What do you think?
Rate this book
Nachos for Dinner: Surprising Sheet Pan Meals the Whole Family Will Love
Crispy Base + Melty Sauce + Flavorful Topping = Nachos make a perfect sheet pan dinner!
It’s like a dream come true! First, because you now have an invitation to eat a plate of nachos as a real meal, and second, because here are dozens and dozens of recipes and ideas to transform this beloved snack into a nourishing sheet pan dinner. Plus dessert.
Written by the irrepressible Dan Whalen, Nachos for Dinner combines the mad-genius spirit of his previous books, ‘Smores and Tots!, with the practical brilliance of Sheet Pan Suppers. First Whalen breaks down the nacho’s intrinsic appeal to its three essential components—a crispy base, a melty sauce, and a flavorful topper. And then he gives you the three flavor profiles—a lot of umami, a little heat, and something bright-tasting, whether pickled or fresh. From there the world is your nacho plate.
Of course there’s the chips-and-cheese classic, but then the nachos veer decidedly into dinner, with favorites from every part of the meal from French Onion Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Nachos, and Cobb Salad Nachos to Fish Taco Nachos, Banh Mi Nachos, and Shrimp and Grits Nachos. And there are plenty of not-chos (that is, nachos that use other ingredients for the chips)—like Lasagnachos, Scallion Pancake Nachos, and Pretzel and Brat'chos. Even Apple Pie Nachos for dessert.
It’s like a dream come true! First, because you now have an invitation to eat a plate of nachos as a real meal, and second, because here are dozens and dozens of recipes and ideas to transform this beloved snack into a nourishing sheet pan dinner. Plus dessert.
Written by the irrepressible Dan Whalen, Nachos for Dinner combines the mad-genius spirit of his previous books, ‘Smores and Tots!, with the practical brilliance of Sheet Pan Suppers. First Whalen breaks down the nacho’s intrinsic appeal to its three essential components—a crispy base, a melty sauce, and a flavorful topper. And then he gives you the three flavor profiles—a lot of umami, a little heat, and something bright-tasting, whether pickled or fresh. From there the world is your nacho plate.
Of course there’s the chips-and-cheese classic, but then the nachos veer decidedly into dinner, with favorites from every part of the meal from French Onion Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Nachos, and Cobb Salad Nachos to Fish Taco Nachos, Banh Mi Nachos, and Shrimp and Grits Nachos. And there are plenty of not-chos (that is, nachos that use other ingredients for the chips)—like Lasagnachos, Scallion Pancake Nachos, and Pretzel and Brat'chos. Even Apple Pie Nachos for dessert.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published January 11, 2022
29 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Dan Whalen
11 books5 followersDan Whalen is the culinary mad-genius creator of the popular recipe blog The Food in my Beard and the author of Stuffed: The Ultimate Comfort Food Cookbook and the forthcoming The Comfort Food Mash-Up. Since starting his website in 2008, he has published more than 1,000 recipes that have been viewed over 6 million times, and has produced numerous viral videos including a Quesadilla-Bun Burger video that has racked up 24 million views. His work has been featured in Saveur, Bon Appétit, Serious Eats, Fine Cooking, Boston.com, MSNBC, and Huffington Post, among others. He lives in Boston, MA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 23, 2021
Happy hour anyone?
What’s your favorite bar snack? Well… since margaritas are one of my favorites drinks it only makes sense that Nachos would be the perfect pairing!
Now maybe you aren’t quite ready to head out in the world and deal with crowded restaurants. I have the perfect solution for you!
Nachos at home!💃
This book will give you the step by step recipes for your most traditional nachos all the way to the over the top “seriously…that’s a nacho”?!
For example….
Chicken and waffle nachos
Shrimp and grits nachos
Apple pie nachos
You get the idea! Anything imaginable can be made into Nachos For Dinner.
Grab you margarita and your imagination…. And dig in!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company
What’s your favorite bar snack? Well… since margaritas are one of my favorites drinks it only makes sense that Nachos would be the perfect pairing!
Now maybe you aren’t quite ready to head out in the world and deal with crowded restaurants. I have the perfect solution for you!
Nachos at home!💃
This book will give you the step by step recipes for your most traditional nachos all the way to the over the top “seriously…that’s a nacho”?!
For example….
Chicken and waffle nachos
Shrimp and grits nachos
Apple pie nachos
You get the idea! Anything imaginable can be made into Nachos For Dinner.
Grab you margarita and your imagination…. And dig in!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company
April 18, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Nachos for Dinner is a unique and quirky recipe/cook book with all meals involving nachos. Some of these sounded and looked really yummy but some of them I just couldn't imagine eating. I did hope there would be more photographs of the dishes considering how unique and quirky this book is food wise, buy sadly there wasn't as many as I'd have liked. One things for certain I craved nachos from start to finish reading this.
The book starts off with info about nachos and ratios etc and moves on to different types of meals all the way to using nachos in deserts!
Nachos for Dinner is a unique and quirky recipe/cook book with all meals involving nachos. Some of these sounded and looked really yummy but some of them I just couldn't imagine eating. I did hope there would be more photographs of the dishes considering how unique and quirky this book is food wise, buy sadly there wasn't as many as I'd have liked. One things for certain I craved nachos from start to finish reading this.
The book starts off with info about nachos and ratios etc and moves on to different types of meals all the way to using nachos in deserts!
January 10, 2022
Packed with yummie recipes, Dan Whalen's Nachos for Dinner is filled with inspired ways to enjoy NACHOS.
I've enjoyed more than my share of this favorite bar food... but it's usually covered in beans, cheese, and taco meat. If you're lucky there'll be some sour cream and salsa on the side.
Well, Dan Whalen covers everything from creative cheese sauces, to unique and tasty toppings, to different methods of preparation.
