Surf and Turf Nachos
Put a comfort food spin on a classic restaurant favorite. These Surf and Turf Nachos are topped with juicy steak and flavorful shrimp – whip up a batch for dinner this weekend!
I’ve never been one for a big night out on the town. Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoy a trip to our local steakhouse. However, given a choice, I would much rather make that steak at home and curl up on the couch in the basement for a movie night. That’s how these Surf and Turf Nachos came about.
Surf and turf is a classic ‘fancy’ menu item. Steak + seafood combined together as a main course. The ‘surf’ part is often lobster or shrimp while the ‘turf’ part is typically a beef steak – often a filet mignon. With Valentine’s Day coming up in a couple of weeks, I’m sure a bunch of restaurants will be advertising surf and turf dishes. After all, what better way to say ‘I love you’ than combining two of the most expensive menu items together into one? j/k.
While a classic steak topped with seafood would be tasty, I personally had more fun using those flavors combined with a favorite comfort food – nachos! At their most basic form, nachos are just chips and melted cheese. I have no issue with tortilla chips covered with melted cheese. I’ll gladly make a plate of cheesy chips disappear! But if you top those nachos with juicy steak and tender shrimp, too? Game on!
Surf and Turf Nachos
Surf and Turf NachosI don’t typically pull out my cast iron skillet for shrimp. Whenever I sauté shrimp, I normally use a non-stick skillet. However, I had the cast iron skillet out for cooking the steak so I used it for the shrimp. I’ll never go back! From here on out, shrimp will be cooked in a cast iron skillet. (To be fair, I did leave the juices from the steak in the skillet when I cooked the shrimp…so I’m sure that helped.) Laura said that these shrimp reminded her of shrimp you get when you order fajitas in a restaurant.
A quick note about marinating the steak for these Surf and Turf Nachos. I highly recommend it! Marinating steak does require a bit of advance planning, but it makes such a difference in terms of flavor. For this recipe, I used a simplified version of the marinade that I use when making steak fajitas. It’s delicious!
Aside from the obvious steak and seafood, these Surf and Turf Nachos also feature a number of other layers of flavor. Two types of shredded cheese. Tomatoes. Tamed jalapenos. Green onions. Avocado. And of course chips. Speaking of chips, I randomly stumbled on Chi Chi’s tortilla chips. I remember Chi Chi’s restaurants as a kid, but I’m pretty sure those have gone out of business here in the States. But apparently they still make chips…and those chips are insanely addicting. Of course, these nachos will be tasty with any sort of tortilla chip!
I hope you enjoy these Surf and Turf Nachos as much as we did here. We made a big plate of nachos and curled up on the couch with a Netflix movie – I’ll take that any night of the week! Cheers!
Did you make these nachos at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Surf and Turf Nachos
Ingredients
For the Steaks
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup water
- 2½ Tbsp vegetable oil divided
- 1 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 2 8-oz. New York strip steaks
For the Shrimp
- 16 oz. shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
For the Nachos
- 1 15-oz. bag tortilla chips
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese I used Cabot’s Vermont Sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese I used Cabot’s Pepper Jack cheese
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- ⅓ cup sliced tamed jalapenos
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onions
- {optional toppings} sour cream limes, diced avocados
Instructions
For the Steaks
- Using a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, water, 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil, vinegar, soy sauce and chili powder.
- Place the steaks in a glass baking dish and add liquid mixture; flip steaks several times to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate for 1-6 hours.
- Using a cast iron skillet, add remaining ½ Tbsp of vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, add steaks and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for 2-4 more minutes, or until steaks reach desired level of doneness. (Note: Leave skillet on stove as it will be used to cook shrimp while the steaks are resting.)
- Transfer steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
For the Shrimp
- Rinse and drain shrimp and pat dry with a paper towel. Place shrimp in a bowl and add Cajun seasoning; toss until well coated.
- Place shrimp into skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until shrimp are pink in color and fully cooked. Remove skillet from heat.
For the Nachos
- Preheat oven to 400ׄ°F.
- Layer half of the tortilla chips in cast iron skillet or on sheet pan. Using a small bowl, combine the cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses. Sprinkle half of cheese mixture on top of the chips.
- Sprinkle half of the diced tomatoes and jalapenos on top of cheese.
- Repeat using remaining ingredients.
- Bake for 5-10 minutes, or until cheeses have fully melted.
- After removing the nachos from the oven, top with sliced steak and shrimp.
- Before serving, sprinkle green onions on top. {Optional} Garnish with sour cream, a squeeze of lime and/or diced avocados.
