Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Tiffany · As an Amazon Associate, I earn referral fees from products I love and recommend at no extra cost to you.

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This is a copycat recipe for Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos with crispy fried wonton chips, Italian sausage crumbles, pepperoni, pepper rings, and melted mozzarella cheese served with marinara dipping sauce.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (1)

Have you been to Old Chicago and tried their Italian nachos? They’re so tasty!

We were going to have a get together one night and I thought, “I wish I could make those. It’d be perfect with our lasagna.”

This is recipe for Italian nachos uses wonton chips in place of the pasta chips.

I had sought out what would be closest to the “pasta chips” they use and the wonton wrappers were the best choice (and a huge hit I might add!)

They even have a slight saltiness to them so I did not have to salt them.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos

  • Wonton Wrappers
  • Ground Italian Pork Sausage
  • Pepperoni
  • Mild Pepper Rings
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Vegetable or Canola Oil

How to Make Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos

Cut the wonton wrappers in half diagonally to make triangles.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (3)

Fry them in oil for about 2 minutes per side.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (4)

It can be difficult to tell if they are done and may still look light-colored. After you remove them from the pan, they continue to brown.

They will also bake in the oven at the end so they do not need to cook too long in the oil, but cooked enough that they’re crispy.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (5)

Cook the Italian sausage for about 8 minutes, stirring frequently.

Spread the wonton chips evenly on a baking sheet or a platter with some overlapping.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (6)

Begin adding your toppings by layering with cooked Italian sausage.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (7)

Then, add a layer of pepperoni.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (8)

Top the pepperoni with banana pepper rings.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (9)

Add lots of shredded mozzarella cheese on top for the finishing touch.

Bake the platter or baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is melted.

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (10)

Be sure to serve it with marinara sauce – it’s delicious!

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (11)
Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (12)

Try these other Italian recipes!

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (13)

Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos (Copycat Recipe)

Old Chicago’s Italian nachos with pepper rings, Italian sausage, pepperoni, melted mozzarella cheese, and crispy wonton chips served with marinara sauce.

4.42 from 46 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 Servings

Author: Tiffany

Ingredients

  • 1 Package Wonton Wrappers, cut into triangles (slice in half diagonally)
  • 1 pound Ground Italian Pork Sausage
  • 1 package Pepperonis
  • 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Pepper Rings
  • ½ cup Marinara Sauce, for dipping
  • Vegetable or Canola Oil, for frying

Instructions

  • Cook Italian sausage over medium-high heat, about 8 minutes, and set aside.

  • Cut wonton wrappers in half diagonally to make triangles. In another pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, working in batches, add wonton triangles to pan. Cook for about 2 minutes on both sides. Remove from pan and lay on paper towels to absorb extra oil.

  • On a baking sheet, place a layer of crispy wonton chips. Layer with Italian sausage crumbles, pepperonis, pepper rings, and mozzarella.

  • Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn referral fees from products I love and recommend at no extra cost to you.

Nutrition

Calories: 419 kcalCarbohydrates: 10 gProtein: 23 gFat: 32 gSaturated Fat: 12 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 23 gCholesterol: 64 mgSodium: 931 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 4 g

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Hi, I’m Tiffany!

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (18)I'm the recipe developer and food photographer behind Simply Happenings. I'm also a wife, mom to two adventurous little boys, registered nurse, and live in the great Midwest. I like to feature quick 30-minute dinners, one-pot meals, and delicious recipes you can cook with all of your favorite household appliances. Read More →

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (19)Phil Kopiec

    There is also Alfredo sauce on Old Chicago’s nachos. Otherwise this is spot on and really good. Thanks

    Reply

    • Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (20)TotalBrian

      @Phil Kopiec, no there isn’t. What planet are you on?

      Reply

  2. Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (21)Linda

    Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (22)
    Delicious! And so quick and easy. Made exactly as written, using 1/2 recipe for a satisfying dinner for 2 with a small side salad. Thank you for your recipe.

    Reply

  3. Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (23)Barbara

    I don’t think you meant to cook the wontons 2 minutes… Maybe seconds? But so delish!!

    Reply

    • Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (24)Tiffany

      It depends on how hot you get the oil. I heat it over a medium-high heat on the stove. I set a timer for each batch I make and cook 1 minute per side so it’s 2 minutes per wonton.
      – Tiffany

      Reply

Old Chicago's Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are old Chicago Italian nachos made of? ›

Pasta chips, mozzarella, pepper jack, pepperoni, pepperoncini, fresh green onions, Italian sausage and our signature red sauce.