Truly something for everyone, delivered with easy to follow recipes and colorful pictures. Something new for die-hard fans of nachos!
thank you to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC of Nachos for Dinner, all opinions are my own
I've enjoyed more than my share of this favorite bar food... but it's usually covered in beans, cheese, and taco meat. If you're lucky there'll be some sour cream and salsa on the side.
Well, Dan Whalen covers everything from creative cheese sauces, to unique and tasty toppings, to different methods of preparation.
Truly something for everyone, delivered with easy to follow recipes and colorful pictures. Something new for die-hard fans of nachos!
thank you to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC of Nachos for Dinner, all opinions are my own
July 13, 2021
This is one of my favorite cookbooks I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, and I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company.
This title should have come with a warning that it may cause you to go on a nacho bender because the varieties are some varied and so delicious you won’t be able to stop yourself…if that happens though, you’re not alone and it’s nacho fault!
What I liked most about this cookbook was that it started by first covering all the major components of nachos (salsas, queso, meats, homemade tortilla chips) so that you can mix and match on your own, which serves to multiply how many different types of nachos you can try.
My wife and I have been eating nachos for about a week straight now thanks to Nachos For Dinner and I’m confident we’ll be consulting the recipes within on a regular basis because they are that darn good.
I appreciate the author deviating from the traditional tex-mex varieties as well so that you can still have nachos but indulge in whatever cuisine you’re craving on any given night.
Food lovers everywhere should be lining up to buy Nachos For Dinner, and taking a week’s vacation so they can indulge on that nacho bender they deserve!
This title should have come with a warning that it may cause you to go on a nacho bender because the varieties are some varied and so delicious you won’t be able to stop yourself…if that happens though, you’re not alone and it’s nacho fault!
What I liked most about this cookbook was that it started by first covering all the major components of nachos (salsas, queso, meats, homemade tortilla chips) so that you can mix and match on your own, which serves to multiply how many different types of nachos you can try.
My wife and I have been eating nachos for about a week straight now thanks to Nachos For Dinner and I’m confident we’ll be consulting the recipes within on a regular basis because they are that darn good.
I appreciate the author deviating from the traditional tex-mex varieties as well so that you can still have nachos but indulge in whatever cuisine you’re craving on any given night.
Food lovers everywhere should be lining up to buy Nachos For Dinner, and taking a week’s vacation so they can indulge on that nacho bender they deserve!
November 8, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the digital ARC of this cookbook, in exchange for my honest review..
One of my favorite things about a cookbook based on a simple idea (I mean how hard are nachos?!) is having everything in one place. This cookbook pulls together all the layers of nachos - from bases to sauces to hearty fillings to toppings - giving several options of each, plus plenty of inspiration for full nacho pans. I'll be honest, one of my favorite things to do with a cookbook or a recipe is to use it as inspiration and then adjust the idea with my own experience and ideas. This book lends really well towards that. I see plenty of recipes that I would try "as-is", but I see a few that I want to try with my own version of guacamole, homemade beans, or bolognese sauce. There are plenty of ideas in Nachos for Dinner and many of them are, indeed, hearty enough to be a meal.
One of my favorite things about a cookbook based on a simple idea (I mean how hard are nachos?!) is having everything in one place. This cookbook pulls together all the layers of nachos - from bases to sauces to hearty fillings to toppings - giving several options of each, plus plenty of inspiration for full nacho pans. I'll be honest, one of my favorite things to do with a cookbook or a recipe is to use it as inspiration and then adjust the idea with my own experience and ideas. This book lends really well towards that. I see plenty of recipes that I would try "as-is", but I see a few that I want to try with my own version of guacamole, homemade beans, or bolognese sauce. There are plenty of ideas in Nachos for Dinner and many of them are, indeed, hearty enough to be a meal.
September 3, 2021
When I saw this cookbook on Netgalley, of course I had to get my hands on it. Who doesn’t love nachos?! Now, I am vegetarian, and cook vegan as much as possible. So no, this book isn’t really catered to me. But… it does have a recipe for vegan cheese sauce in it, and plenty of other options. And with some creativity and a decently stocked supermarket nearby you can get a long way!
The book starts of with some of the more ‘usual’ nacho toppings, giving us loads of recipes for salsas (including instructions on how to make your own salsa recipes: “Anything can be salsafied!”), hot sauces, slaws, guacamoles, cremas, beans, veggies, proteins… ending with a chart on how you could combine all these toppings (but letting you free to make whatever combinations you fancy).
And then we move on the the more unusual nachos… such as caprese nachos, french onion soupchos, potato chipchos, scallion-pancake nachos… moving on to chapters such as “Sandwiches and Tacos (but make them Nachos)“… fish taco nachos, cheeseburger nachos, bahn mi nachos, italian sub nachos, lamb gyros nachos, falafel nachos… or what about Hearty Comfort – in Nacho Form … Chicken Parm Not-Chos, Broccoli Alfredo Nachos, Tikka Masala Naanchos, Lasagn’chos, Beef Bulgogi Nachos, Stroganachos, Pierogi Nachos… and then we haven’t even talked about the Breakfast Nachos, the Chicken and Waffle Nachos, the Trashy Microwave Nachos or the Raspberry Cheesecake Nachos.
So of course I made a bunch of recipes… (see my blog for pictures) and oh my. That stuff was Delicious!!! I haven’t had a go at the more exotic recipes yet (Gyros on Pita crackers is as crazy as I got), but even regarding the more normal recipes, these were some of the best nacho’s I’ve ever had. The recipes themselves are fairly simple and the ingredients easily available (the only thing I couldn’t find at our supermarket was a jicama).
The book itself looks great as well. It is bright, vibrant and clear. I would have preferred some more pictures… mainly just to drool over. I love how there is both a lot of guidence if you need it, but you are also let free to experiment and just do whatever you want.
