Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe
This recipe is a delicious copycat of Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos, featuring crispy wonton chips topped with flavorful Italian sausage, pepperoni, melted mozzarella and pepper jack cheeses, and tangy pepperoncini peppers. Served with warm marinara sauce for dipping, this dish makes a perfect appetizer or snack full of Italian-inspired flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Wonton Chips
- 1 package wonton wrappers, cut into triangles
- Vegetable or canola oil for frying
Toppings
- 1 pound ground Italian pork sausage
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1 pepperoni, sliced
- Pepperoncini or banana peppers, sliced
Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Cook sausage: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground Italian pork sausage for about 8 minutes until fully browned. Set aside and drain excess fat if necessary.
- Prepare wonton chips: Cut wonton wrappers diagonally in half to form triangles. Heat vegetable or canola oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, fry the wonton triangles in batches for about 2 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Assemble nachos: On a baking sheet, spread a layer of the crispy wonton chips. Sprinkle half of the pepper jack cheese over the chips, then add the cooked sausage crumbles, sliced pepperoni, and pepperoncini peppers. Top everything with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet into a preheated oven at 375℉ for 5 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted completely.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with warmed marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, use hot Italian sausage instead of mild.
- Substitute wonton wrappers with tortilla chips if preferred.
- Use a mix of jalapeños along with pepperoncini for more heat.
- Ensure oil temperature is hot enough before frying wontons to avoid sogginess.
- Leftover nachos can be reheated briefly in the oven but are best enjoyed fresh.
