Whether making pot roast for this recipe or using up leftover pot roast, Spicy Pot Roast Nachos are a cheesy, filling dish great for a shared appetizer or main dish. Two types of cheese, sauce pot roast, chips and jalapenos make a satisfying recipe you’ll want on repeat. Sharing my secrets for making perfect nachos and tips for toning down the spicy for those who enjoy a more mild dish.
Spicy Pot Roast Nachos were created both as a means of creative leftovers use but also after a reminder that the allure of nachos is much more than throwing ingredients together when unsure what else to make. These nachos are something to put on a meal plan with a big gold star next to them!
Recently my husband was traveling out of the country and to change things up I took my son out to dinner (shamelessly on a school night) to a barbeque place we love in Lyons Colorado; a small town 15 minutes north of us. They make all their own barbecue and it’s fantastic which was the draw of the idea.
As a starter we ordered their nachos, which we’ve had before. Layer upon layer of chips, loads of cheese, barbecued pulled chicken, jalapenos, with sour cream and salsa to top. I tried to take a photo of it for my Instagram Stories but by the time we’d dumped all the toppings and swished them around as my son prefers it looked like a hot mess and definitely did not convey the glorious flavor.
The next day I picked him up from school and we both had been thinking about those nachos. The platter of nachos had been so large we’d come home with most of our dinner order. We decided to head back out to the restaurant JUST for nachos this time. We ended up eating that for dinner and ordering a second portion to take home (my son actually likes them the following day when the chips have become soft and after rewarming in the microwave it all can be eaten with a fork).
Later that week we headed out to Lyons for their Parade of Lights. It’s a sweet, small town affair that feels very local and full of community. We’d arrived early to dine at another fun local restaurant and as we waited for it to open struck up a conversation with a couple also waiting to dine. In that conversation about home cooking and easy recipes, the discussion of all the things you can do with a steak was bounced back and forth.
All this to say when I’d made my recent Slow Cooker Caribbean Pot Roast with only my son and I to eat it the idea of nachos sprang to mind. Poor pot roast rarely gets much excitement even when first being cooked. It’s a sturdy dish but not one that renders many ooo’s or ahhh’s. That day is over.
Spicy Pot Roast Nachos are simple but delicious with a kick of heat that will catch your attention. If you aren’t a spicy food lover, stay tuned for suggestions on how to tone them down. These nachos are filling and absolutely can be a main dish for a few or an appetizer to be shared.
The Secret to Making Great Nachos
For years when I would make nachos I’d lay down the chips, add all the toppings with the cheese last and put them under the broiler. This made for a cheesy delicious top layer but diners scrambling to not end up with the naked chips on the bottom.
Two tips for making great nachos:
- Layer all the ingredients. Instead of putting everything on top of the chips, put layers of chips and toppings so when it cooks every bite has ‘the good stuff’.
- Don’t broil them, rather cook them in a high heat oven so they cook fast, but everything warms and the cheese melts all the way through.
How to Tone Down the Spicy
Not so into ‘spicy’? It’s easy to tone these Spicy Pot Roast Nachos down for any heat preference. Use a mild barbecue sauce. Omit the fresh jalapeno slices and opt for pickled jalapeno slices to be added at the end by diners to control to their heat preference. And did you know dairy products are one thing that dampens spicy heat? Adding sour cream at the end as a topping will cool these off too.
How to make Spicy Pot Roast Nachos:
Spicy Pot Roast Nachos
Transforming favorite comfort food Pot Roast into hearty, spicy nachos creates a whole new dish to love! Great for a main dish or entertaining.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups (1/2 pound) Shredded Pot Roast
- 1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce*
- 4 cups Corn Tortilla Chips
- 1 cup canned Black Beans rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups grated Mild Cheddar Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated Pepper Jack Cheese
- 1-2 Jalapeno Peppers thinly sliced**
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the pot roast and sauce in a small bowl and stir to coat. Stir in the black beans.
In a 10-inch oven-proof skillet layer half of the chips, topped wtih half of the meat/bean mixture, cheese and jalapenos. Repeat. Place in the oven for aproximately 5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted. Remove from oven.
Garnish with toppings of choice: chopped cilantro, guacamole, sour cream. Serve immediately.
Rust says
These look incredible! We made some last night but someone suggested adding a layer of cheese right on top of the naked chips and then all the topics, and then more cheese ….they were great! (no such thing as too much cheese!) I am going to try these with my next roast leftovers. Happy holidays!
Toni Dash says
That’s definitely the way to go Rust (hence it being one of my secrets shared on how to make perfect nachos)! Then you get all the goodness all the way through the nachos instead of just on top with loads of naked chips leftover! Happy Holidays to you too!
robin rue says
Oh. My. GAWD!! This is the best thing I have seen all day. I NEED to make these ASAP!