I will most definitely get my hands on a physical copy of this book, and I cannot wait to work my way through it. They may not be The healthiest dinners, but damn they are tasty ones.
The book starts of with some of the more ‘usual’ nacho toppings, giving us loads of recipes for salsas (including instructions on how to make your own salsa recipes: “Anything can be salsafied!”), hot sauces, slaws, guacamoles, cremas, beans, veggies, proteins… ending with a chart on how you could combine all these toppings (but letting you free to make whatever combinations you fancy).
And then we move on the the more unusual nachos… such as caprese nachos, french onion soupchos, potato chipchos, scallion-pancake nachos… moving on to chapters such as “Sandwiches and Tacos (but make them Nachos)“… fish taco nachos, cheeseburger nachos, bahn mi nachos, italian sub nachos, lamb gyros nachos, falafel nachos… or what about Hearty Comfort – in Nacho Form … Chicken Parm Not-Chos, Broccoli Alfredo Nachos, Tikka Masala Naanchos, Lasagn’chos, Beef Bulgogi Nachos, Stroganachos, Pierogi Nachos… and then we haven’t even talked about the Breakfast Nachos, the Chicken and Waffle Nachos, the Trashy Microwave Nachos or the Raspberry Cheesecake Nachos.
So of course I made a bunch of recipes… (see my blog for pictures) and oh my. That stuff was Delicious!!! I haven’t had a go at the more exotic recipes yet (Gyros on Pita crackers is as crazy as I got), but even regarding the more normal recipes, these were some of the best nacho’s I’ve ever had. The recipes themselves are fairly simple and the ingredients easily available (the only thing I couldn’t find at our supermarket was a jicama).
The book itself looks great as well. It is bright, vibrant and clear. I would have preferred some more pictures… mainly just to drool over. I love how there is both a lot of guidence if you need it, but you are also let free to experiment and just do whatever you want.
I will most definitely get my hands on a physical copy of this book, and I cannot wait to work my way through it. They may not be The healthiest dinners, but damn they are tasty ones.
July 14, 2021
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a recipe book that focuses on different kinds of nachos. Whalen talks about how he's not trying to "improve" nachos so much as trying new things.
I was surprised that Whalen is so shocked at the idea of nachos for dinner. My experience eating nachos for dinner is pretty normal. This book talks about how to serve different foods "nacho-style". There aren't as many pictures as I'd like for a recipe book, but the pictures included are nice.
The start of the book breaks down nachos in different ways - a crunch, a sauce, etc. as well as ratios for each. The rest of the book is nacho-ified recipes from traditional meals to desserts. I like the concept, but most of the ideas are cut up these things and stack them on each other. Rearranging chicken and waffles doesn't make it into nachos instead of chicken and waffles.
Overall an interesting idea, but not for me.
This is a recipe book that focuses on different kinds of nachos. Whalen talks about how he's not trying to "improve" nachos so much as trying new things.
I was surprised that Whalen is so shocked at the idea of nachos for dinner. My experience eating nachos for dinner is pretty normal. This book talks about how to serve different foods "nacho-style". There aren't as many pictures as I'd like for a recipe book, but the pictures included are nice.
The start of the book breaks down nachos in different ways - a crunch, a sauce, etc. as well as ratios for each. The rest of the book is nacho-ified recipes from traditional meals to desserts. I like the concept, but most of the ideas are cut up these things and stack them on each other. Rearranging chicken and waffles doesn't make it into nachos instead of chicken and waffles.
Overall an interesting idea, but not for me.
October 4, 2022
YUMMY. You can ‘nacho’ anything! From ‘typical’ recipes using meat and cheese to using tofu or falafel and guacamole (not all your mama’s either!) PLUS nacho pulled pork and slaw, nacho chicken n waffles, and nacho strawberry shortcake! What’s not to love? (And now I know how to make my own tortilla chips) and many more.
August 18, 2021
Nachos for Dinner celebrates the wonderfulness of nachos. I appreciate it telling me how to make chips (and buying store brand is acceptable). The cookbook includes best suggestions for delicious melty cheese too. From there it talks about everything from toppings to whole meals all with nachos. The author doesn't hate my go to of making nachos by melting cheese on chips in the microwave but this book goes away beyond that. The only reason it doesn't get more stars from me is that many recipes do not include photos. For this type of speciality cookbook photos are a must. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a temporary ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2021
The title of Nachos for Dinner caught my eye right away. I mean hello! Who doesn't love nachos??? Not only are there nachos for dinner, but also for breakfast, lunch, and dessert!!! This was an absolutely fun cookbook to flip through, and I am going to definitely try out several of these recipes. If you love nachos, and who doesn't, and want some traditional takes on nachos as well as some super creative twists, you need to add this cookbook to your collection!! I can't wait to try French Onion Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Nachos, Cobb Salad Nachos, Lasagnachos, Scallion Pancake Nachos, Pretzel and Brat'chos, and even Apple Pie Nachos for dessert.
January 23, 2022
Who doesn't love nachos? Dan Whalen serves up the goods in this fun cookbook that dares to reimagine nachos into pretzel, chicken, and potato chip forms...and I am here for it! This cookbook covers all the basis from toppings to desserts in a fun way. All of the recipes look delicious and are reasonably easy to make. What could be better? The pictures are wonderful and the recipes delicious. Don't miss out on this one!
Find it today in our SHARE Catalog!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it today in our SHARE Catalog!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
September 26, 2022
Great little book about all things nachos! I already love nachos and am totally onboard about that being dinner but the meat recipes would go well in a burrito or on top of a salad as well. I also loved how easy the recipes were and accessible the ingredients were. This is one of those cookbooks I checked out at the library and will now purchase so I can try alllll the recipes and mark it up to my heart’s content.
