Rachael Ray's Brilliant Nacho Hack Changes Everything

Some nights, we're all for cooking up a Beef Wellington a-la-Gordon Ramsay or taking a trip to Flavortown with Guy Fieri and his undeniably delicious but impossibly intricate grilled cheese recipe, for which you have to make mac and cheese first. On select weekends, with a fully stocked kitchen and a healthy cup of optimism, we might try to cook something worthy of a Netflix documentary.

But on most nights, we're looking for short and sweet. We strive for simplicity. Tonight, we'll be dining on nachos, thanks to Rachael Ray's nacho hack. And, in case you're a doubter, what follows are three reasons why you should make it with us. First: the recipe is even simpler than Ray's 30-minute chicken Marsala (via Instagram). Second: hand the mic to Kristin Bell, who said, "Surrender to it. It's nacho time" (via Women's Health). Third, Rachael Ray's nachos only take 15 minutes to put together. We double-dog dare you to find something easier.

It's the rotisserie chicken in Rachael Ray's recipe that makes all the difference. Beyond your pre-cooked protein (time for a Costco run?), all you'll need are salsa verde and other nacho basics (via Rachael Ray In Season). Mix your chicken with the salsa, and layer your chicken-salsa mix with the nacho cheese of your choice. Ray suggests Monterey or pepper jack. Andrew Zimmerman uses fresh mozzarella and Monterey Jack on his (via Food & Wine). Top them with some avocado and Cotija cheese if you have it. If you don't, use feta. Then, top your 15-minute nachos off with cilantro, scallions, and jalapaños, to taste. For an extra kick, mix some lime juice in with your sour cream 

Don't forget to dig in. Seriously. Like the great American author John Updike once allegedly said: "Life is a nacho. It can be yummy-crunchy or squishy-yucky. It just depends on how long it takes for you to start eating it" (via AZ Quotes).