Soccer Game Day Nachos Cheese (Printable)

Crispy chips topped with creamy cheese sauce and fresh ingredients for a flavorful game day snack.

# What You Need:

→ Tortilla Chips

01 - 10 ounces tortilla chips

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 0.5 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
07 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Toppings

10 - 1 medium tomato, diced
11 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
12 - 1 to 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
13 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 0.5 cup sour cream
15 - 1 avocado, sliced or diced
16 - Lime wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - Arrange tortilla chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet or ovenproof platter.
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk and cook until mixture thickens, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low and add both cheeses, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
06 - Warm chips in oven for 5 minutes, then remove.
07 - Pour hot cheese sauce evenly over chips.
08 - Top immediately with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeños, and cilantro.
09 - Dollop with sour cream, add avocado slices, and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cheese sauce comes together in under five minutes and tastes like you fussed over it for hours.
  • Everything stays warm enough to enjoy for the whole first half, and leftovers (if there are any) reheat beautifully.
  • You can prep all the toppings while the sauce simmers, so you're actually relaxed when people arrive instead of frazzled in the kitchen.
02 -
  • If your sauce breaks or looks grainy, you've heated it too fast—whisk in a splash of cold milk off heat and it'll usually come back together.
  • Never add cold cheese directly to hot milk; let the sauce reach a gentle simmer first, then reduce heat to low before stirring in cheese so it melts smoothly instead of clumping.
03 -
  • Use an ovenproof platter instead of a regular plate—it keeps everything warmer longer and looks more intentional when you set it down.
  • Add the jalapeños right before serving so their heat stays bright instead of mellowing into the cheese.
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