Health

Loaded Veggie Nachos (No Meat!)

Published

2 months ago

July 23, 2024

Anjali Shah

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With layers of chips, melty cheese, and the best toppings, my loaded veggie nachos make the perfect side dish or main dish that you can customize for any occasion. Whether you serve them for Cinco de Mayo, game day, get-togethers, or movie nights, the whole family will love these no meat nachos!

As a huge nacho fan, I’ve created the most delicious copycat vegetarian nachos supreme! They taste just like the traditional recipe, but you can enjoy my healthy loaded nachos completely guilt-free!

Believe it or not, real authentic nachos are only made with tortilla chips, cheese and jalapeños. Adding beans and other toppings are considered a spinoff.

Mine are made just like the original, but are baked in the oven with lots of extras and no meat – which I think makes my recipe even better than the traditional version. Each chip is super crisp and loaded with all your favorite toppings!

Trust me, once you make my easy nachos with no meat, your family will love them as much as mine.

My healthy loaded veggie nachos are layered with vegetables and fiber-rich beans, making them a perfectly acceptable full-blown meal! They combine some of my favorites, like fresh guacamole, sweet red bell pepper, and juicy tomatoes in every delicious bite.

Plus, corn tortillas and tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free, which makes my loaded nachos without meat gluten-free too! The beans add extra protein and fiber, while the guacamole adds healthy fat.

I also use real organic corn tortilla chips with only two ingredients (corn and salt) and less cheese than typical nachos to keep it well balanced and healthy.

Another thing I love is that you can serve nachos with veggies as an appetizer, a healthy snack, or a quick dinner for the whole family. It’s really ideal if you’re looking to make a filling dish that will satisfy multiple dietary needs – it’s easy to make vegan as well! And the recipe is super easy to double, making it perfect for large gatherings.

But my favorite thing is that you can make my meatless nachos recipe in less than 30 minutes using affordable pantry staples. It’s a fun dish that is easy to make with the kids, and my kids happen to love it when we have this for dinner!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

My nachos recipe with no meat doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. You can find everything you need at your local grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact amounts and nutritional information.

Tortilla Chips: Use any bag of tortilla chips you’d like as the base of my healthy nachos recipe. You can also use my homemade air fryer tortilla chips or blue corn chips are a fun twist.

Red Bell Pepper & Red Onion: I add some red bell peppers for a touch of color and sweetness. Chopped red onion adds a sharp, slightly sweet and pungent flavor. You can use raw onions, sauteed, or even caramelized onions.

Corn Kernels: Both frozen or canned corn kernels will do the trick. They add both flavor and texture. I typically will use frozen corn that I saute lightly on the stovetop before adding as a topping.

More Veggies: A combination of black olives, green onion, jalapeno, tomato, and fresh cilantro takes my loaded veggie nachos recipe to the next level.

Beans: You can use any kind of beans you like. Canned beans are the easiest and quickest choice. I chose a Mexican bean mixture of black beans and pinto beans, but kidney beans and refried beans are other great options.

Cheese: I like to use Mexican shredded cheese which is usually a blend of Monterey jack cheese, cheddar, asadero cheese, and queso quesadilla. I also love to use sharp cheddar cheese for a boost of flavor.

Sour Cream & Guacamole: These two favorites give my veggie loaded nachos the perfect finish. Greek yogurt works as a healthier option. You could also go with an avocado crema or avocado sauce drizzled on top.

Optional Toppings: Feel free to add any additional toppings like pico de gallo or your favorite salsa. A squeeze of fresh lime juice, cherry tomatoes, or cotija cheese can also add another layer of flavor. Or try one of these 50 vegetarian taco toppings.

🔪 How To Make Nachos Without Meat

Learning how to make sheet pan loaded veggie nachos requires very little effort. Check out my video below to see the step-by-step process.

Preheat & Lay Out The Chips: To begin, I preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Then I line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the tortilla chips on top in a single layer for the optimal cheese-to-crunch ratio.

Add Cheese And Veggies: First, I sprinkle half of the cheese over the tortilla chips followed by the diced bell pepper, red onion, corn kernels, tomatoes, and beans. If you want to make two layers, start with half of your toppings for the first layer, and use the other half on the second layer (see below).

Repeat Layering: After all the ingredients are evenly distributed, I add the remaining grated cheese. You could add a second layer and repeat if desired.

Bake: Once the no meat nachos are assembled, I bake them in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the chips are lightly golden.

Add Toppings: When ready, I remove the nachos and top them with black olives, green onion, and jalapeno slices. Then I drizzle them with sour cream, add a dollop of guacamole, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

Serve: Finally, I serve my loaded veggie nachos immediately with salsa and pico de gallo.

My #1 Secret Tip for making my loaded vegetarian nachos recipe is to add fresh or “wet” toppings like cilantro, green onions, salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo immediately before serving. This prevents the nachos from becoming soggy, ensuring they stay crisp and delicious.