Looking for more nacho recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Will be making this soon for the steak and shrimp can i use mushrooms and for the nachos can i use vegan cheeses i never had surf and turf nachos before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Hey Ramya! You can certainly play around with this recipe however you’d like – the mushrooms will change the flavor profile, but I think they would still be tasty! Just make sure to saute the mushrooms long enough to evaporate most of the liquid…soggy nachos aren’t very much fun! 🙂
Once more we’re on the same wavelength! I’ve been craving nachos for days, and have been wanting to make them at home rather than going out for them. I hadn’t considered shrimp, but now I will!
Dude. Cook the shrimp in a cast iron skillet. With steak juices. Then come back and let me know what you think! 🙂
I love the idea of taking surf and turf, or reef and beef, to the nachos plate. Sounds and looks delicious. Thanks for the great idea.
Haha – I’ve never heard the term ‘reef and beef’ but I really like that one! This is a fun flavor combination. Plus, you can’t ever go wrong with nachos, right?? Thanks, Pauline!
I’m in! We love surf and turf soft tacos, so why not nachos. Looks like the perfect TV dinner to have while watching the Swedish curling team play in the Olympics beginning next month…
Exactly – nachos are like a not-too-distant cousin of soft tacos, so the flavor profile totally works! And I do think these nachos would be extra tasty while watching Olympic curling!! It’s on my list of things to do. 🙂
Ohhh I love the idea. Definitely during Valentines these two expensive ingredients will be abundant. I wont be surprised if someone serves a Wagyu and Lobster combo on a nachos
Haha – that certainly would be a way to take this one to the next level with Wagyu and lobster! 🙂 Thanks, Raymund!
My husband would be in heaven if I make this for him. What a great idea. I would like them with a German beer.
Hey Gerlinde! I say you should make this for your husband – it’s a fun recipe. And everything – I mean everything! – goes better with a German beer. 🙂
this is so colourful and looks delicious david. i’d even put up with the tomatoes 🙂 And I do love me some prawns (shrimp).
Haha – could leave the tomatoes off, Sherry. I won’t tell anyone! 🙂
Like you David, I enjoy a trip to a restaurant now and then but otherwise I’d much rather cook at home! This surf and turf nachos is a GREAT idea for valentines day! It would be even more of a bonus to me because Lynne would only eat the steak (she’s not a sea food lover) and I would get both the steak and the shrimp!!
There is something to be said for not doing the dishes. 🙂 Although we’ve never been big on going out for Valentine’s Day. Everything is usually overpriced with long waits – I’m not sure if covid has changed that. Either way – I’d prefer to stay home and curl up on the couch with a plate of these nachos! 🙂 Thanks, Neil!
I’m always mesmerized by how much a restaurant can charge for a plate of nachos… when you can make it at home for a few dollars 🙂 These surf and turf nachos are totally up my hubby’s alley! Looks great David!
Haha – you make a good point, Michelle! To be fair, most menu items at a restaurant can be made at home for far cheaper. We had a blast making these surf & turf nachos! 🙂
These S&T Nachos look crazy delicious, David! Keith and I would gladly devour them!
They taste extra good while watching sports or Netflix…just sayin’. 🙂 Thanks, Marissa!
We are homebodies too, David and a plate of these delicious surf and turf nachos will be on the menu for our next movie night!! 😍
While we do enjoy entertaining with friends, I think covid has turned us a bit more into homebodies. Of course, we love to cook…so that works out well since we can cook up a yummy meal and then curl up on the couch for Netflix or a game. Thanks, Marcelle! 🙂
David,
For sure my girls will love me more if I treat them to this recipe.
They are spoilt for Nachos in any form. Love the flavours coming my way from your recipe.
Nachos really are quite good, aren’t they? Thanks so much for the comment, Haseen!
This is a great week night/weekend casual dish-Perfect for movie night in the basement. I am a fan of nachos, and the million ways you can enjoy them.
Best,
Velva
Thanks, Velva! I’m a big fan of nachos, too – there are so many ways you can mix ’em up with different toppings. 🙂
Love this shrimp and steak nachos. Very creative and yummy. Must try this coming weekend. thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Vicky! These nachos turned out quite well – and they were a fun way to mix up “traditional” nacho toppings, too!
My husband and I have been eating out waaaay too much lately so your post is so inviting for a night in. I love how easy and flavorful your S&T nachos look. Such an interesting take on nachos. Also, your photos are mouthwatering.
Haha – I hear ya, Kristy! Eating it is fun on occasion, but after a while you just crave a good night at home. These nachos are a fun way to “celebrate!” (And by celebrate, I mean curling up on the couch with Netflix…haha.) Thanks so much!
Sounds really tasty, David. Definitely perfect for chowing down while binging on Netflix!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Thanks, Frank! I love ‘classic’ nachos, but sometimes you just need to mix things up. The combo of shrimp and steak here was pretty fantastic!