Crispy chips are topped with homemade vegan cheese sauce, beans, vegan chorizo, and various other delicious ingredients to create a perfect combination of flavors and textures in this loaded, easy vegan nacho recipe that is ready in about 20 minutes.
This dish is a staple in our family’s meal rotation. It’s one of the most requested for birthday dinners and a go-to when we have non-vegan friends over. Everyone loves it!
Whether it’s game day, Cinco de Mayo, or just a new weekly favorite, these easy vegan nachos are perfect. Older kids can make them, little ones can help, and they’re a hit for quick family dinners or impressing guests—even the pickiest will love them!
For other great vegan game-day meals, look at 10+ Vegan Hot Dogs and Vegan Sausage Dog Recipes, Vegan Jackfruit Nachos, and 13+ Vegan Game-Day Recipes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It will satisfy your cheesy cravings.
- These nachos are a healthier alternative to traditional ones.
- You can personalize the toppings to suit your taste preferences.
- Whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is simple to follow.
- If you're hosting a party or movie night, these nachos will surely be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike.
- It's an excellent way to introduce your family to delicious vegan options. Kids will love the colorful presentation and tasty flavors, making it a great choice for family meals.
- This meal is quick, delicious, and simple.
Ingredients
You'll need these ingredients to make delicious vegan nachos. The recipe card provides more information on quantities and suggestions for toppings.
Ingredients for Vegan Nachos
Some Suggestions for Toppings
- Beans - Black or Pinto work great in this dish. I season with salt and pepper or All Purpose Adobo Seasoning. Occasionally, I will instead mix with ½ cup of salsa for more flavor.
- Refried beans - Add about a cup of salsa to refried beans. Heat them on the stove to make them softer, easier to spread, and more flavorful. Whatever brand you buy, be aware that many brands contain animal lard, so check the label. I suggest trying out the fat free refried beans from Trader Joe's.
- Cheese sauce—My choice for nachos is the Best Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Sauce. It is made without nuts, which can be expensive and high in calories. This cheese sauce recipe makes a lot, which is perfect for a large batch of nachos.
- Sour cream - There are wide varieties of vegan sour cream available at regular supermarkets. We like the Toffuti brand for sour cream. I do not recommend the brand from Trader Joe's.
- Vegan Chorizo - Traditional chorizo is a spicy sausage popular in Spanish and Latin American cuisines, made from ground pork and spices like chili peppers, paprika, and garlic. They have a delicious vegan version at Trader Joe's and Soyrizo is sold on Amazon and Sprouts. A little of this goes a long way - it's very strong-flavored. For a more wholesome alternative, try this delicious Simple Walnut Meat Recipe that will give you a delicious meaty texture using nuts and mushrooms.
What Cold Toppings Can I Add to Nachos?
- avocado or guacamole
- plant-based sour cream
- pico de gallo
- scallions
- jalapenos
- black olives
- tomatoes
- lettuce
- hot sauce
- corn
- peppers
- onions
- pineapple
- salsa - Try homemade Mango Cucumber Salsa or Mango Habanero Salsa.
How To Make Vegan Nachos
See this dish come to life in these pictures. Follow these easy steps, but check out the recipe card below for more details.
Step 1: Place the refried beans and salsa in a pot and heat on medium heat until you get a soft consistency.
Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the black beans with salt and pepper or some adobo seasoning.
Step 3: Prepare the vegan cheese sauce by combining all the ingredients in a blender. Blend until heated and smooth. See Nut-Free Vegan Cheese Sauce for details.
Step 4: Layer the chips and drizzle with vegan cheese sauce. Add another layer of chips and more cheese sauce, adjusting the amount you like.
Step 5: Assemble the beans, refried beans, and vegan chorizo (really anything you want to warm in the oven) on top of the chips and vegan cheese. Heat at 375°F or 190°C for about 5-7 minutes.
Step 6: While the nachos are in the oven, chop and ready all the cold ingredients. Add all the 'cold' ingredients when it comes out of the oven. Serve and enjoy.
Top Tips
- This meal is ready in less than 30 minutes. You can reduce the amount of prep by buying prechopped lettuce and cans of beans, chiles, and sliced olives. This makes prep easy and quick.
- Keep an eye on the nachos while they’re in the oven. If they stay too long, the cheese sauce can dry out. You just want to heat the ingredients, so avoid overcooking.
- Chorizo comes ready to eat. It just needs to be warmed up in the oven. We crumble about half or slightly less than half of the package since it's very strong-flavored.
Vegan Nacho FAQS
You can leave out the highly processed ingredients such as sour cream, chorizo, and meat substitutes and opt for a healthier corn chip (or homemade corn chips). Add an abundance of cheese sauce, beans, and fresh veggies as toppings, and you won’t be disappointed! Plus, try Easy Walnut Taco Meat for a healthy meaty texture.
If you have leftovers, store these vegan nachos in an airtight container. While the tortilla chips may soften, my family still loves them! I reheat everything, even the cold toppings, in the microwave for a minute or two—it’s still delicious.
For More Delicious Mexican-Inspired Recipes
Got a minute? I'd love for you to dive into the comments and rate these Easy Vegan Nachos. Your feedback is invaluable—did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked for you so I can keep improving my recipes. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
Easy Vegan Nachos
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Nachos
- 1 - 2 bags of corn chips
- 1 14 ounce can vegan refried beans
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 14 ounce can black beans or pinto beans
- salt and pepper to taste or favorite seasoning
- 1 package of plant-based chorizo*
- Best Nut Free Vegan Cheese Sauce
Toppings: pick a variety to customize your nachos
- avocado or guacamole
- plant-based sour cream
- pico de gallo
- scallions chopped
- jalapenos fresh or canned
- black olives sliced
- tomatoes diced
- shredded lettuce
- hot sauce
- corn canned or fresh
- peppers diced
- red onions diced
- pineapple chopped
- Mango Cucumber Salsa
- Mango Habanero Salsa
Instructions
- Preheat: Heat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare refried beans: Heat a small pot with the refried beans. Add 1 cup of salsa to the beans to soften them. Allow to simmer and stir often until they are soft and flavored.
- Prepare black beans: In a small bowl, add salt and pepper to taste or your favorite seasoning to the black beans. Mix well.
- Prepare cheese sauce: While the beans are on the stove, make the cheese sauce in the blender.
- Assemble the Nachos: Spread out half the corn chips in an oven-safe casserole dish. Place some of the vegan cheese over the chips. Spread the remaining chips and more cheese sauce over the top.
- Bake: Add the refried beans, black beans, and vegan chorizo over the nachos. Bake at 375°F or 190°C for 5-8 minutes, making sure the cheese sauce does not dry up.
- Finish: Add your preferred toppings and serve!
Anonymous says
So good! A family favorite!