Healthy Nachos: Tips and Easy Recipes

By Andrea Cohen
Published 9/15/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Erin McNamara, RDN, LDN, CLT
In This Article
Healthy Nachos: Tips and Easy Recipes
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Healthy nachos are a delicious twist on the classic snack, packed with nutrients instead of empty calories. If you’ve ever wondered, “Are nachos healthy?”, the answer is that they can be, if you make smart ingredient swaps. In this article, you’ll learn how to make healthy nachos (and why they’re better for you), and we’ll share some healthy nachos recipes from our team of chefs and dietitians that are tasty, filling, and easy to make. We’ll also answer some common questions about this popular food served at tailgates, parties, and movie nights.

How to Make Nachos Healthy

It’s easier than you think to make nachos healthier. Just replace fried, greasy chips with whole-grain baked chips or use veggies as the base. Then add lean protein like beans or chicken and lots of colorful vegetables. Go light on the cheese (or skip it completely) and top with salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. These simple changes cut calories, add fiber, and boost nutrients without losing flavor.

Why Eat Healthy Nachos?

Traditional nachos are often high in fat, sodium, and calories, but healthy nachos made with whole grains, veggies, lean protein, and lighter toppings can be a balanced snack or even a meal so they fit into a healthy eating plan.

Benefits of healthy nachos include:

  • Lower saturated fat when using lean meat or beans and healthier toppings instead of fattier types of meat topped with lots of cheese and sour cream.
  • Higher fiber and more vitamins from veggie toppings and whole-grain chips.
  • Less sodium by opting for fresh ingredients instead of those that contain a lot of salt, such as cheese and jarred salsas.
  • Better portion control when making your own nachos compared to oversized restaurant platters.

How to Make Healthy Nachos at Home

Follow these dietitian-approved steps to create your own healthy nachos recipe:

  1. Pick a healthy base. Use baked whole-grain tortilla chips to add fiber or try bell peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes for a low-carb veggie base.
  2. Layer on lean protein. Choose ground turkey, shredded chicken, extra-lean ground beef, or black beans to add protein without excess fat.
  3. Pile on colorful veggies. Diced tomatoes, onions, corn, jalapeños, avocado, and cilantro add color, crunch, and nutrients.
  4. Use cheese lightly. A small sprinkle of reduced-fat cheese keeps calories in check. If you prefer full-fat cheese, go ahead and use some, but do so sparingly.
  5. Finish with lighter toppings. Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a similar taste with less fat and more protein. Fresh salsa or pico de gallo adds flavor without extra sodium or calories.

Healthy Nachos Recipes

Below you’ll find the most popular nacho recipes from the Health eCooks Test Kitchen. Each has been created to be flavorful, nutrient-dense, and easy to make. They’re veggie-packed and high in protein, proving that healthy eating doesn’t mean giving up your favorite comfort food.

  • Chicken Nachos

    Healthy Chicken Nachos
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    20 mins

    These nachos use baked corn tortilla chips topped with shredded chicken, reduced-fat cheddar, salsa, and fresh vegetables for a lighter take on the classic. They’re packed with flavor but are lower in fat and calories, making them a smart choice for a healthier snack or meal.

    View Recipe

  • Sheet Pan Nachos

    Heart Healthy Sheet Pan Nachos
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    45 mins

    This recipe combines baked tortilla chips with colorful vegetables like cauliflower, tomatoes, and jalapeños, then finishes with a creamy dairy-free cashew sauce. It’s a plant-based, heart-friendly twist on traditional nachos that’s perfect for sharing.

    View Recipe

  • Mini Chicken Nachos

    Heart Healthy Mini Chicken Nachos
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    20 mins

    Mini corn chips are topped with lean chicken, fresh pineapple, tomato, lettuce, and a dollop of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. These bite-size nachos are low in sodium and saturated fat but still deliver all the crunch and flavor you crave.

    View Recipe

Common Questions about Healthy Nachos

Here are answers to questions you may have about making and enjoying healthier nachos:

  • They can if they’re made with baked chips or veggies, lean proteins, and fresh toppings instead of fried chips, fatty meat, and heavy cheese and sour cream. When you use a whole-grain or veggie base and add protein and lots of vegetables, you can easily turn nachos into a balanced meal.

  • You can make healthy nachos and cheese by adding beans, grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, peppers, avocado, corn, salsa, and Greek yogurt. The more fresh veggies, the healthier they’ll be! Use cheese sparingly to lower calories and fat.

  • Baked whole-grain or corn tortilla chips are the best option when making healthier nachos. You can also cut up your own tortillas and bake or air fry them to get them crispy without the fat of store-bought chips.

  • If you’re trying to lower the calories, fat, and carbs in nachos, swap chips for sliced bell peppers or zucchini, sweet potato slices, or cauliflower florets as the base for your nacho toppings.

  • Use fresh ingredients, cook or warm nachos only with ingredients on them that should be heated, and then add cold toppings, such as Greek yogurt, scallions, cilantro, or avocado, right before eating. 

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