With delicious ingredients and a variety of toppings, making your own nacho bar is an easy meal that can feed (and please!) a crowd! Make it simple or go all out, either way, it will taste amazing!
Looking for more buffet-style meals and treats? Here are a few of our favorites – Build Your Own Pasta Bar, Burrito Bar Fiesta, Yogurt Breakfast Bar, Pudding Bar, Italian Soda Bar, and Hot Cocoa Bar.
Nacho Bar Party
I was in charge of hosting our Family Christmas Eve party, and this nacho bar was a HIT! I provided the chips, chicken, and cheese and then I asked my siblings to each bring a few toppings. None of us had to slave for hours in the kitchen, and everyone was fed and happy!
Here’s how to make your own Nacho Bar –
Nacho Bar Ideas
To set up your nacho bar, you’ll need three main components: chips, nacho cheese, and toppings! Grab a few coordinating serving dishes and lay them out in an order that makes sense – chips at the beginning, heavier proteins towards the front, sauces and garnishes at the end.
Tip: You can create some depth and dimension to your nacho bar by placing some of the bowls on cutting boards or cake stands. I brought in some greenery and added fresh peppers, tomatoes, avocados, and other veggies for a pop of color. The bright colors of the toppings made the buffet line look so fun and festive!
Nacho Bar Toppings
The best meals start with the best ingredients! Here is a list of the nacho toppings we pull out when we have a nacho bar –
- chips
- nacho cheese sauce / queso
- taco meat – ground beef or ground turkey
- shredded chicken or pork
- beans (refried beans, black beans, pinto beans)
- shredded cheese
- lettuce, shredded
- onions, chopped
- tomatoes, diced
- cilantro, chopped
- black olives, sliced
- roasted corn
- green onions, sliced
- pickled jalapeños, sliced
- salsa or pico de gallo
- sour cream
- guacamole
- lime wedges
Nacho Bar Printable Sign
I added this fun printable Nacho Bar Sign to show everyone how to build their nacho plate. I think it was the perfect touch that made everything come together so nicely, and it looks like I spent a ton of time planning this meal when we all know how simple it is! To grab your copy, enter your name and email in the form below and a new window will open with the PDF for you to download for FREE! (BONUS! We’ve also included some cute food labels for you to use too!)
ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS FOR IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THIS FORM:
This nacho bar is an easy and fun way to entertain guests, or even just to make family dinner extra special. You can customize it to fit any budget or special dietary needs, and it’s great for picky eaters, too. With a variety of toppings, everyone can build their plate to their heart’s content and the result is a hearty meal that’s sure to leave a smile on everyone’s face!
Nacho Bar Checklist
To save our Nacho Bar idea to your recipe box, feel free to print the instructions below. Did we miss any of your favorite nacho ingredients? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you love on top of your nachos!
More Mexican-Inspired Recipes
- The Best Homemade Salsa Recipe
- Enchilada Style Bean Burritos
- Delicious Baked Fish Tacos
- Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
- Classic Mexican Horchata
Nacho Bar
Ingredients
- chips
- nacho cheese
- chicken
- beans, refried, black, pinto
- shredded cheese
- lettuce, shredded
- onions, chopped
- tomatoes, diced
- olives, sliced
- green onions, sliced
- pickled jalapenos, sliced
- salsa
- sour cream
- guacamole
Instructions
- Place a heaping handful of tortilla chips on a plate.
- Spoon over some nacho cheese.
- Add desired toppings.
Nutrition
Other Notes
cute sign!
Thanks Pat!
Such a great idea! We set this up for Super Bowl and everyone loved it!
We did too! It works so good when you’re trying to feed a lot of people!
Such a great idea! This was perfect for our family party!
Totally agree! We do this all the time when we have family over too!
I love love love this idea. We set this up last weekend for our next movie night and everyone loved it and there was no complaining!:D Everybody always talks about tacos and taco bars, but in my humble opinion….nachos is where it’s at!
LOL, I love it when everyone is happy!