Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos Copycat Recipe
This Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos Copycat recipe features crispy wonton chips layered with savory ground Italian pork sausage, pepperoni, pepperoncini, and a blend of mozzarella and pepper jack cheeses. Finished in the oven until bubbly and melted, these nachos are served with marinara sauce for dipping, bringing a unique Italian twist to a classic appetizer that’s perfect for parties or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Package Wonton Wrappers, cut into triangles (slice in half diagonally)
- 1 pound Ground Italian Pork Sausage
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- ½ cup Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
- 1 package Pepperoni slices
- Pepperoncini or Banana Peppers, sliced to taste
- ½ cup Marinara Sauce for dipping
- Vegetable or Canola Oil for frying
Instructions
- Cook Italian Sausage: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground Italian pork sausage for about 8 minutes until fully cooked and browned. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare Wonton Chips: Cut the wonton wrappers diagonally to form triangles. Heat vegetable or canola oil in a pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Fry the wonton triangles in batches for about 2 minutes per batch, flipping once, until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Assemble the Nachos: On a baking sheet, spread a layer of the crispy wonton chips. Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese evenly over the chips, followed by cooked Italian sausage crumbles, pepperoni slices, and pepperoncini peppers. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and is bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- The Italian pork sausage used is typically pre-seasoned with fennel, garlic, red pepper flakes, paprika, and oregano.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini or banana peppers to control the level of spiciness and tang.
- Cook wontons in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, ensuring they become crispy.
- For a quicker option, you may bake the wonton chips instead of frying, though frying yields the crispiest results.
- Leftover assembled nachos are best enjoyed immediately as the wonton chips can lose crispness.
Keywords: Italian nachos, wonton chips, copycat recipe, Old Chicago nachos, Italian pork sausage, appetizer, party food