March 28, 2021
Thanksgiving Nachos
tortilla chips - turkey - cheese
gravy - mashed potatoes - corn
Lasagna Nachos
sausage - ricotta - mozzarella
sausage - tomato sauce
dumped on fried lasagna noodles
tortilla chips - turkey - cheese
gravy - mashed potatoes - corn
Lasagna Nachos
sausage - ricotta - mozzarella
sausage - tomato sauce
dumped on fried lasagna noodles
February 9, 2022
Fun ideas for making nachos! I am defiantly gonna make the chicken and waffle nachos!
March 5, 2022
Nachos for Dinner is a cookbook that I was excited to read, as nachos are one of my favourite indulgent snacks. This book has many basic recipes and some interesting dessert options. However, the images are sparse and it really affected my enjoyment of the book.
The layout of the book is straightforward and there are a lot of ideas to choose from. One thing that will be of interest to some are the many recipes for toppings. There is even a recipe for making your chips.
If unusual combinations for nachos appeals to you, then this book will give some inspiration. It has so many easy to follow recipes that this book will be useful to both novice and experienced cooks. That being said, in a recipe book that has such offbeat ideas, it would be helpful to include pictures to see how the dishes will turn out.
The layout of the book is straightforward and there are a lot of ideas to choose from. One thing that will be of interest to some are the many recipes for toppings. There is even a recipe for making your chips.
If unusual combinations for nachos appeals to you, then this book will give some inspiration. It has so many easy to follow recipes that this book will be useful to both novice and experienced cooks. That being said, in a recipe book that has such offbeat ideas, it would be helpful to include pictures to see how the dishes will turn out.
September 13, 2021
Nachos for Dinner by Dan Whalen isn't actually a recipe book for nachos, despite what it says on the cover. By framing everything as potential nachos, Whalen encourages us to think beyond traditional meals and explore. The brilliance of Nachos for Dinner is the culinary journey that Whalen invites us to embark upon.
At the same time, Nachos for Dinner offers the harried homeworker reassurance that every component doesn't have to be homemade and it is perfectly OK to use convenience foods; the talent is in the combination. Whalen offers a fool proof nacho sauce made with freshly grated cheese of your sauce as well as a vegan version based on potatoes and cashews but then follows up with using Cheez Whiz for the Cheesesteak Nachos. While I might draw the line at frozen chicken nuggets and waffles as primary ingredients of a meal, I concede that the combination is an imaginative way to break out of a meat-and-two-vegetable rut.
The spicy and savory Mexican braised cabbage (tinga de repollo), presented as a critical component of both cabbage roll nachos and brats and cabbage nachos, is a great example of the unexpected mash-ups that Whalen is so good at. Other fantastic fusion dishes include Red Curry Chickpeas, Jalapeno Margarita-glazed tofu and Cubano Nachos based on the classic Medianoche sandwich, starting with a pork chop marinade and finished with just a drizzle of mustard.
The book is gloriously organized for cooking ahead: each component recipe is listed separately with a note as to how long it will keep in the fridge. Readers new to TexMex cooking will find a wide range of sauces and salsas including a step-by-step guide to basic guacamole followed by half a dozen variations. The honey-chipotle hot sauce has become a staple on our kitchen table.
The layout makes it trivial to prepare the component recipes in advance before creating a show-stopping dinner in just 20 minutes by combining everything onto a sheet pan. You can make your way through all of the nachos variations or use the cheat sheet for combining components for burritos. Most of the components would not be out of place on a pizza or served on top of a bowl of beans (themselves a component, with both "basic black beans" and "meaty pinto beans" on offer). The heartier dishes, ranging from cumin-roasted cauliflower to braised lamb beerbacoa, are right at home served on a bed of rice for a fast and easy dinner.
This is the power of Nachos for Dinner. Whalen's latest is not not actually an encouragement to each nachos every night but instead, it offers a culinary choose-your-own-adventure for a broad range of tastes and cooking styles.
I wasn't sure what I was getting when I was offered an advance review copy of the cookbook but I am completely won over. I would recommend Nachos for Dinner to nacho lovers, sure, but it offers much more than that. Cooks of various levels who are interested in exploring good food in new combinations will have fun with these recipes, even if they never actually serve nachos for dinner.
At the same time, Nachos for Dinner offers the harried homeworker reassurance that every component doesn't have to be homemade and it is perfectly OK to use convenience foods; the talent is in the combination. Whalen offers a fool proof nacho sauce made with freshly grated cheese of your sauce as well as a vegan version based on potatoes and cashews but then follows up with using Cheez Whiz for the Cheesesteak Nachos. While I might draw the line at frozen chicken nuggets and waffles as primary ingredients of a meal, I concede that the combination is an imaginative way to break out of a meat-and-two-vegetable rut.
The spicy and savory Mexican braised cabbage (tinga de repollo), presented as a critical component of both cabbage roll nachos and brats and cabbage nachos, is a great example of the unexpected mash-ups that Whalen is so good at. Other fantastic fusion dishes include Red Curry Chickpeas, Jalapeno Margarita-glazed tofu and Cubano Nachos based on the classic Medianoche sandwich, starting with a pork chop marinade and finished with just a drizzle of mustard.
The book is gloriously organized for cooking ahead: each component recipe is listed separately with a note as to how long it will keep in the fridge. Readers new to TexMex cooking will find a wide range of sauces and salsas including a step-by-step guide to basic guacamole followed by half a dozen variations. The honey-chipotle hot sauce has become a staple on our kitchen table.
