Nacho Bar Ideas: An easy “serve yourself,” style of food bar for a party or event. Topping ideas, my favorite way to serve the cheese, and just how much our guests loved it!
I’m totally guilty of not designing a HUGE party for my 2 year old’s birthday party this year. BUT… in all fairness, my oldest didn’t get a big shindig for his second either.
But as a party planner at heart, I couldn’t go without a little bit of a celebration, and decided to style an easy nacho bar since food bars are my favorite!
Nacho Bar Party Ideas
We invited a few of our closest friends over on a Friday night, with a Facebook invite saying,
It’s Nacho Birthday, it’s his!
We then told them to plan on coming over to our house after school & work that Friday evening, for a nacho bar & some brew. (Juice boxes for the kiddos.)
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Nacho Bar for a Crowd:
Everyone LOVED the nacho bar idea! They were able to make their own… just the way they wanted it, and it was the perfect way to vedge out, on a Friday evening.
The idea started, when I saw a sign out front of the party rental store in my home town that said,
“NOW CARRYING A NACHO CHEESE MACHINE.”
I just about rear-ended someone, because of my excitement. I literally planned this party days later. 😉
Nacho Bar Ideas
Side Note: Have you downloaded my FREE party planning checklist yet?
Oh heavens… you better go get that! Click Here!
How to Make a Nacho Bar
I literally bought almost everything already pre-made and pre-cut. It was by choice to make the guacamole and pico de gallo. But a nacho bar is PERFECT for a last minute party idea because it was literally all ready in no time.
My guacamole recipe is a HUGE hit on Pinterest, and my top most-visited recipe post every year if you want to snag it too:
A nacho bar isn’t complete without salsa, sour cream and green onions.
(I had this wooden “plank,” left over from my son’s Nautical Birthday party,” and I thought it would work perfectly to add a little boost or height to the table.)
Shredded lettuce, black olives & Pico de Gallo…
refried beans, fajita chicken, & jalapeños…
oh…. and guac. Guacamole. My weakness.
Mmmmm, & Chili. I do love a mean chili-cheese-nacho.
Then finally, the chips! (2 Different types. Corn & Flour Tortilla Chips.)
I found the cutest “boats,” & wooden utensils on Shop Sweet Lulu for the nacho’s, and they worked perfectly! No dishes to wash! (Well… besides the platters and small bowls on the table.)
The best part? People were coming and going all night, and they were able to snack as they pleased. This will definitely be happening in our house again.
Nacho Toppings Ideas:
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Green Onions
- Lettuce
- Black Olives
- Pico De Gallo
- Refried Beans
- Chicken Breast
- Jalapeños
- Guacamole
- Chili
…of course don’t forget your chips & cheese.
If you’re able to rent a cheese machine, do it! The kids (AND ADULTS) loved the heck out of that thing. I’ll admit… I had “cheese,” with EVERYTHING the entire weekend, that I had this glorious invention, rented.
Birthday Cake for the Big Boy
For my parties, I usually hire out for the cake, cake pops, or cupcakes. But this year, since a big “to-do,” wasn’t taking place, (and only our closest friends would “see,” the cake), I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Now… I can make a cake. That’s not the problem. It’s the DECORATING the cake.
There’s a cake on Pinterest, that had itty bitty balloons sticking out of it, and I thought… I can do that! I just grabbed wooden skewers, small balloons, and super glued them to the skewers, and stuck ’em in. It worked, right?!
Party Favors
I couldn’t send our guests out the door empty-handed. While my normal “stroll,” through the Target dollar bin, I came across playing cards & play dough, and thought they’d be the perfect little items to throw into goodie bags and to keep the kiddos busy on the car ride home.
I placed a rolling cart that I have from World Market, by the front door, and stuffed the goody bags in it… with a sign that said, “Take 1.” It worked out perfectly, and there wasn’t ONE favor left, by the end of the night.
So there it is! It was my “It’s Nacho Birthday, It’s His,” nacho bar party!
P.S. My little guy LOVED his cake… & the nachos. He’s a “cruncher,” like his momma and loves anything salty and sweet. Ok, ok… he’s like his momma because he’ll eat anything.
If you haven’t visited the party section of my blog, I’d love for you to come “party,” with me:
Amanda says
Hi! i Just subscribed after watching your video for quacamole and your awesome! I have a question regarding the nacho bar. Did you find it challenging to keep the warm food warm? I would like to do meat and beans etc… but am stumped how to keep it warm over time. Thank you for the awesome idea and can’t wait to try it myself.
