Ooey-Gooey Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos

I have a weakness for nachos, especially when those nachos are Ooey-Gooey Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos. In my early 30s, nachos were the meal of choice that I shared with my bestie, Katherine. Eating a pile high of chicken nachos from the Island Tiki Bar in Marathon, Florida was a common occurrence on a Saturday night. I could feel the calories get stuck around my middle as I digested them. Fast-forward twenty years later to a healthier me and one would think nachos are off the menu right? Wrong.

I have Mediterraneanized nachos. By taking a little extra time to prepare fresh and healthy ingredients, I avoid overly processed items and keep all of the delicousness. These Ooey-Gooey Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos are just the right splurge when you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, or New Years Eve with friends. A treat, loaded nachos are to enjoy for special occassions. On the Mediterranean Diet, you do not have to cheat to enjoy food fit for a celebration.

How are Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos Healthier?

1. There are no animal products. The Mediterranean Diet relies on plant based food as shown on the Mediterranean Diet pyramid.
2. No fried chips using white baked corn tortilla chips with minimal added salt!
3. Load the nachos with lettuce, tomatos, and olives (instead of sprinkled on like in the restaurants).
4. Replaced fat-ladened sourcream with greeked strained almond yogurt.
5. Cashew cheese replaces the Mexican blend cheese you find on nachos. This is what provides the same Ooey-Gooeyness and leaves off the guilt!

But are Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos as Yummy?

Yes!!! The homemade chips are thicker and crunchier than restaurant-style, greasy-fried tortilla chips. These thick chips hold their own against melty cheese, beans, and cooling almond greek yogurt. The best part is the homemade cashew cheese. It has a heart-healthy advantage over the saturated fats of the Mexican cheese blend. This alone is reason to switch, but the cashew cheese has a uniquely sweet flavor. The sweet flavor is a mesmorizing compliment to spicy food. Smooth, creamy with just a hint of sweetness – WOW! You really should not take my word for it – try it yourself! The Mediterranean Diet brought Ooey-Gooey Nachos back into my life.

Great for a Crowd

The sheet pan is perfect to hold a tapas feast for a crowd. Covered with aluminum, just throw the aluminium away when the Vegan Sheet-Pan Nachos are devored! It is really the ideal party food. Parties have not been readily available in my life recently due to the pandemic. My Sweetheart and I made a smaller sheet pan of Nachos for our New Year’s Eve celebration. Watching the ball drop on television, we played board games, and munched on Nachos. Yes, it was a quiet pandemic NYE celebration! But munching Ooey-Gooey nachos and playing games I was reliving my 30s (only now without feeling the calories getting stuck around the middle).

These vegan nachos are easy to throw together, just be sure to look through each recipe first. The secret to this dish is to ensure the ingredients are fresh. Make the Greek Strained Yogurt the day before, and soak the cashews a few hours before. Good food takes a little extra planning! Not only did I love our Ooey-Gooey Vegan Sheet Pan Nachos splurge, the next day, we went for a long walk in the sunshine! Movement, healthy ingredients, celebrating with loved ones. Yes, it does sound like the Mediterranean Diet.