Stacie says
Pot roast nachos sound so good! I’ve had beef nachos before, but I haven’t had this incarnation of them. I can’t wait to try these.
Colleen says
Holy moly, those sound so good! I love the heat you have going on in these nachos. Yum!
Colleen Cayes says
Brilliant “temperature control,” thank you – I didn’t think about pickled jalapeños, and I’m glad to know about the sour cream.
Jeni Hawkins says
Oh YES! I’m so sold. This looks amazing and is pretty much something that we would eat up in seconds in my house!
Michelle Waller says
I was planning on making a roast this coming week, but wasn’t sure what I could do with the leftovers. I am going to have to give this a try. It looks delicious!
Connie says
These look soooo good. I think we will be having them soon.
Jeanette says
Oh my gosh can I come to one of your parties? This looks absolutely amazing! I am always trying to find great recipes that I can use that are just not the norm this definitely fits that bill.
Amy Desrosiers says
This look so good! I am going to be making a steak and cheese version myself. Yum!
Sinisa says
Great twist on classic recipe. Seeing this in many restaurants. I will definitely make this for the Super Bowl
Toni Dash says
You are seeing pot roast nachos at many restaurants? I’ve never seen or heard of them anywhere! Maybe they are in the collective consciousness.
travel blogger says
This sounds so amazing! We love nachos in our house, and we have the same problem with the naked chip ha ha. I will have to try layering everything next time. What a great nacho recipe, and we have no qualms with spicy. Yum!
Melissa Chapman says
Those nachos look too good and i love mine with some heat but for the kids we make them milder. I will think about this as an appetizer when friends come over.
Liz Mays says
Oh these are sounding really tasty. The barbecue pot roast and nacho flavors must be really nice together!
Amy Desrosiers says
You inspired me to at least make a yummy flatbread pizza for dinner. I didn’t have any pot roast or nachos but this looks awesome.
Bill Sweeney says
This looks pretty awesome! A great way to use leftover pot roast! I would have never thought of nachos!
Kathy says
This sounds amazing. I love having nachos, and these sound delicious. I may have to try these out very soon.
Claudia Krusch says
Wow these Spicy Pot Roast Nachos look so delicious. I am always looking for new recipes to try. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this week.
Vanessa Delia says
I had no idea nachos could be made in the crock pot. This is seriously brilliant! Looks delicious too!
AnnMarie John says
Talk about good food that’s perfect for gatherings or a movie night with the family at home! I love that this is spicy! This looks so good, I’m craving for nachos right now.
Ashley says
Nachos, yes please! I”m adding this to my list of things to make!
Myrah Duque says
YUM! This recipe looks like a magnificent, tasty dish. I would live out the jalapenos as I cannot tolerate spicy foods. Would be great for this time of year.
brianne says
Nachos are the ultimate dish for our family! This recipe looks so yummy!
Dawn Lopez says
Wow! These look dreamy! My family will seriously be elated if I make these! I can see myself earning a lot of brownie points on game day.
Pam says
I love the idea of pot roast nachos. I actually had a bunch of leftover pork roast recently and was wondering what to do with it. This would have been perfect.
Toni Dash says
It would have been!
Reesa Lewandowski says
What an amazing way to use up leftover pot roast! We had something like this in Chicago once, but with poutine!
Toni Dash says
YUM! Love poutine.
Janell Poulette says
I totally want to make this for our Super Bowl party. I love chunks of meat vs crumbled so this is perfect for me.
Stacie says
These nachos look absolutely delicious. I never thought of using leftover pot roast this way. My family will love this.
Sara Welch says
Yes a thousand times to this! This recipe is everything to me.
Marissa Zurfluh says
Ooh this is a super yummy idea! I have always loved loaded nachos.
Kristin says
YUM!! I am all about that for dinner. I have got to make this!
Janis says
That pot roast is really unique. It also looks delish and I bet the vinegar really makes this dish.
Toni Dash says
The vinegar? I’m sorry Janis I’m not sure what you are meaning. There is no vinegar in this recipe.
Sarah says
these nachos look amazing! I love nachos, it’s seriously one of my favorite things to eat.
Rosey says
We layer ours now too. I love to serve nachos every now and again. They are always a big treat.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
This is perfect for making pot roast more exciting! And I’m pretty sure my two boys and my husband will love this dish as well! Thanks for the awesome recipe idea!
Chelley @ A is For Adelaide says
The sound and look SO good! We love nachos here- so a new recipe trial is a must!
My Teen Guide says
Pot roast is always a winner in my house so it is unusual to have leftovers. Here’s what I will do – I will make more pot roast so I can be assured of left overs. Haha. I can’t wait to try your recipe. It looks so delicious. Spicy is the name of the game with nachos! Yum.
Maria Beas says
I love spicy food. Thanks for sharing. I will make it for my husband this weekend.