Other Tips To Keep In Mind:

Enjoy Fresh: No meat nachos are best enjoyed immediately out of the oven while still hot and the cheese is melted to perfection.
Same Size Veggies: I dice all the veggies the same size. For the perfect bite, dice bell pepper, onion, and tomatoes into small cubes. Make sure to also defrost the corn (and drain the kernels) if you’re using frozen corn for this recipe.
Prevent Sticking: I always line the baking sheet with parchment or baking paper to prevent the nachos from sticking to the tray and for easy cleanup.
Choose Thicker Chips: I suggest using thicker chips to prevent cracking when loaded with toppings.
Customize for Different Preferences: If serving a crowd, I will divide my baking sheet into four sections and add different toppings to each to cater to various preferences.

📖 Variations

Vegan Loaded Nachos: Make my easy veggie nachos vegan by using vegan cheese and vegan sour cream. You can also use a cashew queso and add a sauteed mushroom mixture for a meaty texture. For more protein, try this vegan chorizo as a topping!

Vegetarian Chili Nachos: Add extra flavor by turning my vegetarian loaded nachos into chili nachos! You can use pre-made vegetarian chili or mix whatever kind of beans you have on hand with chili powder, salt, garlic powder, cumin, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Top with loads of cheese and bake.

Roasted Vegetable Nachos: Bring out even more flavor by roasting your vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil and lime juice in the oven or saute them on the stovetop. I sometimes mix the veggies with my old el paso taco seasoning for additional spice.

Nachos Without Cheese: Omit the cheese entirely. Just use creamy toppings like sour cream and guacamole.

Without Chips: It may seem odd to make nachos without chips, but if you are looking for a healthier option give it a try! I’ve used thinly sliced sweet potatoes, cauliflower, or zucchini instead of tortilla chips.

Use Doritos: For more indulgent loaded veggie nachos, use Doritos instead of tortilla chips. Siete chips, SunChips, or pita chips are also great options!

Kid Friendly: I make veggie nachos for picky eaters by only sprinkling the chips with the cheese and melting it in the oven. You can also let your kids pick out their own toppings, which will make them more likely to eat it!

Different Cheeses: Feel free to use any type of cheese with my ultimate vegetarian nachos recipe. Try creamy feta, cojita, or goat cheese, or different hard cheeses like cheddar, pepper jack, or regular jack cheese. While mozzarella melts well, I wouldn’t use it on its own because it doesn’t have as much flavor as some of the other cheeses I’ve listed here.

Different Veggies: Make my nachos recipe without meat even more healthy by adding even more veggies like crisp radishes, jicama, sauteed mixed veggies, pickled jalapeno, roasted squash, sweet potatoes, or roasted corn.

Sauces: Get creative with the sauces. Add heat with a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce or this smoky red pepper crema. You can also switch up the salsa by using my pineapple pico de gallo and chipotle corn salsa.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

My loaded nachos recipe without meat is fantastic when served exactly as it is! However, you can also take it to a whole new level by pairing it with salads, other appetizers, or even main dishes.

With Salad: My light and refreshing tomato avocado cucumber salad pairs wonderfully with the rich flavors. It would also be yummy with my Mexican fruit salad or spinach and arugula salad.

With Appetizers: Pair your veggie nachos platter with an assortment of appetizers like my Mexican street corn fries, vegan empanadas, and sweet corn tamale cakes.

With Entrees: Sometimes I’ll make it a Mexican feast and serve them with my keto enchiladas, this Mexican bean soup, and vegetarian flautas with black beans.

🧊 Storage Directions

Fridge: If I have leftover no meat nachos that have already been baked, I store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for about one day since all of the toppings have already been added. When ready to enjoy again, I bake them in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Note: this recipe does not freeze well.

Meal Prep: While best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the toppings for my no meat nachos recipe ahead of time. Store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Assemble and bake just before serving for the best texture and flavor.

❓Recipe FAQs

How do you make loaded nachos not soggy?

The key to avoiding soggy nachos is to add any “wet” toppings like salsa and guacamole immediately before serving, or, if they are going to sit for a while, keep the wet toppings on the side and let people add them as they’re eating.

Do you put cheese on first or last for nachos? What cheese is best for nachos?

Adding cheese first helps the other toppings to stick to the chips. I recommend using half of the cheese first, then adding your veggies and beans, and finishing off with the rest of the cheese!

Can I broil my nachos instead of baking them?

Yes, you can broil your nachos instead of baking them, but keep in mind that broiling will give your nachos a crispier, more bubbly cheese topping. Additionally, broiling can quickly burn the chips and cheese, so you will have to watch it closely and remove it quickly as soon as the cheese starts to melt and brown. I’ve found that broiling nachos can be a bit stressful so I prefer to bake them in the oven – I like the consistency of the cheese better when it has that melted/gooey quality from oven-baking vs. the crispy quality that broiling brings.

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