Nachos Recipe

Although they are not traditional in Mexico, many people outside of that country still identify nachos as Mexican fare—much like pizza is considered Italian food.

According to the frequently repeated story, nachos were invented in the 1940s by a man named Ignacio (note: the common nickname for a man of that name is Nacho) working at a restaurant in Piedras Negras, a Mexican city just over the border from Texas. When some regular customers arrived after closing time, Ignacio made a snack for them with what little he had left in the kitchen: fried corn tortilla pieces, cheese, and chopped jalapeño peppers.

The dish was a success with those diners and eventually caught on in the southwestern United States. Its popularity absolutely exploded when, in the 1970s, the cheese was replaced with a cheddar cheese sauce and nachos began selling at sports events.

After that, there was no looking back. Nachos became mainstream Mexican-American fare, and new versions are invented all the time. Nowadays we can choose from the “original” version of just tortilla chips, cheese, and chiles or enjoy additional elements such as guacamole, olives, chicken or meat. There are no hard and fast rules, so enjoy this crunchy, cheesy snack with any and all of your favorite toppings.