These Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos are indulgent enough for you to share them with guests as an appetizer, yet healthy enough to chow down on for dinner. The recipe is customizable for your preferences, so you can make them Paleo, AIP, Whole 30, and even vegan friendly! Grab the recipe below.
I had a freeing moment a few weeks ago, a moment of utter peace and food freedom. It came when I realized I'm an MF adult, and I can eat nachos for dinner whenever I MF please.
For the first time since my freshman year in college, I made the choice to eat nachos for dinner. Not just any nachos… Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos.
The few seconds of clarity transitioned into an hour or so of pleasure as I prepped the ingredients, assembled the nachos, and chowed down on the sofa with my husband. Epic.
Now while I'd love for you to have the same realization – that you are not defined by unnecessary food rules and restrictions – I realize that many people (myself included) do in fact need to have a few limitations in regards to the foods they can and cannot eat.
For that reason, I made sure the recipe for these Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos was customizable to suit the needs of a variety of eating preferences and food intolerances.
About these Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos
The Chips
James and I like to use Artisan Tropics sea salt plantain strips, which are cooked in sustainably harvested palm oil. A quick tip on searching for plantain chips in your store if that's what you prefer – aim for a chip cooked in coconut oil, avocado oil, or palm oil (not palm olein).
Depending on your personal preferences, you could also use Jackson's Honest chips (white potato, sweet potato, or corn). If you're following the Whole 30, you might choose to make plantain tostones (recipe for tostones here).
What I'm getting at is… when it comes to the chips in this recipe, go with whatever your heart (and gut) desires.
The Cheese Dip
I typically do okay with goat dairy, but I've been choosing to avoid dairy while breastfeeding. That's why I made sure the dip for this recipe is 100% dairy free. While dairy free cheese dips are a dime a dozen on Pinterest, my recipe also happens to be nut and seed free, since I have an intolerance to those.
Don't let that scare you off – this sauce is thick, creamy, and very similar in consistency to real queso. This coming from the girl who lives in Austin, TX, the Queso Capital of the World <- I may have just made that up, but I promise the name fits!
The Toppings
Considering the title of this recipe is Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos, I'm fairly certain it won't be drawing the attention of vegans and vegetarians. But just so you know, this recipe is customizable for that crowd as well! James and I served this recipe to our friends as an appetizer, and we reserved a portion of them to be completely beef- and bacon-free.
Aside from the beef and bacon, you can add any of your your favorite burger toppings to these nachos: green onions, caramelized onions, cilantro, shredded lettuce, avocado, egg free Avocado Mayo, mustard, or ketchup. We made a nightshade free “ketchup” for ours by thinning it out my No'mato Sauce with a little additional bone broth, along with the tiniest bit of maple syrup for sweetness. We drizzled this on top of the finished nachos, and holy smokes… so good.
Alright, are you on team #nachosfordinner? Show me how you're celebrating your food freedom and customizing these nachos by tagging @grassfedsalsa on Instagram!
Keep calm and nacho on, y'all.
Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos (AIP, Paleo, Whole 30)
Ingredients
- 4 bags Artisan Tropic Sea Salt Plantain Chips1 cup Dairy Free Cheese Dip1 lb grass fed ground beef4 strips of ethically raised bacon1/2 tsp Primal Palate New Bae Seasoning sub Primal Palate Breakfast Blend for AIP1 chopped avocado1/2 onion, chopped and caramelized1/4 cup chopped cilantro1/8 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Cook beef and bacon using your preferred method. I chose to saute the beef in bacon grease with Primal Palate seasoning (either New Bae or Breakfast Blend). I always bake bacon in a oven to get it perfectly crispy. For the thick cut bacon we buy, that's about 17-20 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Be sure to put the bacon on a rimmed baking sheet to avoid grease from spilling on the bottom of your oven.Assemble all ingredients, starting with the chips, drizzling with the cheese dip, and layering the desired toppings. Be sure to eat while the dip is hot!
I cannot eat the primal pallet on the AIP diet. It includes paprika, chili powder, and other spices that I am not allowed.
What would you recommend as a substitute?
What kind of bacon do you use?
This was a tasty Mexican dish. I subbed my own Mexican seasoning but I never would have thought to add in bacon. Everything is better with bacon. I’ll definitely make this again.