Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (2024)

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5 from 5 votes

15 minutes minutes

by Marly

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This baked vegan nachos recipe is loaded with your favorite toppings, such as vegan taco meat, vegan cheese, jalapeños, and more. Use air fryer tortilla chips to make this a healthy recipe to enjoy any day of the week!

Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (1)

I’ve taken my vegetarian cheese nachos game up a notch (pardon the pun) with these vegan baked nachos. They’re so easy to make and I love the comfort food nature of this dish. You can serve them as an appetizer, for game day, or even for dinner!

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Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Veggie crumbles — Use your favorite veggie crumbles, including plant-based meat products.
  • Taco seasoning
  • Tortilla chips
  • Black beans — You can use a mixture of black beans and pinto beans.
  • Corn
  • Vegan cheddar shreds — We use either Daiya or Follow Your Heart vegan cheddar shreds.
  • Red cabbage
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Red onion
  • Jalapeno
  • Vegan sour cream
  • Avocado

How to Make Vegan Nachos in the Oven

  1. Make the plant-based taco meat by combining veggie crumbles with the taco seasoning.
  2. Arrange tortilla chipsin a single layer on a baking sheet. Top with veggie crumbles, black beans, corn, and shredded vegan cheese.
  3. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
  4. Prepare the toppings by chopping cabbage, cherry tomatoes, onions, and jalapeño (being careful not to touch the seeds with bare hands).
  5. Mash the avocado and stir in the sour cream.
  6. When the nachos are done, remove them from the oven. Add toppings, including the avocado sauce.
  7. Use a spatula to transfer individual servings on a plate.
Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (2)

How to Make Vegan Cheese Melt

It used to be that vegan cheese didn’t melt very well. Today’s vegan cheeses are different. I love using either Daiya or Follow Your Heart vegan cheddar shreds. Vegan shreds hold their shape better than dairy cheese so it may not look as if it’s melted, but it has.

Also, I’ve found placing a sheet of foil over the nachos creates steam which helps the cheese melt, too.

Frequently-Asked Questions

Are Tortilla Chips Vegan?

Most unflavored store-bought tortilla chips are vegan. However, flavored tortilla chips oftentimes have dairy, and restaurant chips can sometimes be fried in lard. I recommend checking labels or calling to ask the restaurant about their chips.

What Meatless Nacho Toppings Are Best on Vegan Nachos?

The best toppings for vegan nachos are flavored veggie crumbles, fat-free refried beans, corn, sliced jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, vegan cheese, and more. You can also add corn salsa because of its delicious flavors and textures.

What Goes Well with Nachos?

Serve nachos with margaritas, black bean dip, a Mexican-themed soup, sliced avocados, Spanish rice, and more. For beverages, serve nachos with Hibiscus Margaritas or for an alcohol-free version, try this Hibiscus Fruit Punch recipe instead.

Can Nachos Be Healthy?

You can make vegan baked nachos that are healthy and delicious. Of course, you can use baked or air fried tortilla chips to avoid deep-fried chips. Then add on the plant-based toppings to make nachos a healthy part of your diet.

How to Make Cheese Sauce for Nachos

If you can’t find vegan cheese in your area, you can use a dairy-free nacho cheese sauce rather than shreds. I highly recommend my vegan queso dip for your nachos con queso. You can also use my smooth vegan cheese sauce or this sweet potato nacho cheese sauce, too.

More Vegan Mexican Dishes

If you love these baked vegan nachos, you will love these Vegan Mexican Dishes too:

Sweet Corn Salsa

22 mins total

Vegan Enchilada Casserole

30 mins total

Vegan Taco Salad

20 mins total

Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (7)
Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (8)

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Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (10)

Vegan Nachos

These crispy vegan nachos are loaded with all your favorite toppings, making for a delicious, cheesy, nacho experience!

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 360kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 2 cups veggie crumbles
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 12 ounces tortilla chips
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans , drained
  • 1 cup corn , frozen
  • 1 cup vegan cheddar shreds
  • ½ cup vegan jalapeño havarti cheese
  • ½ cup red cabbage
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon diced red onion
  • 1 jalapeno , thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons vegan sour cream
  • ½ avocado

Instructions

  • Heat your oven to 400°F/200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Combine the veggie crumbles with the taco seasoning. If the crumbles are frozen, heat in the microwave for 30 seconds or so and then stir to combine the seasonings. Add more if you prefer more flavor.

  • Arrange tortilla chipsin a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Top with veggie crumbles mixture, black beans, corn, and shredded vegan cheeses.

  • Place pan in the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

  • As the nachos are baking, chop the cabbage into thin strips, chop the cherry tomatoes into quarters, dice the onion, and thinly slice the jalapeño (being careful not to touch the seeds with bare hands).

  • In a small bowl, mash the avocado and add the sour cream. Stir together.

