Soccer Game Day Nachos Cheese (Printable)

Crispy chips topped with cheese sauce and fresh toppings, ideal for game day gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Tortilla Chips

01 - 10 oz tortilla chips

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 0.5 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
07 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Toppings

10 - 1 medium tomato, diced
11 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
12 - 1 to 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
13 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 0.5 cup sour cream
15 - 1 avocado, sliced or diced
16 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F
02 - Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet or ovenproof platter
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly
04 - Gradually whisk in milk and cook until mixture thickens, approximately 2 to 3 minutes
05 - Reduce heat to low and add both cheeses, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until cheese melts and sauce reaches smooth consistency. Remove from heat
06 - Place chips in preheated oven for 5 minutes, then remove
07 - Pour hot cheese sauce evenly over chips
08 - Top immediately with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeños, and cilantro
09 - Dollop with sour cream, add avocado slices, and serve with lime wedges

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cheese sauce comes together in less time than it takes to set up snack bowls, which means you actually look relaxed when guests arrive.
  • Everyone fights over the last handful of chips, and that's the sign of a dish that truly delivers.
  • You can prep toppings while the sauce simmers, so there's a natural rhythm to the whole process.
02 -
  • Don't add the cheese until the milk mixture is already thickened, or your sauce will split and separate instead of becoming silky—I learned this after ruining a batch and wondering why my sauce looked broken.
  • The difference between serving these nachos warm and serving them room temperature is the difference between people going back for more and politely picking at them.
03 -
  • Warm your chips in the oven right before adding the sauce—cold chips will cool down your cheese sauce, and you'll lose that perfect melting texture.
  • Use a ladle or large spoon to pour the cheese sauce so it distributes evenly and reaches down to the chips on the bottom of your platter.
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