Description
These Spicy Cajun Crawfish Nachos are a flavorful twist on classic nachos, featuring seasoned crawfish tails baked with a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses atop crispy tortilla chips. Topped with fresh green onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeños, and served with a lime wedge and sour cream, this dish offers a perfect balance of spice, zest, and creaminess—ideal for game days, parties, or casual snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Crawfish and Seasoning
- 1 lb cooked crawfish tails, peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese and Chips
- 1 bag tortilla chips (about 10-12 oz)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the nachos.
- Season Crawfish: In a medium bowl, toss the crawfish tails with Cajun seasoning, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Allow them to marinate for about 10 minutes so the flavors infuse.
- Arrange Chips: Spread the tortilla chips evenly over a baking sheet to create a single layer base for the nachos.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the tortilla chips to start forming the cheesy base.
- Top with Crawfish: Scatter the seasoned crawfish tails across the cheese-covered chips evenly.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheeses on top of the crawfish to cover them well, ensuring a good melt.
- Bake Nachos: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly, signaling the nachos are ready.
- Prepare Toppings: While the nachos bake, slice the green onions, dice the tomatoes, chop the cilantro, and thinly slice the jalapeño to get the fresh toppings ready.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove the nachos from the oven and immediately top with the sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro for freshness.
- Garnish: Add the thinly sliced jalapeños on top for heat and serve lime wedges on the side to squeeze over the nachos for added zest.
- Serve: Serve the nachos hot with sour cream on the side for dipping or dolloping to balance the spicy and savory flavors.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning depending on your spice preference.
- Use fresh, high-quality crawfish for the best flavor.
- For extra crispiness, bake the chips for a few minutes before adding cheese and toppings.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the cheese while it’s melty and the chips crispy.
- Sour cream can be mixed with a bit of lime juice for a tangy twist.
