Looking for a unique appetizer? Try these Irish Nachos! Made with crispy potatoes, sharp cheddar, and crispy bacon, this spin on nachos is irresistibly good.
If you love Loaded Potatoes Skins or Twice Baked Potatoes, you are going to LOVE Irish Nachos.
This recipe for Irish Nachos swaps out the tortilla chips for crispy potato slices and taco meat for crispy baked bacon, and results in an irresistibly good appetizer that is a potato lover's dream come true.
While Irish Nachos make an obvious addition to a St. Patrick's Day feast alongside Irish Beef Stew and Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage, these potato nachos deserve to be enjoyed year-round.
Irish Nachos Ingredients
- Potatoes: Opt for either Russet or Yukon gold potatoes when making potato nachos, as they hold their shape well when cut and baked and will stand up to the nacho toppings.
- Oil: I recommend using olive oil for the best flavor, but feel free to swap it out for canola oil if that is what you have on hand.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper will season the potato slices, forming a delicious base for these fries.
- Bacon: Bacon is optional, but highly encouraged to lend a smoky, salty flavor. You can use either pork or turkey bacon.
- Cheese: Use a sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor. I do recommend shredding the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese which is coated in anti-caking agents and won't melt as smoothly.
- For Serving: Irish Nachos are best served with a side of sour cream, green onions, and/or chives.
How To Make Irish Nachos
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One: Prepare Potatoes. To form the base of these Irish Nachos, you want to ensure that the potato slices are evenly sliced and baked until crispy before topping with potato slices so that they can hold up to the cheese and bacon toppings. It is best to thinly and evenly slice the potatoes and bake the potato slices in a single layer until crispy.
Step Two: Bake Bacon. While the potatoes are in the oven use that opportunity to bake the bacon as well. Once the bacon has been baked, allow it to cool, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Step Three: Assemble Potato Nachos. Once the potatoes are crispy and the bacon has cooked, it is time to make nachos! Place all the baked potato slices together on a baking sheet, and top with cheese and bacon. Bake until the cheese is melted.
Step Four: Serve. Serve Irish Nachos with sour cream or chives, or any topping you like on an Air Fryer baked potato or Instant Pot baked potato.
∗ Recipe Variations ∗
- Tex-Mex Potato Nachos: Prepare the potato nachos as directed, omitting the bacon. Serve with dollops of sour cream, fresh salsa, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, olives, and/or guacamole.
- Pulled Pork Potato Nachos: Prepare the potato slices and bake as directed. Once baked and crispy, top the potatoes with leftover crockpot pulled pork or Instant Pot pulled pork and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the pork is warmed through. Serve with BBQ sauce on the side.
- Irish Nachos with Leftover Corned Beef: Prepare the potato slices and bake as directed. Once baked and crispy, top the potatoes with leftover diced corned beef, drained sauerkraut, and top with Swiss cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted. Serve the Corned Beef Nachos with a side of Thousand Island Dressing.
- Use Fries: Instead of using potato slices for these Irish nachos, feel free to use prepared oven fries, air fryer fries, waffle fries, or frozen fries.
Leftovers?
Irish Nachos, just like any other nacho recipe, is best served immediately after preparation. However, unlike nachos made with chips, you can store leftover potato nachos and reheat them with success. They won't be as crispy, but they will still be absolutely delicious and make a fabulous side dish to burgers or BBQ chicken breast.
- Refrigerate: Store leftover, cooled potato nachos in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Reheat the nachos in a 400-degree F oven for 10 minutes to warm through.
More Favorite Appetizers
If you tried this recipe for Irish Nachos, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Irish Nachos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 to 1-½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- thinly sliced green onions. sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two large-rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Line one rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a baking rack over the foil.
- Scrub the potatoes well and pat dry thoroughly. Slice the potatoes into ¼-inch-thick rounds.
- Place the potato slices into a large mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ garlic powder, ½ onion powder, ½ pepper, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Toss to evenly coat the potatoes in the oil and seasonings.
- Arrange the seasoned potatoes in a single layer between the sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Bake the potatoes for 20 minutes then remove the pans from the oven. Flip the potatoes, rotate the pans, and return to the oven. Bake until the potatoes are golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes more.
- While the potatoes are baking, bake the bacon as well. Lay the strips of bacon on the pan lined with foil on the baking rack, being sure to not let the bacon overlap. Bake the bacon for 10-12 minutes, or until fully cooked and browned. Let the bacon cool and then chop it into small pieces.
- Once the potatoes are fully cooked, transfer all the potatoes to one sheet pan. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the potatoes, along with the chopped bacon.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, about 3-5 minutes more.
- Serve with sliced green onions and sour cream
Mel
These Irish nachos were incredible! My whole family couldn't get enough!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing, Mel! We find them irresistible here too!
Sha
This is a unique appetizer! A crowd favorite. It's filled with flavors and so delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing you enjoyed, Sha and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Rica
These are a new family favorite! The crispy edges, smoky bacon, and gooey cheese make them amazing. Definitely a go-to comfort side dish. Delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing, Rica! I am making them later today for St. Patrick's Day myself.
Donna
We celebrated St. Patrick's Day early and made these! Everyone loved them and they were no leftovers. Such a great recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
Fun! We are enjoying them tonight for some BB games. Have a great weekend and thank you for leaving a review.
Deb
Perfect for a snack style meal tonight while we watched a movie! I just had to come tell you how much my entire family loved this recipe, thank you!!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh what a great idea to make these for a movie night! Thanks for sharing (and so happy to hear you enjoyed!)
Emmalee
Our teenagers went crazy for these Irish nachos. The crispy bacon makes them so delicious. Perfect for a family game night appetizer.
Kristen Chidsey
Haha! My teens loved these as well! Thanks for sharing, Emmalee!
Kristyn
Wow!! SO yummy!! I love using potatoes over the typical tortilla chip!! They were addicting & so good!! We will be making these again!!
Kristen Chidsey
Isn't it a great twist?! So happy you enjoyed them and thank you for taking the time to leave a review 🙂