As a food editor, it’s hard to pick a favorite food, but I will always stand by a pile of nachos being one of my top meals. There’s just something about creating a different perfect bite every time that keeps it exciting. Speaking of different bites, I’m also known to make a pretty elaborate charcuterie spread for friends or a relaxing night in by myself (girl dinner, anyone?). So when I found a video of charcuterie chips making its way into my feed, I couldn’t believe I’d never thought to combine them. I immediately rounded up the ingredients to try the trend myself.
What Are Charcuterie Nachos?
The Italian-meets-Mexican mashup covers potato chips with aged, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and more in a nacho-style platter rather than a board with the individual ingredients. It’s currently making waves on Instagram and TikTok with millions of views on videos such as @convinoboard’s take made with brie cheese, prosciutto, and hot honey.
PHOTO:
Katlyn Moncada
PHOTO:
Katlyn Moncada
How to Make Charcuterie Nachos
Here’s what I did to make the viral charcuterie nachos. Feel free to add or swap out any of your favorite charcuterie ingredients to make the ideal spread.
Spread potato chips out on a baking sheet. I used plain salted kettle cooked chips and found they provided a great neutral base and sturdy surface for all the toppings.
Top with shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and crumbled crispy prosciutto (I did this in a skillet). Bake in a 400ºF oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Add extra cheese, deli meat, olives, pickles, and other favorite charcuterie board accompaniments. I added quartered sliced hard salami, Boursin bites, chopped gherkins, and olives (I used some muffuletta salad I had on hand).
Finish the charcuterie nachos with some dollops of fig jam and a drizzle of hot honey.
Katlyn Moncada
Tips for Making Charcuterie Nachos
If you’re heading to the pantry now, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind.
Regular kettle cooked chips are an excellent base, but many posters are using sturdy crackers or a flavored chip such as spicy jalapeño.
I crisped some prosciutto and put regular sliced salami slices on the chips, but you can also try finely chopping or grating the cured meat, which seemed to work well for @logansfewd on Instagram.
The main ingredients of these nachos are pretty salty, so you’ll want something sweet, sour, and/or spicy to balance it out. I really enjoyed adding hot honey and fig jam to avoid a salt bomb.
The baking portion is optional, but I loved using a nice layer of warm chips and cheese as the base for the rest of the cool ingredients.
If your jam is thick, give a quick nuke in the microwave to make a smoother consistency for dolloping.
For a fresh addition, try adding some herbs or leafy greens such as basil or arugula.
The Verdict on Charcuterie Nachos
I am totally all in on charcuterie nachos. It’s an easy way to dress up plain potato chips into something more sophisticated. Since I already keep most of these ingredients handy, I can’t wait to whip up a fresh batch of charcuterie nachos for a low-key dinner or snack to share with my friends—perhaps next time with brie cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.