Baked Italian Nachos

These meaty, cheesy Baked Italian Nachos put a Mediterranean twist on the classic appetizer with herbs, ricotta, peperoncini, and pasta chips!


You all know I get pretty psyched when my monthly Degustabox arrives. This fun food subscription box always has a great variety of ingredients and snacks. You may have seen my haul when I posted it on Instagram...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXL0Xa1DidS/?taken-by=fullbellysisters

My son was very excited about all the yummy goodies. But he was most interested in checking out the pasta chips. Have I mentioned he is a pasta fiend? Oh, and also a chip lover. The idea of pasta chips kinda blew his mind!

(By the way, see that hummus that I got in my Degustabox? It's called Hummustir and it's super yummy and you can get 20% off now at Amazon using the code:
FRESH020)

I decided to take a classic appetizer—nachos—but put an Italian spin on them. So, instead of Tex-Mex ingredients like salsa, jalapenos, and cilantro...I used Mediterranean ingredients like marinara sauce, peperoncini, and parsley. I also replaced the sour cream with ricotta. And, of course, the pasta chips in place of tortilla chips!




Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound of ground beef (or ground turkey or sausage)
  • 1/2 yellow or red bell pepper, chopped*
  • 1/2 onion, chopped*
  • 1/3 cup marinara sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • a couple pinches of red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 
  • 1 bag (5 oz) pasta chips
  • sliced peperoncini
  • sliced olives
  • chopped parsley
  • ricotta cheese
 *reserve a little bit to sprinkle over the cooked nachos



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat a tablespoon or so of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef, stirring and breaking it up, until it is fully browned and no longer pink. Add the peppers, onions, garlic, and marinara sauce  and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

While the meat mixture is simmering, arrange the pasta chips in an oven-safe pan or casserole dish (I used a 12" cast iron skillet). If you want to double the recipe, you can make the nachos on a sheet pan. Arrange the chips in a single layer, with some overlap so there are no bare spots in the pan.

Spoon the hot meat mixture over the pasta chips. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the chips and meat and place in the preheated oven.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted. Serve immediately, topped with the reserved chopped onions and peppers, slices of olives and peperoncini, chopped parsley, and a generous dollop of ricotta cheese. These Baked Italian Nachos are so good!





Thanks to Degustabox for introducing us to Pasta Chips! Check out some of our other Degustabox-inspired recipes:

Chipotle Fried Egg Avocado Toast 










*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, so if you buy something you'll be helping to support this blogbut it won’t cost you any extra!* 

Comments

  1. This is such a great twist on nachos! I love all things Italian, so this is right up my alley!

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  2. That box is like Christmas for foodies and I just love what a yummy Nacho recipe you've made!

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  3. I just LOVE these nachos - Nachos are one of my favorite guilty pleasures and now they you've made them with delicious greek flavors! I am not familiar with Degustabox so I'm heading over to check them out!

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  4. Okay, now I have to find those pasta chips. They sound delicious and perfect with this nachos.

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  5. Pasta chips!? BRILLIANT!! These nachos look AMAZING!

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  6. This is so creative and so colorful; I just love everything about it! Great job on this recipe!

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  7. I love the idea of using pasta chips! How fun and these nachos are amazing~

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  8. I've never tried pasta chips before but they sound so up my alley! I need to get some ASAP to make these nachos with!

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  9. This looks absolutely delicious! Awesome!

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  10. I do love nachos but somehow I don't have them that often - this reminds me I should more!

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  11. Would love this for movre night. So good

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