The time for costumes, candy, and creepiness is coming, and it’s always a great excuse to get people together for some food and fun! Whether your neighborhood block is decorating driveways to pass out treats together or you and your loved ones are living out your tradition of dressing up like your favorite characters, The Ultimate Halloween Nachos are the perfect, simple, festive snack to munch on. They have everything the beloved finger food entails: salty tortilla chips, creamy black beans, tangy salsa, and of course, lots and lots of melty cheese. What makes them perfect for the spooky season is the tender, sweet roasted pumpkin scattered all over. It’s great for a crowd, and it’s all cooked on two baking sheets, so it’s super easy to clean up! The Ultimate Halloween Nachos truly are the best of the best when it comes to creepy crunchies!
Ingredients
- For the nachos:
- 4 cups fresh pumpkin or butternut squash, cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 (13-ounce) package tortilla chips
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (16-ounce) jar salsa
- 3 cups Mexican cheese blend, shredded
- For the optional toppings:
- fresh cilantro, to taste and minced
- green onions, to taste and sliced
- hot pepper sauce, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease two 15x10x1-inch baking dishes.
Step 3 –Place the pumpkin in one of the prepared baking dishes.
Step 4 –Drizzle the pumpkin with the oil and sprinkle with the salt and the pepper. Toss to coat.
Step 5 –Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the pumpkin from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Step 7 –In the other prepared baking dish, layer 1/2 of the chips, 1/2 of the beans, 1/2 of the roasted pumpkin, 1/2 of the salsa, and 1/2 of the cheese.
Step 8 –Repeat the layer once.
Step 9 –Bake until the cheese is melted, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 10 –Top with the cilantro, the green onion, and the hot pepper sauce.
Step 11 –Serve immediately.
