Nachos are the ultimate comfort food: With a base of crispy tortilla chips and a wide-open world of toppings, there's nothing not to like about them. Nachos have evolved so much in the last few decades and no longer entail sticky nacho cheese or solely shredded cheese (that always leaves the nachos dry, anyway). Fresh flavors, bold spice, and unique cultural twists have made nachos more of a fun community dish rather than something that satisfies a quick craving.

Whether you're in the camp of spice vs. no spice, soggy vs. superior crunch, or fresh veggies vs. pounds of cheese, there's a nacho recipe out there for you just waiting to be made. While they're traditionally made for the Super Bowl, we're changing the rules and officially calling for winter to be nacho season. Straight out of the oven, these loaded chips offer the same comforts as many other guilty pleasures and for those who prefer healthy options, some of these aren't even that guilty.

Pile On The Pork

Cheddar and pulled pork are a match made in heaven. To make these nachos, envision everything you'd normally pile between two potato buns for a pulled pork sandwich and dump 'em all on top of some warmed tortilla chips instead.

pulled pork nachos
via Shutterstock

Instead of using ground beef, tender pulled pork adds a meaty edge to this dish, and creamy coleslaw cuts through the richness of the pork. Throw on some pickled jalapeños and a drizzle of BBQ sauce and you've got yourself a southern-inspired nacho staple... just don't forget the layer of cheddar underneath it all.

Lime-Marinated Shrimp And Avocado

These nachos couldn't be simpler and can be jazzed up in whichever way you'd like. Shrimp and nachos might not sound as though they'd make a happy combination but the shrimp could easily be swapped out for crab meat or, if you're feeling extra fancy, lobster meat.

shrimp and chips
via Shutterstock
shrimp and chips

Marinating the seafood in lime first adds a boost of flavor that cuts through the creaminess of the avocado you'll also be piling on top of these chips. Top with some sour cream, lettuce, and fresh tomatoes, then hit the whole thing with some crumbled cotija cheese and another squeeze of lime.

Mediterranean Inspiration

Pulling more inspiration from the Mediterranean, Greece, in particular, we bring forth the creation of the feta nachos. With some shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, diced cucumbers, quartered artichokes, and feta cheese, these nachos have us dreaming of aquamarine waters and sunshine.

greek style nachos
via Olive Tomato

Pop 'em in the oven and allow the feta to melt slightly or, if you're feeling adventurous, roast the tomatoes and feta together before mixing them to create a roasted tomato feta topping.

Spam And Pineapple

Hawaii was onto something with their love for spam and, of course, pineapples are the natural counterpart to the saltiness of the spam.

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Chop a block of this lunch meat up into smaller pieces before frying it up in a pan to go over cheddar-topped tortilla chips. Take some fresh pineapple and scatter that over the top and appreciate this Hawaiian pizza-style take on traditional nachos.

Italian Freshness

With so many amazing dishes coming out of Italy (many of which have already made their way around the world), we couldn't help but take inspiration from this country and its fresh, local ingredients. Whip up some bruschetta or buy it premade to go over mozzarella-topped tortilla chips.

italian style nachos
via Savory Experiments

To that, drizzle a little balsamic glaze for a Caprese-style take on nachos but with a healthier twist. Fresh basil can be rolled up and sliced to add sweetness and freshness to what might be the world's best fusion snack.

Tex-Mex Eggs And Crema

If eggs can be wrapped up in an actual tortilla then there's no reason a fried egg can't be placed atop cheese-smothered tortilla chips.

nachos with eggs
via Shutterstock

A blend of Monterey and jack cheeses transform tortilla chips into a worthy base for some fried eggs, and some sliced avocado and your favorite hot sauce serve as the perfect flavors to balance out the entire thing. The best part will be cutting into those eggs and watching that thick yolk cascade over warm chips.

Fried Chicken And Cheese

We make our way back to the southern U.S. where fried chicken and waffles are practically everywhere. Rather than waffles, the base of these nachos is tortilla chips.

fried chicken nachos
via Pinterest

Crispy, tender pieces of fried chicken can be loaded on top of tortilla chips that are covered in cheddar and - hear us out on this one - your favorite gravy can be poured over all of that. Add some oven-roasted or fried potatoes to give the whole thing a Southern-fried-dinner feel.

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