Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe
This Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos Copycat recipe offers a delightful twist on traditional nachos by using crispy fried wonton wrappers as chips, topped with savory Italian sausage, pepperoni, melted cheeses, and tangy pepperoncini peppers. Served with marinara sauce for dipping, this appetizer is perfect for game day or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chips
- 1 Package Wonton Wrappers (cut into triangles by slicing in half diagonally)
- Vegetable or Canola Oil (for frying, about 2 cups)
Toppings
- 1 pound Ground Italian Pork Sausage
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 cup Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
- 1 Pepperoni (sliced)
- Pepperoncini or Banana Peppers (to taste, sliced)
- 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce (for dipping)
Instructions
- Cook Italian Sausage: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground Italian pork sausage for about 8 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks until fully browned and cooked through. Once done, set aside.
- Prepare Wonton Chips: Cut wonton wrappers diagonally in half to create triangle shapes. In another pan, heat vegetable or canola oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches, fry the wonton triangles for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy. Remove the chips with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain and absorb excess oil.
- Assemble Nachos: On a baking sheet, spread a layer of the crispy wonton chips. Evenly distribute the cooked Italian sausage crumbles, sliced pepperoni, and pepperoncini peppers over the chips. Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese followed by the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake to Melt Cheese: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the assembled nachos in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted thoroughly and is bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcrowd the oil when frying wonton chips to ensure they cook evenly and stay crispy.
- Use paper towels to drain fried wontons to reduce excess oil for a less greasy bite.
- You can substitute ground Italian sausage with ground beef or turkey depending on preference.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini or banana peppers based on your desired spice and tang level.
- Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the cheese at its melty best.
Keywords: Old Chicago Italian Nachos, Italian Nachos recipe, wonton nachos, fried wonton chips, Italian sausage nachos, appetizer