The layout makes it trivial to prepare the component recipes in advance before creating a show-stopping dinner in just 20 minutes by combining everything onto a sheet pan. You can make your way through all of the nachos variations or use the cheat sheet for combining components for burritos. Most of the components would not be out of place on a pizza or served on top of a bowl of beans (themselves a component, with both "basic black beans" and "meaty pinto beans" on offer). The heartier dishes, ranging from cumin-roasted cauliflower to braised lamb beerbacoa, are right at home served on a bed of rice for a fast and easy dinner.
This is the power of Nachos for Dinner. Whalen's latest is not not actually an encouragement to each nachos every night but instead, it offers a culinary choose-your-own-adventure for a broad range of tastes and cooking styles.
I wasn't sure what I was getting when I was offered an advance review copy of the cookbook but I am completely won over. I would recommend Nachos for Dinner to nacho lovers, sure, but it offers much more than that. Cooks of various levels who are interested in exploring good food in new combinations will have fun with these recipes, even if they never actually serve nachos for dinner.
January 5, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Nachos for Dinner is a cool collection of sheet pan recipes developed and curated by Dan Whalen. Due out 11th Jan 2022 from Workman Publishing, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
I liked this book's layout. It begins with an introduction covering tools and supplies and a little history including the different ingredients (most will already be on hand) and also staples to keep on hand (ditto - they'll be available in a well stocked kitchen).
The recipes are arranged thematically: basic nachos (including homemade tortilla chips!), soups salads &appetizers, sandwiches & tacos (nachofied), comfort food, and brunches & midnight snacks. Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes, variations, and tips, and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed in a bullet style in a sidebar along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures only (there is a measurement conversion table included in the back of the book). The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. The nutritional information is not provided.
The photography is not abundant. Roughly 15-20% of the dishes are accompanied by photos. All the serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate and the food is styled and presented very well. (I just wish there were more photos).
The recipes' ingredients are easily sourced and the resultant dishes are family friendly and appealing to kids and adults. For cooks who are living alone or couples, very many of the included recipes are freezer friendly and could be scaled up or down easily. There are a number of these which will become staples for my family. The salsas and sauces especially have a lot of versatility for other types of dishes than just nachos and would be great as sides and marinades.
Four stars. Timesaving, nutritious, and tasty.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Nachos for Dinner is a cool collection of sheet pan recipes developed and curated by Dan Whalen. Due out 11th Jan 2022 from Workman Publishing, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
I liked this book's layout. It begins with an introduction covering tools and supplies and a little history including the different ingredients (most will already be on hand) and also staples to keep on hand (ditto - they'll be available in a well stocked kitchen).
The recipes are arranged thematically: basic nachos (including homemade tortilla chips!), soups salads &appetizers, sandwiches & tacos (nachofied), comfort food, and brunches & midnight snacks. Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes, variations, and tips, and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed in a bullet style in a sidebar along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures only (there is a measurement conversion table included in the back of the book). The directions are given step by step, numbered sequentially. The nutritional information is not provided.
The photography is not abundant. Roughly 15-20% of the dishes are accompanied by photos. All the serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate and the food is styled and presented very well. (I just wish there were more photos).
The recipes' ingredients are easily sourced and the resultant dishes are family friendly and appealing to kids and adults. For cooks who are living alone or couples, very many of the included recipes are freezer friendly and could be scaled up or down easily. There are a number of these which will become staples for my family. The salsas and sauces especially have a lot of versatility for other types of dishes than just nachos and would be great as sides and marinades.
Four stars. Timesaving, nutritious, and tasty.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
November 3, 2022
This is a very unique cookbook, that while not for everyone, brings a lot of new recipes to the table!
What I love about this book:
This book lacks nothing in the creativity department! So many of these recipes are nacho variations of a lot of other popular foods such as bulgogi, chicken tikka masala, philly cheesesteaks and much more. It is an interesting book to use because there is so much variation, including a surprising amount of vegan options and/or vegan variations.
I also love that this book does the work to give you the recipes for a lot of the basics that can elevate your nachos. There are tons of salsa recipes, bean recipes, cheese sauces and crema recipes, and much more. This is amazing because it means that if you live in a place where things like Mexican chorizo or lime crema can be hard to find, you have the option to make it yourself. Plus, Dan Whalen makes it clear that these recipes are obviously well tested and that makes it all the more exciting to consider making them.
I also love that this book unpacks what makes good nachos, salsas, and much more and it gives the reader the opportunity to not just cook from the book, but get creative in their own way.
That said, while there are so many great things about the book, there’s just a couple things I wish were different:
The first is that I wish the book had more pictures. While I hate getting caught up on not having visuals, in a book with so many unique recipes, pictures would have been nicer. You can still picture things without it, but if you are very visual cook, it might be difficult.
The other thing that’s worth noting is that many of the recipes seem like a real labour of love. There are a lot of separate parts in each dish that make it a tad too complicated for your average dinner. For that reason, if you aren’t in the mood for complicated recipes, I’d probably not recommend this book ironically enough.
All that being said though, this book offers a lot because of how unique it is and how well tested the recipes are. While it doesn’t have the easiest recipes, for the right person, this is a really cool book.
Special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an online copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I love about this book:
This book lacks nothing in the creativity department! So many of these recipes are nacho variations of a lot of other popular foods such as bulgogi, chicken tikka masala, philly cheesesteaks and much more. It is an interesting book to use because there is so much variation, including a surprising amount of vegan options and/or vegan variations.
I also love that this book does the work to give you the recipes for a lot of the basics that can elevate your nachos. There are tons of salsa recipes, bean recipes, cheese sauces and crema recipes, and much more. This is amazing because it means that if you live in a place where things like Mexican chorizo or lime crema can be hard to find, you have the option to make it yourself. Plus, Dan Whalen makes it clear that these recipes are obviously well tested and that makes it all the more exciting to consider making them.
