQ sauce is absorbed. (Use this ratio: 1/2 cup black beans to 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce. Serves 2).
Turn oven to broil. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Add a single layer of chips. Top with just enough cheese, then add cooked beans.
Watching carefully, broil nachos until cheese is just melted (about 3 minutes). Top with avocado, pineapple, radishes, and cilantro. Serve immediately. We keep clean-up extra light and eat straight off the baking sheet.
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I have a nacho problem also, so I try to limit the frequency with which I eat them so that when I DO…I can really go to town without the guilt! Also, making them at home with better ingredients definitely makes them not only more delicious but just generally better for you. These sound awesome.
What took so long for the birth of the sweet potato chip!? Just think of what other chips are out there that we haven’t thought of yet and are missing out on! Can’t wait to try these 🙂
I haven’t made/eaten nachos for years (mainly for similar reasons) so I’m excited to try this salad with a side of chips! Especially when the chips involve sweet potatoes – my favourite!
My teen fave was the movie theatre nachos with a side of melted cheese dip and pickled jalapeños! Loving the crispy sliced radish and pineapple and … I noticed the shape and colour of the chips in your IG – yum! I feel like nacho pics beget nacho pics. I even said to my husband after seeing this… “nachos for dinner???”
Well you’re just a genius. I seriously need to try these sweet potato chips. I LOVE nachos, but I never really make them ….. why!?!? Add this to list of things I need to make soon along with your updated waffles.
Sweet potato chip nachos are pure genius! Plus pineapple and black beans?! Yes, yes, yes!
dayummm lady — these sound SO perfect!
I have a nacho problem also, so I try to limit the frequency with which I eat them so that when I DO…I can really go to town without the guilt! Also, making them at home with better ingredients definitely makes them not only more delicious but just generally better for you. These sound awesome.
What took so long for the birth of the sweet potato chip!? Just think of what other chips are out there that we haven’t thought of yet and are missing out on! Can’t wait to try these 🙂
I have these chips in front of me as I write! Love them. And I love your nachos, too. 🙂
Oh my word, I could eat my weight in these nachos!
These nachos look amazing, Melissa. Love! <3
Oh I love Food Should Taste Good! And I mean, nachos. How can you go wrong? Answer: you can’t 🙂
I haven’t made/eaten nachos for years (mainly for similar reasons) so I’m excited to try this salad with a side of chips! Especially when the chips involve sweet potatoes – my favourite!
Oh man that GIF is probably the best thing in the world!
i absolutely love nachos of all kinds…this looks wonderful.
Really loving the BBQ of this! So delicious!
such a great idea. bet these are so good with sweet potato chips!
My favorite flavors all in one nacho recipe — yum! I see these happening VERY soon in my future.
IF these taste as half as good as they look, I’m sure I’d be in nacho eating heaven!! I also all of a sudden want to put pineapple on everything….
My teen fave was the movie theatre nachos with a side of melted cheese dip and pickled jalapeños! Loving the crispy sliced radish and pineapple and … I noticed the shape and colour of the chips in your IG – yum! I feel like nacho pics beget nacho pics. I even said to my husband after seeing this… “nachos for dinner???”
Pickled jalapeños! That’s what’s missing from these.
Nachos are my FAVORITE. I need to try these sweet potato chips, yes yes! Also, I like Kevin’s philosophy on Trader Joe’s : )
Well you’re just a genius. I seriously need to try these sweet potato chips. I LOVE nachos, but I never really make them ….. why!?!? Add this to list of things I need to make soon along with your updated waffles.
I love these!! And I love nachos (homemade, with melted cheese) for dinner. Love this post!! xx
WHY have i not put pineapples on my nachos yet. WHY. these look so good, lady!!!