Celebrating the big game calls for a day of good eats, good friends, and long-standing traditions. There’s nothing more traditional in Kentucky than a hot brown sandwich. But how do you serve it as an appetizer?
To please a crowd, Super Bowl party food needs to be simple and easy to eat while seated on the couch. That’s where Kentucky hot brown nachos save the day. Your guests can have the traditional taste of Louisville’s signature sandwich in the form of baked nachos.
History of hot brown sandwiches in Kentucky
The story behind the hot brown sandwich is one of innovation, resourcefulness and probably drunkenness. Back in the 1920s, the Brown Hotel hosted dance parties on their rooftop.
While it was during Prohibition, it’s believed that alcohol was widely present at these soirees. When dancing patrons got tired and hungry, they would order ham and eggs or some equally low budget-yet-satisfying dish to refuel.
The legend says that one particularly late night, Chef Fred Schmidt threw together an open-faced sandwich with ingredients he had lying around. The sandwich was named the Hot Brown and has become wildly popular in Louisville ever since.
Kentucky hot brown nachos recipe
The legend behind the hot brown sandwich makes this nacho version the perfect dish for a rowdy Super Bowl crowd. Traditionally, a hot brown is made with roasted turkey, Roma tomatoes, bacon, and a mornay sauce.
To make the mornay sauce typically used for a Hot Brown you must combine a butter roux with Pecorino Romano. But for this recipe we swapped the mornay for melted American cheese, which is ideal for the nacho version. The nachos will keep a bit better without getting soggy, but you’ll still have that creamy, cheesy taste and texture.
Ingredients
- 12 oz roasted turkey breast, shredded
- 8 slices of cooked bacon
- 2 cups shredded American cheese
- 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes
- Salsa and sour cream to garnish
- 1 bag of your favorite tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet.
- Top the chips with the roasted turkey.
- Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over chips.
- Distribute the diced Roma tomatoes evenly over the chips.
- Sprinkle cheese generously over the entire surface of the nachos.
- Bake the dish for about 5-8 minutes until the cheese starts bubbling. Watch closely so that the nachos don’t burn.
- Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with your favorite salsa and sour cream.
The Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich has become an icon in Louisville over the years. With its flavor combinations of turkey, bacon, cheese, and tomatoes, your guests will simply adore the spin on traditional fare. The nacho version of this classic is the perfect treat to celebrate a big win on Super Bowl Sunday.
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