Not-Cho Average Nachos: 10 Toppings To Upgrade Your Chips-And-Cheese

Bacon makes everything better, especially nachos. Crumble freshly cooked bacon (or almost any other cured meat) into the mix and you'll be a happy, nacho-eating camper.

It's easy to get lazy with your nacho creations — chips topped with melted cheese are delicious all on their own. But you probably have the makings for some next-level nachos in your kitchen right now.

Refried, baked, or otherwise, beans step up the fiber and protein factors of nachos. Try tossing drained and rinsed canned black beans with chopped cilantro and lime juice before adding to nachos.

Use leftover smoky, flavorful chili to turn this tasty snack into a hearty meal.

While it's easy to stick to the cheese you know and love, step outside your comfort zone with more intensely flavored cheese, like blue, smoked gouda, or even pimento cheese.

Make nachos for breakfast. Top a tray of tortilla chips with a few fried eggs, shredded cheese, and even some cooked bacon before warming it all up in the oven.

Slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone pulled pork is a delicious addition to a plate of nachos. The smokier, the better.

Instead of standard ground beef-topped nachos, try using cooked and crumbled chorizo, andouille sausage, or spicy Italian sausage, pairing with jarred piquillo peppers, pickled okra, and hot giardiniera, respectively.

Top chips with warmed speculoos (cookie butter), chocolate-hazelnut spread, or a combination of the two, along with bananas and berries, for a sweet and savory dessert.

Turn a plate of nachos into a full meal by making it a tuna melt. Top tortilla chips with tuna salad and a layer of sliced Swiss cheese, then bake until the cheese melts.

Make un-baked nachos topped with Greek yogurt-based tzatziki, sliced Kalamata olives, feta, chopped tomatoes, red onions, and cucumber.