I also love that this book unpacks what makes good nachos, salsas, and much more and it gives the reader the opportunity to not just cook from the book, but get creative in their own way.
That said, while there are so many great things about the book, there’s just a couple things I wish were different:
The first is that I wish the book had more pictures. While I hate getting caught up on not having visuals, in a book with so many unique recipes, pictures would have been nicer. You can still picture things without it, but if you are very visual cook, it might be difficult.
The other thing that’s worth noting is that many of the recipes seem like a real labour of love. There are a lot of separate parts in each dish that make it a tad too complicated for your average dinner. For that reason, if you aren’t in the mood for complicated recipes, I’d probably not recommend this book ironically enough.
All that being said though, this book offers a lot because of how unique it is and how well tested the recipes are. While it doesn’t have the easiest recipes, for the right person, this is a really cool book.
Special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an online copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2021
As a nacho LOVER, I was excited to get my hands on this book. While I haven't tried making anything out of it yet, I think it delivered. Approx 60 of the first pages cover nacho basics - making or selecting chips, making cheese sauce, and making basic salsas, beans, slaws, cremas, meats, etc. (Includes vegan and vegetarian options too). From here, there are SO many great options of what you could do.
The rest of the book has a mix of recipes bringing together these basics with other ingredients. Many of these recipes don't require any great stretch of imagination to think about enjoying - street corn nachos, caprese nachos, spinach artichoke "dipchos", plantain nachos with carnitas and black beans, and more. Others require some more imagination like burger or hot dog nachos, Italian sub nachos, or nachos using other bases like chicken (e.g. chicken parm not-chos or lasagn'chos). It even ends with some dessert nacho ideas like apple pie nachos (using pie crusts) and smore nachos (using graham crackers).
There's perhaps a question of cultural appropriation to be considered, though the author notes this up front and does little to sell this as an "authentic" Mexican cookbook, and he draws liberally from all sorts of cultural dishes here.
Most of the recipes look pretty straightforward and not overly complicated. Rarely does anything have more than one page of instructions (however - recipes often point back to basic recipes - e.g. a meat, a salsa, etc. and this could add to the complexity pretty quickly. Many of these items have shortcuts - you could easily pull in premade salsa, chips, beans, etc. and home-make other elements!
All in all, I can't wait to give some of these a try!
The rest of the book has a mix of recipes bringing together these basics with other ingredients. Many of these recipes don't require any great stretch of imagination to think about enjoying - street corn nachos, caprese nachos, spinach artichoke "dipchos", plantain nachos with carnitas and black beans, and more. Others require some more imagination like burger or hot dog nachos, Italian sub nachos, or nachos using other bases like chicken (e.g. chicken parm not-chos or lasagn'chos). It even ends with some dessert nacho ideas like apple pie nachos (using pie crusts) and smore nachos (using graham crackers).
There's perhaps a question of cultural appropriation to be considered, though the author notes this up front and does little to sell this as an "authentic" Mexican cookbook, and he draws liberally from all sorts of cultural dishes here.
Most of the recipes look pretty straightforward and not overly complicated. Rarely does anything have more than one page of instructions (however - recipes often point back to basic recipes - e.g. a meat, a salsa, etc. and this could add to the complexity pretty quickly. Many of these items have shortcuts - you could easily pull in premade salsa, chips, beans, etc. and home-make other elements!
All in all, I can't wait to give some of these a try!
January 16, 2022
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this read and it sparked my imagination and creativity. The author is clearly an experienced and highly-recognized chef, yet focuses on something simple: nachos. He provides a brief review of nachos, discusses the basics of nacho recipes, and offers opportunities for readers to be as simple or complicated as desired during preparation.
There is a great deal of humor mixed throughout, which is great, as sometimes recipe books can read rather dry. My favorite parts of the whole book are little charts he has sprinkled throughout, which describe basic food types and recipe ‘templates’ (if you will) for a balanced dish. This allows great creativity with the readers and allows them to better understand the relationship between recipe counterparts.
The structure of the book is also appreciated. The author begins with various recipes to begin with parts of nachos, ie protein preparation or salsas, then moves on to “putting it together”, applying these to specific nacho recipes. I was also surprised and impressed that the author has nacho recipes for breakfast, dinner and dessert, and has many vegan and vegetarian options as well.
I highly recommend. It is worth the money and read. Even if nachos is not always what you are interested in preparing, the details about preparing a balanced meal are applicable to all food genres.
Thank you NetGalley for my free copy. The details above are mine without influence.
There is a great deal of humor mixed throughout, which is great, as sometimes recipe books can read rather dry. My favorite parts of the whole book are little charts he has sprinkled throughout, which describe basic food types and recipe ‘templates’ (if you will) for a balanced dish. This allows great creativity with the readers and allows them to better understand the relationship between recipe counterparts.
The structure of the book is also appreciated. The author begins with various recipes to begin with parts of nachos, ie protein preparation or salsas, then moves on to “putting it together”, applying these to specific nacho recipes. I was also surprised and impressed that the author has nacho recipes for breakfast, dinner and dessert, and has many vegan and vegetarian options as well.
I highly recommend. It is worth the money and read. Even if nachos is not always what you are interested in preparing, the details about preparing a balanced meal are applicable to all food genres.
Thank you NetGalley for my free copy. The details above are mine without influence.
September 16, 2022
What a fun cookbook! Dan Whalen has turned all kinds of foods into “nachos” and has presented them in his cookbook, Nachos for Dinner: Surprising Sheet Pan Meals the Whole Family Will Love. This is definitely not a cookbook full of nachos with different toppings; rather it is a cookbook with unique ideas where many things are substituted for the tortilla chips, and many toppings are substituted for the beans, shredded meats, and cheese that usually top nachos.
