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Easy Italian Nachos

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Quick and easy Italian Nachos are delicious and a super fun twist on classic nachos. From your first bite, you’ll be a big Italian Nacho fan. Instead of tortilla chips used in traditional nachos, this recipe calls for easy store-bought pita chips.  Black olives, green olives, red bell peppers, pepperoncini peppers, and capers replace beans, jalapenos, fresh tomatoes, and avocadoes.

Close up of an Italian nacho over a cast iron skillet full of italian nachos.

Store-bought pesto sauce and marinara sauce are substituted for Mexican salsa. The best part is the cheese, creamy Havarti cheese, and freshly shredded parmesan instead of cheddar cheese. Lordy, are these yummy! 

Why You’ll Love These Easy Italian Nachos

  • Easy and Quick: Since most of the ingredients come in a jar or a bag this recipe is super easy to put together. Assembly and baking combined takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
  • Delicious Italian Flavor: These yummy Italian nachos are full of lots of comforting Italian flavors. From the pesto sauce, olives, and marinara sauce you’ll love all these flavors in one big cheesy bite. 
  • Easily Customized: Just like classic Mexican nachos, you can top them with all kinds of different ingredients. Hot Italian sausage, pepperoni, seasoned ground beef, or diced chicken breast would be easy and tasty on top. Use baked pasta chips, crispy wonton wrappers, or egg roll wrappers instead of pita chips. Of course, you can also switch out the Havarti cheese for mozzarella cheese and creamy alfredo sauce.
  • Perfect Game Day Party Appetizer: For a larger crowd use a large cookie sheet instead of a smaller cast iron skillet. Make the base layer of chips and cheese and serve with different toppings and sauces for a nacho bar.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Italian Nachos Recipe

Chips: Chips are used as a sturdy base layer ready for all kinds of toppings. Use crispy wonton chips, tortilla chips, or baked pasta chips instead of pita chips.

Cheese: Havarti cheese is a buttery, creamy delicious cheese but it can be replaced with mozzarella, feta, or gruyere cheese.

Toppings: The six toppings used in this recipe are a perfect flavor combination of amazing Italian flavors but feel free to add or replace with your favorite Italian ingredients.

Sauce: Store-bought pesto sauce, marinara sauce or pizza sauce is easy, convenient, and adds the perfect Italian taste. To experiment with different sauces all you have to do is browse the many different kinds of sauces found on the grocery store aisle. 

Italian nacho ingredients on a cutting board with a green and white towel.

How To Make Easy Italian Nachos

  • Step One: Preheat the oven to 375o.
  • Step Two: Lay the chips in a large skillet or sheet pan in a single layer. Top with the grated cheese and sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of the cheese.
Pita chips in a black cast iron skillet with grated cheese and italian seasoning on top.
  • Step Three: Drop pesto sauce in small dots on top of the cheese. Try and get a small portion on each chip
Pita chips in a black cast iron skillet with pesto, grated cheese and italian seasoning on top.
  • Step Four: Scatter the sliced black and green olives, sliced pepperoncini peppers, capers, and red bell peppers on top. 
  • Step Five: Liberally spread parmesan cheese on top of the vegetable toppings then sprinkle again with Italian seasoning.
Pita chips in a black cast iron skillet with pesto, grated cheese, olives, red peppers, banana peppers, italian seasoning, and parmasen cheese on top.
  • Step Six: Bake for 10 minutes at 375o or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

How to Serve Italian Nachos

Make a single or double serving and load them up for a quick and easy dinner.

Make a full batch for a fun family dinner.

Serve them for a big game party and make several baking sheets full. Set out your favorite Italian sauces with a buffet of toppings and serve as a nacho bar.

Baked Italian nachos in a black cast iron skillet with pesto, marinaria sauce, and red pepper flakes in white serving dishes on a cutting board.

Recipe Tips

Use oregano and garlic powder as a replacement for store-bought Italian seasonings.

​Broil the nachos instead of baking them for toasty melted cheese.

​Air fry small batches of Italian nachos. 

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQ’s

​Q: Can I layer these nachos in one pan?

A: Yes, you can add as many layers as you’d like but, I wouldn’t add more than three.

Q: How do you layer nachos without the bottom getting soggy?

A: Melt the cheese on each layer before you add toppings and then layer the next one.

More Appetizer Recipes You’ll Love

Easy Basic Homemade Hummus Recipe

Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Lil Smokies and Jalapenos

Best Spicy Sausage Rotel Queso Cheese Dip

Easy Salmon Pinwheels with Everything Cream Cheese

1 Italian nacho over a pan full of Italian nachos.

Easy Italian Nachos

Elise Austin
Pita chips loaded with Havarti cheese, black and green olives, red peppers, pepperoncini peppers.
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4
Calories 400 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag store-bought plain pita chips
  • 1.5 cups Havarti Cheese grated
  • 1/2 cups parmesan cheese grated or shredded
  • 5 black olives sliced, more to taste
  • 5 green olives sliced, more to taste
  • 1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers jarred, sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 tbsp pesto sauce store-bought or homemade
  • Italian seasoning sprinkle on top
  • marinara sauce or pizza sauce

Instructions
 

  • Step One: Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Step Two: Lay the chips in a large skillet or sheet pan in a single layer. Top with the grated cheese and sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of the cheese.
    1 bag store-bought plain pita chips, 1.5 cups Havarti Cheese
  • Step Three: Drop pesto sauce in small dots on top of the cheese. Try and get a small portion on each chip.
    1 tbsp pesto sauce
  • Step Four: Scatter the sliced black and green olives, sliced pepperoncini peppers, and red bell peppers on top. 
    5 black olives, 5 green olives, 1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers, 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • Step Five: Liberally spread parmesan cheese on top of the vegetable toppings then sprinkle again with Italian seasoning.
    Italian seasoning, 1/2 cups parmesan cheese
  • Step Six: Cook for 10 minutes on 350 or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
    marinara sauce or pizza sauce

Notes

Use oregano and garlic powder as a replacement for store-bought Italian seasonings.
Broil the nachos instead of baking them for toasty melted cheese.
Air fry small batches of Italian nachos.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 15gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 712mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 575IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 418mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword havarti cheese, italian nachos, marinara sauce, pita chips
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