Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, olives, and a rich asiago cheese sauce combine to make up these Italian nachos. Ready in just 30 minutes, this new twist on traditional nachos will make a rustic, homemade addition to your dinner table.
Why You Will Love the Italian Nachos
- Budget Friendly: Uses affordable staples like jarred peppers and bagged chips.
- Saves Time: Goes from the pantry to the table in only 30 minutes.
- Crowd Pleaser: A fun way to get kids and adults excited about "real food" dinners.
Ingredients for the Italian Nachos
- Plain Tortilla Chips: These provide a sturdy, crunchy base that holds up well under heavy toppings.
- Italian Sausage: Crumbled sausage adds protein and a depth of seasoning that defines the Italian flavor profile.
- Asiago Cream Sauce: This homemade touch elevates the dish far beyond standard nacho cheese. The recipe is on my site.
- Banana Peppers and Olives: These add the necessary acidity and saltiness to balance the rich cheeses.
How to Make the Nachos
- Prep the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Create the Base: Spread half of your tortilla chips in an even layer across a lined baking sheet.
- Add the First Layer: Evenly distribute half of your browned sausage, diced red onions, drained banana peppers, and olives over the chips.
- Cheese Coverage: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella over the toppings to act as a "glue" for the next layer.
- Repeat: Add the remaining chips and repeat the topping process.
- Bake: Place the pan on the center rack for 7 to 10 minutes. Look for the cheese to be fully melted and just starting to bubble.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle the warm Asiago cream sauce over the top immediately before serving.
FAQ's
You can certainly swap the Italian sausage for ground beef or even shredded chicken seasoned with oregano and garlic.
Freshly shredded parmesan or a mild provolone make great substitutes for the cream sauce.
Make sure to drain your banana peppers and olives thoroughly before adding them to the layers.
Yes, you can assemble smaller portions in an air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees for about five minutes.
The mild Italian sausage and banana peppers provide a little tang without being overly hot.
If you want to crisp these up in the air fryer instead of the oven, use the convertor table on my Kitchen Cheat Sheet to get the timing right.
Also try my easy Italian Bake for another easy family meal.
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Recipe
Easy Italian Nachos with Asiago Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 14 ounce bag of plain tortilla chips
- 1 pound of browned and crumbled italian sausage
- 1 16 ounce jar of drained banana peppers
- ½ large red onion diced
- 16 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 16 ounce jar of drained green olives
- 1 recipe of asiago cream sauce
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Layer ½ of the tortilla chips on a lined baking sheet
- Next layer ½ the sausage, onion, banana peppers, olives, and mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat to add a second layer.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes or until the mozzarella cheese is melted.
Nutrition
Notes
- Air Fryer Instructions To make these in an air fryer, assemble a single layer of chips and toppings in a parchment-lined air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F for about 4 to 6 minutes or until the mozzarella is bubbly and the edges of the chips are lightly toasted. Since air fryers vary in power, it is helpful to check the nachos at the 4-minute mark.
- Meal Prep Scaling Tip If you want to prep these for a busy work week, store the browned sausage and chopped vegetables in airtight glass containers. Keep the chips and the Asiago sauce separate until you are ready to eat. This keeps the chips crunchy and allows you to assemble a quick single serving whenever you need a fast lunch.
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Ingredient Variations
- The Protein: You can swap the Italian sausage for ground turkey seasoned with dried basil or even use shredded rotisserie chicken for a faster option.
- The Base: If you want to move away from tortilla chips, try using toasted pita chips or even thick-cut potato chips for a different texture.
- The Veggies: Try adding diced bell peppers, sliced black olives, or even a handful of fresh baby spinach under the cheese layer for extra nutrition.
- The Heat: For those who enjoy a bit of spice, replace the mild banana peppers with sliced pepperoncini or add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the Asiago sauce.
- Serving Suggestion For a fresh finish, top the warm nachos with a handful of chopped Italian parsley or fresh basil right before serving.
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