Jessica says
Hey!! You know, I thought about that too, and was a bit worried. However, I just sat out the warm items when all (or most) of the guests arrived, and told them, “It’s time to eat!” 🙂 That seemed to work well. I hated the idea of having crockpots sitting on the table, because I really didn’t want the table covered with ugly crockpots. 🙂
But although I don’t have any warming dishes, or chaffing dishes… I think those would probably work and look really nice! I hope that helps! Keep me posted! 🙂
She Cam says
Crock pots
Bethany says
Crockpot!! They make all different sizes💜
Candace says
I’m planning a nacho bar for my sons third birthday and I seriously was eyeing those exact little bowls from shop sweet lulu but when I looked at the size I felt they would be too small. Then I stumbled across your oarty and see where you used them! Eek, I barely have enough time to order some , but I wanted to ask you: did they work well? Were they big enough for a good amount of nachos? Also, thanks so much for having all the topping ideas in a list so my brain didn’t have to exert itself too much 😉
Jessica says
Hi Candace! Oh yes!!! They worked great!!!! We loved them, and would totally use them again. Perfect for the kids, and then the adults could go back for seconds if they wanted! 🙂 I hope that helps!
Oh good! I’m so glad it helped you! Good luck and have so much fun!
Candace says
Oh! Also, can you share how you made the fajita chicken? Or did you buy it? Thanks again!
Jessica says
I actually bought it! They sell premade fajita chicken in our grocery store, and I TOTALLY took advantage! LOL!
Cheli Barfus says
Where did you find those nacho bowls?
Jessica says
Hi Cheli! Right here: http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=929147&b=398746&m=42575&afftrack=&urllink=shopsweetlulu%2Ecom%2Fcollections%2Fall%2Dfood%2Dpackaging%2Fproducts%2Fclassic%2Dsnack%2Dtrays%2Dkraft%2Dwith%2Dwhite%2Dstripes (affiliate)
Amy says
Hi, I’m throwing a Birthday party and I’m going to have a Nacho Bar. I love your idea’s, Thank you for sharing. I just have a question. You had Chili, what did you use for your chili? Do you have a recipe? I don’t have a chili recipe. So I was wondering if you just used can chili or if you had a recipe? Thank you
Jessica says
Hi Amy! Aw, thank you so much! I actually LOVE the chili recipe that I have here on the blog. It’s my mom’s and it’s been a family favorite and is PERFECT for a nacho bar because it’s a base chili that is delicious when you can make it your own by adding other things to it! Here it is: https://fantabulosity.com/quick-easy-chili-mommas-recipe/
Angela says
My grocery store sells chili seasoning packets similar to taco seasoning. Just add tomatoes, beans, and beef to it and let it simmer. When I have my nacho bar party I’m going to use that.
Lisa Kunkel says
Nacho Bars are the best and they are not just for Birthday Parties. We use to sponsor lunches for real estate offices to promote our business. Our Nacho Bar Lunches were popular and everyone looked forward to when we would come. Other businesses did the boring Costco sandwiches and bagged salad (blah!). Nacho Bars are fun and inexpensive and require a lot less work. I love how your party set up looks so clean and inviting.
Jessica says
You’re so right Lisa! I’d look forward to a nacho bar, over a sandwich too! Lol!
Cynthia Burch says
Hi Jessica! Thanks for the list, it’s SO helpful!
We are doing a nacho bar for my sons graduation party and I’m stumped about one thing, how do you determine how much is enough food to purchase/make? I’m buying mostly pre-made ingredients because I’m going to be crazy busy making cupcakes and entertaining out of town guests. I’m using canned nacho cheese, refried beans, salsa, etc. and I’m just not sure how much to buy!
Thanks in advance and especially for the awesome guac recipe! I almost forgot that as a topping!
Jessica says
Hi Cynthia! Oh how fun and exciting!! I’m so glad that the list is helpful!
Well, I must admit… I always tend to over-serve at parties, mainly because I have a fear of running out of food. Haha!
I always tell myself that I can either freeze left overs, or eat on them for a couple of days. So I know that may not help, but I didn’t want to tell you that I had it all figured out either… because I sure don’t. Lol!
If it helps at all, you may want to figure if everyone uses a spoonful of each of the toppings on their nacho’s, then that may be a good starting place????
I’m sorry I couldn’t help with it more!
Denise says
Did people just dig into the tortilla chips with their hands? Having a nacho bar this weekend and can’t figure it that’s the best way??
Jessica says
Hi Denise! Tongs work well for tortilla chips! I hope that helps 🙂