The Weird Lunch My Family Looks Forward To Every Year on Our Beach Vacations
The Perfect Beach Vacation Recipe: Beach Nachos
Every year, we try to book at least one beach vacation. It's our way to relax, unwind, and enjoy God's creation to the fullest. Though the shorefront may be littered with high-rise condos, restaurants, umbrellas, and chairs, there's nothing like getting up at 6 a.m., sitting on your balcony, and looking out at the horizon into nothingness and everything all at once.
Why Doing Nothing Is My Favorite Vacation
We just got back from Gulf Shores, a favorite vacation spot for our family. When friends ask if we had a good time, they're always surprised when I say yes, we did nothing.
When I say nothing, I mean we'd pitch our canopy at 6:30 every morning and stay on the beach until late afternoon. Then we'd grab dinner and head back out for nighttime crab and shell hunting. We'd read, play in the water, nap, and relax.
We only ventured out to eat seafood, grocery shop, and do a couple of fun activities. We played mini golf and rented a boat one day to get out on the water.
Folks who know me know I'm always on the go, so they're surprised when I say doing nothing is the perfect vacation. But the truth is, I need to be forced to slow down once in a while.
In Gulf Shores, there's not much to do. At the condo, there's nothing to clean. I don't have animals to take care of. My kids are older, so I don't have to entertain them. We eat out quite a bit, so there's not much food to prepare.
I needed a week to do a little bit of nothing.
The Last-Day Beach Tradition My Family Loves
Now, I did mention that we had a couple of Walmart grocery pick-up orders We don't go out for every meal. We stayed in and cooked a couple of nights, and we always try to bring leftovers home when we go out to eat because on the last day, we do something that's become a family tradition.
And you might think it's a little weird, but hear me out.
It's fun and delicious.
Beach Nachos
Why We Love Beach Nachos
My husband was diagnosed with Celiac disease a few years ago, so he can't have anything with wheat. Some restaurants have gluten-free menus, but many don't, or they aren't great about cross-contamination.
One of his go-to meals is nachos. A pile of meats, veggies, and cheese on corn chips is usually a pretty safe option. We make them at home quite a bit when I don't feel like cooking a big meal.
A few years ago, when I was looking for something to make for lunch on the last day of vacation, I noticed we had a lot of random leftovers and ingredients in the fridge that needed to be used up.
That's when Beach Nachos were born.
How to Make Beach Nachos
The recipe is simple. Start with a layer of corn chips on a cookie sheet. Then top them with whatever you have left in the fridge, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
One of the rules is that you have to use whatever is left. If someone ordered something weird during the week and you're thinking, "Absolutely not," too bad. It goes on the nachos.
Someone got fettuccini alfredo? It belongs on beach nachos.
Someone got a side of green beans? It belongs on beach nachos.
Someone got meatloaf? Ew, why? You are on the beach... But it still belongs on beach nachos!
That's part of the fun!
Once everything is piled on, top that sucker with a big ole heapin' mess of cheese.
And make sure you preheat the oven because we all know every beach condo has an oven from 1985 that takes three to five business days to warm up.
If I have foil, I'll tent it over the top so the cheese melts without burning while warming everything underneath. After about 15 to 20 minutes, I'll finish them with whatever fresh toppings we have left, including veggies like lettuce, tomato, and cilantro, and sour cream, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, salsa, or guacamole.
From there, we transfer everything to plates and eat lunch on the beach.
I grabbed this pic on our last vacation but not before my family ravaged it.
Don't Want Beach Nachos but Don't Want to Waste Food
Now, I get it if you're not as adventurous as my family. If you have unopened food left over that you don't want to take home, consider leaving it for housekeeping or donating it to a local food pantry. Many organizations will even arrange pickup for unopened, nonperishable items. Just google search food pantries where you are staying.
The Perfect Any Vacation Meal
They're messy, delicious, and perfect for the last day of vacation. You use up all your leftovers, avoid wasting food, and get one final meal together before heading home. It's become one of my favorite traditions because it's such a simple way to wrap up a great week.
We always do this at the beach, but it could work for really any vacation where you are in an Airbnb or cabin and can cook your own food. They're not fancy, and they're definitely not Instagram-worthy, but they're a fun reminder that some of the best memories come from making the most of what you already have. Every time we make them, we laugh about the strange combinations, clean out the fridge, and enjoy one last meal with our toes in the sand before heading home.
Be sure to check out more of my travel content while you are here!
Read More: Flesh-Eating Bacteria and Other Ocean Hazards Indiana & Kentucky Vacationers Should Know
Beach Nachos Recipe
Ingredients:
- Corn chips
- Leftover toppings cut into tiny pieces
- Here's what was on our last beach nacho meal
- Hamburger
- Seafood boil
- Steak
- Local fish
- Tator Tots
- Sweet potatoes
- Boiled potatoes
- Sweet corn
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Romain lettuce
- Advocados
- Japanese BBQ
- Ranch
- Shredded Cheese
Directions:
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
- Layer corn chips
- Spread leftovers on top
- Top with cheese
- Tent with tin foil
- Cook 15 minutes and take tin foil off to cook last five minutes to melt cheese
- Top with cold ingredients like vegetables and sauces
LOOK: See America's 50 Best Beach Towns
Gallery Credit: Keri Wiginton
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