While there are dozens of beautiful photographs, each type of nacho isn’t pictured, which is a shame, but the ones that are pictured look mouthwatering. It’s nice that the recipes are written in the traditional manner and are easy to follow because cooks from beginning to advanced will find it easy to make their new favorite kinds of nachos.
For those who aren’t in a cooking mood but are just wanting to read, this is an excellent choice. It covers the origin of nachos and has notes, hints, and stories at the beginning of each recipe. The book is well-written, and fun to read. The facts may not help readers win Jeopardy, but they are interesting and will inspire a different kind of nachos every night.
The cookbook includes sauces, toppings, and bases for all kinds of scrumptious nachos, and for those who don’t like boring meals and want to avoid fast food, it is a perfect addition to any cookbook shelf.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
While there are dozens of beautiful photographs, each type of nacho isn’t pictured, which is a shame, but the ones that are pictured look mouthwatering. It’s nice that the recipes are written in the traditional manner and are easy to follow because cooks from beginning to advanced will find it easy to make their new favorite kinds of nachos.
For those who aren’t in a cooking mood but are just wanting to read, this is an excellent choice. It covers the origin of nachos and has notes, hints, and stories at the beginning of each recipe. The book is well-written, and fun to read. The facts may not help readers win Jeopardy, but they are interesting and will inspire a different kind of nachos every night.
The cookbook includes sauces, toppings, and bases for all kinds of scrumptious nachos, and for those who don’t like boring meals and want to avoid fast food, it is a perfect addition to any cookbook shelf.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
August 15, 2021
While this little book of snacks is not likely to take a permanent place next to my Fannie Farmer, it is fun and imaginative. Lots of recipes for the basics--a nice Nacho Cheese Sauce and vegan variation, too, along with a terrific batch of salsa recipes. We stuck with the basics, Green Tomatillo and Roasted Tomato, but also tried a couple of Crema variations--the Avocado Crema was particularly yummy. The big hit with my youngest grandson was the Cheesy Bacon Potato Chipchos, since I didn't have any tortilla chips in the house the day I set eyes on this book. He was also very very pleased with the Chicken Parm Not-Chos, a made from scratch chicken parm version, while hubs snarfed the Beef Bulgogi Nachos so fast, it was a good thing I'd tasted them in the kitchen before serving him and the grandboys. This book is filled with ways to use ordinary and inexpensive food in new and entertaining presentations. Biscuit and Gravy Nachos is another example. It's pretty much the same old thing, but arranged on a sheet pan to serve a crowd, topped with cheese and broiled until melty and, well, just plain yummy.
August 13, 2021
This short, clearly written cookbook is a lot of fun! There are recipes for all the components of nachos, including carne asada and chicken tinga (my personal favorite), salsas, and cheese sauces - there are even desserts! There are charts detailing what you need to make good nachos (crunchy, creamy, acid, cheese) so you can follow along at home and make changes as needed.
Dan Whalen has an easy-going writing style and includes a little bit of background on each recipe. I loved the recipes - most are made with ingredients you probably have on hand, but some will find you shopping in the international section and maybe expanding your palate.
I'm not sure if I got the full text in the ARC; there are photos of 5 or 6 desserts, but only three recipes in that section. Otherwise, this is a great book of recipes for nacho lovers. Even if I don't serve these for dinner, I'll definitely be cooking up some of these.
My thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dan Whalen has an easy-going writing style and includes a little bit of background on each recipe. I loved the recipes - most are made with ingredients you probably have on hand, but some will find you shopping in the international section and maybe expanding your palate.
I'm not sure if I got the full text in the ARC; there are photos of 5 or 6 desserts, but only three recipes in that section. Otherwise, this is a great book of recipes for nacho lovers. Even if I don't serve these for dinner, I'll definitely be cooking up some of these.
My thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2024
So, I don't know what I was expecting.... But this book includes everything on chips---Tikki Masala, lasagna, falafel, crispy cod....
Some of Whalen's recipes were inventive. Some were just weird.
Of course there's the basic version
The best part of the book is the Building Block section which included salsas, beans, pickles, cremas, slaw and other recipes to build your Nachos. There's a basic guac recipe here along with instructions for fajita veggies and roasted veggies. The recipes I wanted to try were here---cumin-roasted cauliflower, carnitas, chorizo.
Honestly, I didn't find a "nacho" recipe that I really wanted to sample. Well, maybe the street corn nachos.
This would be a great book for ideas about using leftovers, like if you had some beef bulgogi or leftover stroganoff. I'm just not sure I would go to the trouble of making these aforementioned dishes just to throw them on top of corn chips.
I guess I'm old school. Just give me chips and the liquid cheese.
This is one book I'm really glad I check out of the library.
Some of Whalen's recipes were inventive. Some were just weird.
Of course there's the basic version
The best part of the book is the Building Block section which included salsas, beans, pickles, cremas, slaw and other recipes to build your Nachos. There's a basic guac recipe here along with instructions for fajita veggies and roasted veggies. The recipes I wanted to try were here---cumin-roasted cauliflower, carnitas, chorizo.
Honestly, I didn't find a "nacho" recipe that I really wanted to sample. Well, maybe the street corn nachos.
This would be a great book for ideas about using leftovers, like if you had some beef bulgogi or leftover stroganoff. I'm just not sure I would go to the trouble of making these aforementioned dishes just to throw them on top of corn chips.
I guess I'm old school. Just give me chips and the liquid cheese.
This is one book I'm really glad I check out of the library.