Does Olive Garden have Italian nachos? ›

Last week, Olive Garden added a new “Italian Nacho” dish to their menu.

How do you make nachos not soggy in the oven? ›

Place them in a metal pan, whether you've layered them or made separate little nacho bites with round chips. Place them in a 300F oven to crisp up, keeping a careful eye on them so they don't burn. After they're hot all the way through, turn the heat up to 350F for about 5 minutes.

Do you put cheese on nachos first or last? ›

To make sure every chip is covered in cheese, lay down the cheese on the chips first. The cheese will serve as a blanket, protecting the chips from liquidy, sog-inducing toppings.

Is nachos Spanish Italian or Mexican? ›

The dish was created by, and named after, Mexican restaurateur Ignacio Anaya, who created it in 1943 for American customers at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

What are authentic Mexican nachos called? ›

Chilaquiles – the real Mexican nachos.

Is Olive Garden's food made from scratch? ›

Our soup and sauce masters create dishes by hand and from scratch, every day. With fresh, whole ingredients like kale, peppers and squash. Because they know cooking that way – the Italian way- everything tastes better. to everything they make.

Does Olive Garden use Parmesan or Romano cheese? ›

Olive Garden offers cheese at the table, the grated cheese is Romano cheese, a sheep's milk cheese that is similar to the cow's milk derived Parmesan. Romano tends to be stronger in flavor and saltier, but both are popular choices to adding to pasta dishes.

What kind of meat is in the lasagna at Olive Garden? ›

61.99. Layers of pasta, meat sauce** and mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and romano cheese. **Our meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.

Are nachos better in oven or grill? ›

The cooking method

Drummond "nukes" the nachos in a microwave and the NYT grills them, but the best results, I find, come from baking, which heats the dish all the way through without making the base layer soft and chewy.

Is it better to make nachos in the oven or microwave? ›

For optimum results, bake your nachos in the oven, but if need be, you can also whip them up in the microwave.

Should I put parchment paper under my nachos? ›

Be sure to add a layer of aluminum foil or parchment paper to the bottom of your baking sheet before assembling the nachos. This will make clean up easy and prevent the nachos from sticking.

What is the best melting cheese for nachos? ›

Sharp cheddar gets my vote for nacho cheese. It melts smoothly without being stringy, while having a nice flavorful punch. You can use mild or medium cheddar if you prefer, but the flavor will be a bit blander. Monterey jack and pepper jack also melt really well into sauces and make a great white nacho cheese sauce.

What cheese is best for nachos? ›

Choose a combination of cheeses for both flavor and meltability. A Monterey Jack cheese will have the oozy-melty quality sought after in the best nachos, while a standard sharp cheddar will offer a little tang.

Do tomatoes go on nachos before or after cooking? ›

To achieve this, put one layer of chips on a baking sheet, then cover with cheese and toppings. Repeat until you've used everything up so that every bite is the same from beginning to end. Sprinkle on fresh toppings like cilantro, scallions, tomatoes, and pickled jalapenos on after the nachos come out of the oven.

Where was nachos made from? ›

The common dish known today as nachos originated in Northern Mexico. Nachos are actually a relatively recent dish. So recent in fact that that researchers believe they have traced the original creator in the small Mexican city of Piedras Negras.

What is Brava nachos? ›

Place ⅓ of chips on top of cheese in single layer. Sprinkle ¼ cup of cheese over chips. Place half of chorizo and half of beans over cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, cheese, chorizo, and beans, ending with cheese on top.

What comes on triple layer nachos? ›

Crispy chips, nacho cheese sauce, refried beans, and red sauce; you know that whomever you're with is going to want “just one.” You're going to look like a selfish friend if you say no, so you're going to just roll your eyes and say “sure.” And, because it's the well-tested natural order of things, that one chip will ...

Where did El Sabor nachos come from? ›

EL SABOR was established in 1992 as the first tortilla chips plant in Greece and it still remains the only factory of its kind in south Eastern Europe. El Sabor is operating in the industrial area of Inofita, with new buildings and warehouses of 5000 square meters, located in the company's privately owned land.

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