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Home Eat Snacks

Best Cheese for Nachos (The Definitive Guide)

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By: Sarah BondUpdated: Jan 07, 2023 Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

Collage that says "best cheese for nachos".

Have you ever worried about choosing the best cheese for nachos when making them at home? In a world where the cheese options are endless, we’re here to help you break it down. 

Collage that says "best cheese for nachos".

I don’t know about you, but I find nachos to be an extremely satisfying snack when I want something cheesy and delicious. I can make them in the microwave in a pinch, or in the oven when I’m feeling fancy. The oven will give a crunchier finish in the end, but there’s not always time for that! 

The topping options are also plentiful: sour cream, guacamole, your choice of protein, jalapenos, pico de gallo, beans, and olives. Then there are the chips. Tortilla chips, Doritos, or even homemade tortilla chips will give you that perfect crunch factor. 

My dilemma is always the cheese. How do I choose the perfect cheese to complete my perfect snack? 

For top-tier nachos, you want the cheese to be meltable, stringy, and tasty. All cheese has the third component, obviously. But we’ve got a lot of cheese options to choose from to make the perfect plate of melty, crunchy goodness that we deserve. Let’s discuss what cheeses are best for your homemade nachos.

Plate of nachos with sour cream and pico de gallo.

Option 1: Monterey Jack

Monterey jack is a very popular cheese to use in Mexican foods. It’s often used in quesadillas for its melty qualities. It can be used on burgers, sandwiches, or grilled cheese. It’s also great for nachos! With a mild, buttery taste and a great consistency when melted, it’s perfect for spreading over your favorite chips and popping into the oven for a tasty snack.

Monterey Jack cheese is also rich in calcium, fat, and protein and has a lot of beneficial vitamins that make it a hearty addition to your chosen chips and toppings. 

Pro Nacho Tip

Make sure to layer the cheese and toppings in between a few layers of chips for a fulfilling snack until the last bite! There’s nothing worse than a bare chip once the toppings are gone. 

Monterey jack cheese isolated on white.

Option 2: Cheddar

White cheddar, yellow cheddar, mild cheddar, sharp cheddar – they’ll all make a great plate of nachos. Depending on how aged the cheddar is, it’ll be sharp and pungent. Regardless of how flavorful you like the cheddar to be, it’ll melt beautifully onto the chips and make some great nachos. And, as a bonus, if you choose white cheddar for your nachos you can make some truffle mac and cheese with the leftovers!

Cheddar cheese isolated on a white background.

Option 3: Colby

This may come as a surprise, but Colby is actually very meltable, which makes it perfect as a chip covering. It’s also known for its creamy texture and mild flavor, so it’s a tasty addition to the nachos of your dreams. It’s rich in vitamin A so count it as healthy as well. Colby also makes a great addition to grilled cheese if you have any left over. 

Colby cheese isolated on white.

Option 4: Mix and match

As it turns out, most cheeses taste good together. Mix and match any of the cheeses above on your nachos to create a well-rounded, yummy dish in no time at all. Get creative with it! Nachos should be fun.

Four different cheese triangles.

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