November 16, 2021
This book intrigued me. I don’t like to go to too much trouble when I make food, so this sounded interesting. Overall, I’m underwhelmed. I gained the insight that when you don’t think you have food around, you can get awfully creative. And some of the basics recipes seemed decent (guac, nacho cheese, salsa formulas, etc.) but also things you could easily find online. The pull of this book is that you can make a variety of nachos. Only half of the book is actually the nacho recipes though. I expected a better selection and can even think of some ideas that were missing. Overall, I would thumb through this for some ideas. Its strength is in the basics recipes: taco meat, chili for nachos and pico de gallo, and more. But at the end of the day, this is just some white dude with a creative plate of chips and stuff he thought seemed interesting to combine. I didn’t find his credibility or anecdotes to add much. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 22, 2021
The cover is pleasing to the eye but let’s be honest…. If you grab this book then you instantly know what your getting. Nachos!
What did I like? This book takes nacho love to the nth power! The book gives you all the ingredients, condiments, and meats to make your nacho love expand. From Guacamole to Pico de Gallo, carnitas to flank steak, and some sweet desserts as well. I love nachos and I can’t wait to try some of the recipes. Not every recipe had a picture but ideally there is something in this book for every nacho lover!
Would I recommend or buy? Absolutely yes! The recipes look great and it was very enjoyable to go through the variations. If you love your nacho bar then grab this book for some great cooking fun!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
What did I like? This book takes nacho love to the nth power! The book gives you all the ingredients, condiments, and meats to make your nacho love expand. From Guacamole to Pico de Gallo, carnitas to flank steak, and some sweet desserts as well. I love nachos and I can’t wait to try some of the recipes. Not every recipe had a picture but ideally there is something in this book for every nacho lover!
Would I recommend or buy? Absolutely yes! The recipes look great and it was very enjoyable to go through the variations. If you love your nacho bar then grab this book for some great cooking fun!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
August 18, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This cookbook was delightful! I love getting nachos at restaurants but have never been able to recreate them in quite the same way at home until now. There are so many unique recipes included in this book - like chicken and waffle nachos, tikka masala "naanchos," cheeseburger nachos, s'more nachos, and so many more. I think my favorite part was the "Nacho Basics" section at the beginning of the book that contains recipes for a lot of nacho building blocks that can easily be made for other purposes. Different kinds of salsa, guacamole, as well as plenty of other things that I can see myself cooking up as a side dish or as a salad topper (the red curry chickpeas, for example, have been making a frequent appearance in my lunch salads).
This cookbook was delightful! I love getting nachos at restaurants but have never been able to recreate them in quite the same way at home until now. There are so many unique recipes included in this book - like chicken and waffle nachos, tikka masala "naanchos," cheeseburger nachos, s'more nachos, and so many more. I think my favorite part was the "Nacho Basics" section at the beginning of the book that contains recipes for a lot of nacho building blocks that can easily be made for other purposes. Different kinds of salsa, guacamole, as well as plenty of other things that I can see myself cooking up as a side dish or as a salad topper (the red curry chickpeas, for example, have been making a frequent appearance in my lunch salads).
September 8, 2021
Thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this delightful and fun cookbook.
There's a lot to love about this cookbook. There are so many unique recipes such as Caprese nachos, street corn nachos, lobster nachos, and cheeseburger nachos. Then there are chipless options, too - falafel, chicken tikka masala naanchos, lasagn'chos. Another interesting component to this book is that the sauce and topping recipes are separate from the nachos so it makes it easy for you to use those recipes in other dishes of your choosing. This would be a great book to have on hand if you like to host football parties or other events where appetizers are a must,
#NachosforDinner #NetGalley
There's a lot to love about this cookbook. There are so many unique recipes such as Caprese nachos, street corn nachos, lobster nachos, and cheeseburger nachos. Then there are chipless options, too - falafel, chicken tikka masala naanchos, lasagn'chos. Another interesting component to this book is that the sauce and topping recipes are separate from the nachos so it makes it easy for you to use those recipes in other dishes of your choosing. This would be a great book to have on hand if you like to host football parties or other events where appetizers are a must,
#NachosforDinner #NetGalley
November 10, 2021
This book is jam packed full of different creative recipes to jazz up your nachos!
The book is appealing and easy to read. Each recipe is set out quite simply and not too over complicated. The pictures and colours add a bit of excitement to the book show what your results will look like. It provides plenty of options for sauces and toppings with variations of each. It brings a lot of fun and different to the normal run of the mil nacho recipe.
Personally I love cooking and experimenting and this book provides me with many recipes for nachos that I would never have thought up on my own. Would be a really fun way to spend the night with some friends and try out some different option.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
The book is appealing and easy to read. Each recipe is set out quite simply and not too over complicated. The pictures and colours add a bit of excitement to the book show what your results will look like. It provides plenty of options for sauces and toppings with variations of each. It brings a lot of fun and different to the normal run of the mil nacho recipe.
Personally I love cooking and experimenting and this book provides me with many recipes for nachos that I would never have thought up on my own. Would be a really fun way to spend the night with some friends and try out some different option.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
December 20, 2021
This is an inventive cookbook that I enjoyed previewing very much. I prepared several of the nacho “dinners” and they were outstanding. A particular favorite , the street corn nachos. I found that following the amounts of Ingredients suggested created the balance of ingredients for perfect nachos every time. The variety of recipes was great , including many different ethnic food ideas and even dessert nachos.
The directions were very clear and specific. The photography was well done.
I especially liked that the preparation of many “ingredients” were included , for instance the section about making fresh cremas , salsas and the seasoned proteins for the nacho recipes.
This book is perfect for busy families who want some great fun meals and young people starting out on their own - thinking of college students and young professionals.
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing for the opportunity to try out this cookbook.
The directions were very clear and specific. The photography was well done.
I especially liked that the preparation of many “ingredients” were included , for instance the section about making fresh cremas , salsas and the seasoned proteins for the nacho recipes.
This book is perfect for busy families who want some great fun meals and young people starting out on their own - thinking of college students and young professionals.
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing for the opportunity to try out this cookbook.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews