Toaster Oven Nachos

Toaster Oven Nachos are easy to whip up for a fun appetizer or meal. Theyโ€™re crunchy, cheesy, and perfect for customizing with your favorite toppings.

Baked sheet pan nachos on a cutting board with lime wedges and a bowl of salsa.

Microwaved nachos are ready in a flash and not half-bad. But if youโ€™ve got a few minutes to spare, I highly recommend baking your nachos instead.

They will be so much more delicious. Iโ€™m talking extra crispy chips and perfectly melted cheese. Plus, theyโ€™ll stay warm longer (thanks to the hot sheet pan) even after youโ€™ve piled on guacamole, diced tomatoes, and more for the ultimate nachos experience.

And best of all, you donโ€™t have to turn on your big oven. You can use the toaster oven!

How To Make Nachos In A Toaster Oven

Step 1: Prep The Toaster Oven. Adjust the cooking rack to the bottom position, select the BAKE setting, and heat the toaster oven to 375ยฐF (or 350ยฐF for convection).

Corn tortilla chips on baking sheet.

Step 2: Pick Your Pan. I like to use a rimmed toaster oven sheet pan, the panโ€™s edges help to keep all of the chips and fixings contained. An 8-inch square baking dish or metal pie pan are good options too.

Rimmed pan with chips topped with beans and shredded cheese.

Step 3: Layer The Ingredients. Spread an even layer of chips across the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle over half of the cheese (this will keep the chips from getting soggy). Then top with half of the black beans and dollop small spoonfuls of refried beans over everything.

For our veggie nachos, I also added some chopped red bell pepper, thin jalapeno slices, fresh baby spinach, and black olives.

Pan of nachos with a second layer of chips.

Step 4: Do It All Again. Add another layer with the remaining chips but this time top them first with the beans plus any other toppings, and then the cheese.

White baking pan of chips, toppings, and shredded cheese.

Step 5: Warm Thing Up. Bake at 375ยฐF until the cheese is melted and the chips are golden around the edges, about 6 to 10 minutes.

Nachos baking on a pan inside of a toaster oven.

Step 6: Bring On The Toppings. Remove from the toaster oven and pile on your favorite toppings. Then grab a pile of napkins and dig in!

We usually add chopped green onion, tomatoes, guacamole (or diced avocado), and dollops of plain Greek yogurt (or our Greek yogurt salsa dip). Plus some extra salsa and lime wedges on the side. 

Hand scooping up a chip from a pan of veggie nachos.
Pan of baked nachos topped with guacamole, tomatoes, green onions, and dollops of yogurt.

Toaster Oven Nachos

Yield: 2 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

A fun appetizer or dinner, this basic nachos recipe is simple to customize. Weโ€™ve included a list of fresh veggie options but feel free to swap in your favorite toppings instead.ย 

Ingredients

For The Nachos

  • 3 ounces Restaurant-Style Tortilla Chips
  • 1 cup (112 grams) Grated Cheese (we used Colby Jack)
  • ยผ cup (65 grams) Vegetarian Refried Beans
  • ยผ cup Cooked Black Beans, drained and rinsed if using canned
  • Small Jalapeรฑo, thinly sliced

Optional Vegetables

  • Red Bell Pepper, seeded and diced
  • Fresh Baby Spinach, torn into small pieces
  • Sliced Black Olives
  • Green Onion, thinly sliced
  • Grape Tomatoes, cut in half

Sauces and Garnishes

  • Guacamole, Salsa, Plain Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream, Fresh Cilantro, or Lime Wedges

Instructions

  1. Adjust the cooking rack to the bottom position and preheat the toaster oven to 375°F (or 350°F for convection) on the BAKE setting.
  2. On a small rimmed pan, spread some of the tortilla chips into a layer. Sprinkle chips with half of the cheese. Drop refried beans by small spoonfuls onto the chips and top with half of the black beans and jalapeño slices. If making veggie nachos, sprinkle half of your chopped vegetables over the chips.
  3. Repeat with another layer of chips and toppings, but add the cheese last this time.
  4. Bake nachos for 6 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the toppings are warmed.
  5. Once ready, add your favorite garnishes (diced tomatoes, green onion, cilantro, guacamole, etc.) and dig in!

Notes

Chips: Opt for thicker chips. Sturdy restaurant-style chips will hold up better under lots of toppings.

Cheese: Grab whatever melting cheese you have on hand like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Mild Cheddar, or a Mexican cheese blend.

More Veggie Options: Corn kernels, leftover roasted vegetables, and diced red onion can go on before baking. For a fresh and crunchy addition, top the baked nachos with shredded cabbage or sliced radishes.

Craving something heartier? Add soy chorizo, meatless crumbles, or another type of protein. Just make sure itโ€™s fully cooked first, then layer it onto the chips along with the beans.

Nutritional Information is an estimate for 1 of 2 servings made with chips, beans, and cheese and does not include other garnishes.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: Half of Recipe
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 448Total Fat: 28.4gSaturated Fat: 11.2gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 612mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 5.3gSugar: 2.5gProtein: 17.7g

Toaster Oven FAQ

Q: Is it better to bake or broil nachos?
A: While toaster oven settings vary, the Broil function on most toaster ovens uses only the top heating elements and the heat is quite intense. The Bake function uses both the top and bottom heating elements to gently warm and cook the dish.

Broiling nachos is faster, but we prefer baking them as it melts the cheese more evenly while also warming all of the layered toppings and lightly toasting the chips.

Q: Why is one side of the nachos browning faster?
A: Some toaster ovens (and even traditional ovens) have hot spots or areas that are warmer than others. If you find one side of the dish is browning faster, try rotating your pan halfway through the cooking time to even things out.

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10 Comments

  1. So excited to see some toaster oven recipes with veggies or easy veggies to cook. I am getting ready to get my CDL and want to be able to eat healthy on the road. The recipes are awesome. Thanks. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Welcome to Toaster Oven Love, Sylvia! We’re big veggie fans too ๐Ÿ™‚ and happily take recipe requests if we don’t have something you’re looking for.

      Best of luck with your CDL tests!