Elevate Boring Nachos With The Help Of A Classic Seafood Appetizer

Admittedly, even when boring, nachos are seriously delicious, whether you're splitting them as an appetizer or cooking them on the Blackstone for the Fourth of July. Perhaps you're a barbecue brisket nacho lover or prefer a vegetarian bean and corn version. If you're gearing up to cook nachos for the upcoming Super Bowl, try a fresh seafood variation, perfect for those who desire a little lightness in their nachos to combat all the usual heavy Super Bowl bites — you won't believe how many wings are eaten during the annual football finale every year.

If you're in the mood to mix up your nachos, try elevating them with a combination of shrimp, avocado, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, chipotle seasoning, and fresh lime juice. Try mixing the sour cream with your favorite hot sauce for a hint of spice and tang. To go light on the oil try poaching your shrimp; just use this hack to ensure the shrimp comes out bursting with flavor. You can also incorporate leftover shrimp from your Super Bowl shrimp cocktail to keep things extra easy, however, you might want to keep your cocktail shrimp on ice in the meantime. Add to the freshness with corn, pico de gallo, cilantro, and chopped romaine lettuce. If you favor a healthier alternative you can make the nachos with organic sea salt tortilla chips or whole-grain pita chips. Alternatively, make your nachos with a base of sliced bell peppers, plantains, or sweet potatoes. You might need to eat your nachos with a fork, but it's worth it for this tasty seafood take.

Not a shrimp fan? No biggie. There are more ways to mix up zesty nachos sans seafood. If a hint of acidity and sweetness sounds good to you, try making a Hawaiian-inspired version with chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, and barbecue sauce. Shred the chicken to properly spread the protein out throughout the dish. Maybe some breakfast nachos (otherwise known as chilaquiles) are your thing — try a version with green salsa, cotija cheese, chorizo, refried beans, and eggs. Go for an Americanized take by replacing the chips with tater tots and tossing in bacon and American cheddar to the hearty mix.

Perhaps an all veggie version is the way for you — pack it with whatever produce you've got in the fridge that needs to be used up. Bell peppers, mushrooms, corn, tomatoes, onions, and broccoli all come to mind. And if you've eased up on the idea of seafood in your nachos go for a platter of nachos with canned tuna, cheddar, green onion, sour cream, and lime.