  • When the nachos are done, remove them from the oven and serve them immediately. Top with tomato, red cabbage, onion, jalapeno, and drizzle with creamy avocado mixture.

  • Optional: Add chopped cilantro.

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2.6mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

Vegan Nachos — Best Baked Nacho Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good nachos? ›

One layer of chips and toppings is good. A double layer is better. For maximum crunchy-to-gooey texture, start with a layer of chips that completely covers the bottom of your tray. Then, slather it with any toppings that need to be hot and/or melted, like beans, shredded meat, and cheese.

How to make nachos so they don't get soggy? ›

* Bring refrigerated toppings to room temperature before piling them onto the warm chips. * To prevent the chips from getting soggy, sprinkle grated or crumbled cheese on top and bake them in the oven for a few minutes. When melted, the cheese will act as a buffer between the chips and toppings.

How to layer the best nachos? ›

Next it's time for layering: On a foil-lined sheet, arrange the chips, half of beef-bean mixture, half of cheese, half of black beans, and half of pickled jalapeños. Repeat to make another layer. Bake the nachos in the oven, which should only take about 15 minutes.

What is the best melting cheese for nachos? ›

A: While you can technically use any type of cheese for nachos, some cheeses work better than others. The best options include Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Queso Blanco.

What is the best combination for nachos? ›

Nachos Are Best Served With:
  • Chicken Burrito.
  • Halloumi Fajitas.
  • Quesadillas.
  • Mexican Salad.
  • Homemade Guacamole.
  • Mexican Black Beans.
  • Black Bean Burrito.
  • Corn Ribs With Macha Mayo.

Is there good vegan cheese? ›

From the makers of Tofurky comes Moocho, boasting meltier, cheesier, more Wisconsin-y vegan cheese. The dairy-free shreds are particularly worth noting, as flavors like Fiesta Blend, Mozzarella, and Cheddar make for ooey, gooey vegan lasagnas, enchiladas, nachos, and pizza.

Are Doritos nachos vegan? ›

Currently, there are no Doritos® flavors that are classified as vegan. To see which PepsiCo products do qualify as Vegan, we recommend visiting the Vegan and Vegetarian page on PepsiCo Product Facts.

Why are tortilla chips not vegan? ›

The basic and traditional ingredients to make tortilla chips are naturally vegan. These include corn flour, water, oil, and salt. Sometimes, especially at restaurants, the tortilla chips are fried in oil. This is typically animal-free, whether the oil is canola, olive, or something else.

Do you put cheese on nachos first or last? ›

To make sure every chip is covered in cheese, lay down the cheese on the chips first. The cheese will serve as a blanket, protecting the chips from liquidy, sog-inducing toppings.

How to make nachos Martha Stewart? ›

Spread 5 cups chips in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron). Top with 1 cup chili, then half the beans and 1 cup cheese. Layer with remaining 5 cups chips, 1 cup chili, remaining beans, and 1 cup cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, 5 to 7 minutes.

How to get crispy nachos? ›

Limiting the number of ingredients baked with the chips is the key to crispiness. Top chips with no more than two or three toppings. Choose from items such as black beans, refried beans, chopped grilled chicken, seasoned ground beef (browned and drained), or chopped jalapenos.

What is the secret to good homemade nachos? ›

Tips for the Ultimate Nacho Set-Up
  1. Bake nachos on an oven-safe platter or quarter sheet-pans. ...
  2. Overlap the tortilla chips and keep it to only one layer per sheet pan. ...
  3. Set out your toppings in ramekins allows everyone to customize their own pile of nachos with the least amount of mealtime stress.

What is the correct order for nachos? ›

Start with a base of tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, jalapeño, and any warm fillings like meats and veggies. Once the cheese melts, remove from the oven, add another layer, and repeat. This extra step ensures your nachos are well-covered and evenly baked from top to bottom.

Is it better to make nachos in the oven or microwave? ›

Here's a fact: If you put a plate of tortilla chips topped with cheese in the microwave and zap them until the cheese melts, the cheese will melt way before the tortilla chips have the chance to take on any color or toasted flavor. With nachos baked in the oven, the chips toast while the cheese melts.

Do you put meat or cheese first on nachos? ›

Spread out a layer of chips, followed by an even distribution of meat and beans, then lots--I mean lots--of cheese. Complete coverage guarantees you don't commit the cardinal sin of nacho making: the sad chip with no topping. Repeat until you have an impressive tray a few layers high, then bake.

What cheese do Mexican restaurants use for nachos? ›

Asadero Cheese

It elicits a subtle tanginess that offers a little more dimension than Oaxaca cheese. Because of its spectacular melting properties, it's an ideal base for queso on nachos, burritos, tacos, enchiladas or any Mexican dish.

How many layers of chips for nachos? ›

As many as you like. I usually have one layer of chips, then cheese, more chips, meat of choice, choped tomatoes, onion, cliantro, salsa and sour cream.

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