Irish Nachos

Savor a tasty twist on a classic snack with loaded Irish nachos. Simply perfect for game day, St Patrick’s Day or “just because” you love them, nachos are always good.

You might also like to try totchos (tater tot nachos), BBQ chicken nachos, tilapia Baja fish nachos, or hearty seared steak nachos.

Why You’ll Love It

Really delicious: Potatoes, cheese and bacon are already tasty, but when you add spices, seasonings and your favorite Tex-Mex toppings, they become even more so.
A crowd-pleaser: Expecting guests? Whip up a platter of Irish nachos – they’ll love them!
Easy to prepare: The potatoes are baked in the oven and then topped with bacon, cheese and your preferred toppings.
Ideal for St Patrick’s Day: Looking for a snack idea for St Patrick’s Day? Nachos are hardly an Irish specialty but using potato slices in place of chips gives a nod to Irish cuisine and makes this the kind of dish everyone will want to dig into.
Gluten-free: Using potato slices instead of tortilla chips keeps this tasty Irish themed appetizer gluten-free.

Irish Potato Nachos Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Potatoes: I like to use gold potatoes, but any firm potatoes will work.
Bacon: Adds a rich and satisfying meaty flavor.
Cheese: Colby jack works well with the other flavors in your Irish nachos.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, rosemary, thyme and garlic powder flavor the potatoes beautifully.
Jalapeno: For a kick of spice.
Toppings: I like to use sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo or salsa when I make these.

How to Make Potato Nachos

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the potatoes: Slice the potatoes and toss with the oil, seasonings and herbs in a large bowl. Arrange in a single layer on a greased baking sheet or cast iron skillet and bake until crispy and tender, flipping halfway through.
Add the toppings: Add bacon and cheese on top and return to the oven to cook for another 5 minutes, then add the sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle over some green onions and/or cilantro too, if liked, and serve hot.

Substitutions and Variations

Vegetarian version: If you want to make your Irish nachos vegetarian, swap the bacon for beans or extra cheese, or simply omit it from the recipe.
Olive oil: You can use avocado oil, canola oil or any cooking oil you prefer.
Sour cream: Greek yogurt would also work.
Bacon: Sub cooked ground beef or ground pork, seasoned ahead with taco seasoning.
Potatoes: Substitute waffle fries or potato chips if preferred.
Colby jack cheese: Mozzarella or cheddar cheese would be good, or you could use a Mexican blend.
Guacamole: Use freshly sliced or diced avocado instead if you like.
More toppings: Pickled carrots, pickled onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, green or red salsa would also work, or you can add a scoop of refried beans.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Begin your St Patrick’s Day meal with a sharing platter of these Irish pub style potato nachos.
Main dish: Next up, how does a hearty Irish lamb stew sound?
Side dishes: Keep to the green theme with green goddess salad.
Dessert and drinks: Enjoy this no-bake Bailey’s pie next or indulge in pistachio tiramisu (another fusion favorite!) And to drink, consider shamrock shake or rainbow-rimmed whiskey cocktails.

How to Store Irish Pub Potato Nachos

Store: Let the Irish nachos cool completely and then you can keep them for 3 or 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freeze: You can freeze these in an airtight container for 2 months, but the texture won’t be quite so crispy when thawed.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm your potato nachos back up in the oven, air fryer or microwave.