How To Make Easy Irish Nachos (Crispy Pub Recipe)

These Easy Irish Nachos are a versatile and fun twist on traditional nachos that use crispy potato slices as the base topped with all your favorite nachos toppings. They’re perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, game day snacks, or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next party.

With the word Irish in the name, you might think they originated in Ireland but you would be mistaken. 🙂 They are widely unheard of in and around Ireland.

This unique and tasty nacho dish is now one of our favorite nacho recipes, and it was actually invented in a local Irish Pub in Arlington, Texas around 1980. Now, no St. Paddy’s Day celebration is complete without them!

Basically, they’re nachos that use potato rounds in place of the tortilla chips.

You can get just as creative with the potato nachos by using a variety of toppings as you do with traditional nachos. Each member of your family can create their own unique version as well.

Layer baked potato rounds topped with crispy bacon, ooey-gooey melty cheese, sour cream, green onions, and whatever toppings you can think of to make your nachos even yummier.

Irish nachos are the perfect appetizer for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration or game day fun!

Easy Irish Nachos Recipe Ingredients

This great appetizer uses these simple ingredients:

• Russet potatoes – I prefer to leave the skin on, but you can peel them if you prefer
• Olive Oil – virgin or extra virgin oil
• Seasonings – Rosemary, cilantro, thyme, sea salt and black pepper to taste
• Shredded cheese – cheddar jack, sharp cheddar cheese, Mexican blend, provolone, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella all work
• Bacon – crispy and crumbled, or use bacon bits!
• Sour cream
• Pico de gallo
• Green onions – chopped

How To Make Easy Irish Nachos

This is the perfect dish for a fun event or even just an easy weeknight meal! Here’s how to throw it together:

Step 1

Begin by preparing a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and preheating the oven to 450 degrees.

Scrub potatoes.

Step 2

Slice potatoes THIN using a knife or mandoline slicer.

Safety Tip: Watch your fingers! Mandolins are SHARP – always use the topper that comes with your mandolin to prevent accidentally slicing your finger tips

Step 3

Combine the olive oil, rosemary, thyme, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss the potato slices in and coat.

Step 4

Place the thin-sliced potatoes in a single layer on the prepared large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the potatoes over and bake for another 20 minutes until they’re golden brown.

Step 5

In a round cast iron skillet, place the cooked potatoes in an overlapping pattern.

Step 6

Sprinkle the cooked bacon and plenty of cheese on top and cook for 3 – 4 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step 7

Garnish the top with pico de gallo, green onions, cilantro, and a side of sour cream.

Irish Potato Nachos Recipe Notes And Tips

• Any oven-safe baking dish will work if you do not have a cast iron skillet.

• Use russet potatoes if you can. Their natural low moisture levels and thick skin make them my top choice for frying and baking. 

• If you want crispier potatoes, try soaking them in cold water for 30 minutes then pat them dry. This removes the starch and leads to a super crispy chip.

• Need to speed up the process? You could replace the potatoes with frozen fries/tater tots or potato chips.

• If you are using fries or tater tots that have been pre-seasoned, you do not need to add salt. If you use unseasoned potato slices or fries, you will need to season to your taste.

Variations Of Easy Irish Nachos To Try

• Seasonings – Feel free to adjust the seasonings in this recipe to your taste, or add others like a dash of onion powder or garlic powder, if you want!
• Toppings – Use your favorite nacho toppings such as jalapenos, onions, bell peppers, queso, red onion, salsa, or fresh cilantro.
• Base – Change up the base and use French fries, waffle fries, potato wedges. sweet potatoes, or tater tots.
• Sauce – My go-to options are always melted cheese, queso, and hot sauce. Ranch dressing is delicious with pretty much anything, so you know it will be delicious added to the top of these nachos. BBQ sauce would be another delicious choice. Don’t forget a side of sour cream!
• Meat – Instead of cooking bacon, why not use bacon bits? Or top with pulled chicken, pork, brisket, ground beef, corned beef, or taco meat. YUM!

Irish Pub Nachos FAQs

More Fun Party Food To Try

If you love this Easy Irish Nachos recipe, check out these recipes that will be party favorites too!

• Apple Nachos
• Juicy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Muddy Buddies Cookies and Cream Flavor (Oreo Puppy Chow)
• Shark Party Food Idea: A Shark-Cuterie
• Instant Pot Mini Turtle Cheesecake Bites

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