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    Home > Blog > Appetizers > DIY Nacho Bar with a Creamy Queso Sauce

    DIY Nacho Bar with a Creamy Queso Sauce

    by Jenny Park · Published: Feb 6, 2016 · Modified: Oct 13, 2020

    Jump to Recipe
    Chips in a tray and toppings in different bowls for DIY nacho bar.

    Hey Guys! So Super Bowl is tomorrow and we’re getting ready with all the prep today! One of the things I love doing for big game days like this is to set up a DIY Nacho Bar! I love having things set up in a buffet-style so guests can feel free to make their own creations and pick and nibble as they please throughout the day.

    My favorite thing about this “recipe” (lets be serious…this isn’t really a ‘recipe’ per say..) is that we’re using a cheese sauce instead of melting shredded cheese down. There are a couple reasons I love this so much:

    1) When was the last time any of you have had cheese sauce topped nachos that WASN’T from a concession stand??? I’m assuming the majority of you are thinking…”Hmm, never. Weird.” :)

    2) By creating a cheese sauce sitch instead of topping the nachos with shredded cheese, you don’t have to keep the oven on all day and continue running back and forth into the kitchen to melt cheese on top of the chips every time someone wants to build nachos! The only thing you’ll have to do is re-warm the sauce every now and then, (unless you have a hotplate of sorts, then you’re totally golden!) which is so much easier!

    I hope everyone has a fun tomorrow whether you’re into football or not, ’cause we all know events like this are mostly about all about the food….well, and the halftime show! :) Enjoy! xx, Jenny

    Here are two recipes that work great with this nacho bar:

    Carne Asada recipe on a cutting board with ingredients on the side.
    Carne Asada Recipe
    A close up of a slightly opened slow cooker pickled pulled pork sandwich.
    Pickled Pulled Pork

    And in case you’re just on a nacho kick, here are more delicious nacho recipes:

    • Carne Asada Nachos
    • Irish Breakfast Nachos
    • Korean BBQ Nachos
    Click here for our Appetizer Recipe Collection
    A plate of nachos made from DIY nacho bar with queso sauce.

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    Chips in a tray and toppings in different bowls for DIY nacho bar.

    DIY Nacho Bar

    5 from 1 vote
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Servings: 10

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 1 recipe pickled pulled pork OR 1 recipe carne asada
    • 1 recipe silky cheese sauce

    pico de gallo

    • 6 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
    • ¼ small onion, diced
    • 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • ¼ bunch cilantro, minced
    • juice from 2 large limes
    • salt and pepper to taste

    assembly

    • corn tortilla chips
    • black beans or pinto beans
    • charred sweet corn kernels
    • jalapenos, thinly sliced (can use pickled jalapenos too!)
    • radishes, stemmed and thinly sliced
    • Mexican crèma
    • thinly sliced green onion
    • cilantro leaves

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Make pork or carne asada recipe as directed. Shred or dice and set aside.
    • Make cheese sauce and set aside.
    • For pico de gallo: place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and toss together. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
    • To assemble: Place all the sauces and topping in individual dishes/bowls, creating a buffet-style set up. Have a stack of small plates, next to the big bowl of tortilla chips and cheese sauce followed by the remaining topping ingredients. Serve (for people to build their own nacho creation!).
    CUISINE: mexican american
    KEYWORD: nachos, queso
    COURSE: Appetizer, Snack

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    February 6, 2016 / 4 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Korokke (Japanese Meat and Potato Croquettes)
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    Reader Interactions

    February 6, 2016 / 4 Comments

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    1. kylie

      February 14, 2016 at 9:33 pm

      I’m ALL OVER THIS! Nacho love love love.

      Reply
    2. Holly Deffenbaugh

      February 08, 2016 at 12:52 pm

      I love the DIY idea. I have always done that with sandwiches and salads, but never thought about it with nachos. I love the variety of fresh ingredients.

      Reply
    3. Crystal

      February 06, 2016 at 2:12 pm

      Can the cheese sauce be made 1 day ahead of time?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        February 06, 2016 at 10:09 pm

        Yes, but should be reheated in a double boiler or over low heat while constantly stirred…you might need to add a little bit of milk or water too, to loosen it up!

        Reply

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