Custom Printed Nacho Trays with Dip Holders and Lids

What is a nacho tray?

A nacho tray is a paper board tray shaped for tortilla chips and a dip. Most styles have two zones: a long well for the chips and a raised end with a round hole that holds the sauce pot.

The hole grips the pot by its rim, so it cannot slide into the chips. That frees the customer's other hand for a drink. The photos above also show an open boat tray for loaded nachos and a closed box with a lift-up lid.

Nacho trays differ from general food trays because of that holder. A plain tray works for chips alone, but once a dip is part of the order, the holder makes the snack much easier to eat on the move.

Which nacho tray style suits your service?

Nachos are served three main ways, and each one calls for a different tray.

Who sells nachos in printed trays?

Nachos sell where people snack while watching or walking. These are the venues that ask us most often.

Venues with a short interval, such as a half-time break, need trays that are folded and stacked before the rush, so the holder style that ships flat should be built during quiet periods.

• Cinemas and theatre kiosks
• Football grounds, cricket clubs and arenas
• Bowling alleys, trampoline parks and family venues
• Sports bars and pubs with a snack menu
• Mexican street food stalls and food trucks
• Fairs, shows and festivals

How big should the dip holder be?

The holder is sized to your pot, not the other way round. Measure the outer diameter of the pot just below the rim, in mm, and send it with your enquiry.

We size the cut-out so the pot drops in and the rim rests on the board. Too tight and staff struggle at busy times. Too loose and the pot tips when the tray is tilted.

If you use two pot sizes, for salsa and cheese, choose the larger for the holder or ask for two trays.

Pots with a hinged lid need a little more room above the rim, so tell us if your pots have one.

Do loaded nachos need a different tray?

Yes. Once melted cheese, salsa and soured cream go on top, the chips need a tray with walls all round. A boat tray, like the striped one in our photos, keeps toppings from sliding off the ends.

Hot cheese sauce soaks into plain board quickly. Ask for a grease-resistant lining or coating for loaded nachos, so the base stays firm until the last chip. Food-contact materials are available on request, and the quote confirms which you are getting.

Some traders lay a printed sheet under the chips as well. Before choosing, read how lined board compares with loose sheets in our greaseproof paper and coated board guide.

What artwork works on a nacho tray?

Nacho trays have strong, playful print traditions: bold words, chip patterns, and red and yellow colourways. You do not have to follow them, but bright colours help a tray stand out under kiosk lights.

The zigzag edge is a cheap way to add character. It is cut, not printed, so it costs nothing in ink. Inside print shows once the chips go down, which suits a logo or a short message.

Full colour CMYK on white board gives the sharpest result. Try your logo on Design Your Packaging to see it on a tray.

How do you serve nachos quickly from these trays?

A tidy routine at the kiosk keeps queues short and trays clean.

1. Fold a batch of trays before service starts, if they arrive flat.
2. Drop the dip pot into the holder first, so it does not get buried.
3. Fill the chip well, letting chips lean against the raised end.
4. Add toppings last, away from the pot rim.
5. Hand over with the dip end towards the customer.

How do nacho trays travel through a crowd?

In a stadium or cinema foyer, the customer often carries nachos, a drink and sometimes a second snack. A tray with a dip holder helps, because the pot cannot slide off when the tray tilts.

For staff carrying several orders to seats, flat-based trays sit side by side on a carry tray better than boat shapes. Lidded boxes can be stacked two high, which suits seat delivery at half time.

If your venue sells drinks in cups, check that a tray and a cup can both be held by one person. A narrower tray with the holder at the end is usually easier than a wide square one.

What mistakes happen with nacho trays?

Changing pot supplier without checking the size is the most common one. A new pot that is 3 mm wider will not sit in the old holder.

Another mistake is using a dip tray for loaded nachos. The holder end leaves less room for toppings, and cheese runs into the hole.

Finally, white board with no lining under hot cheese sauce turns soft fast. Plan for the hottest, wettest version of your menu.

Can nachos go home in a lidded box?

Yes. The lidded nacho box in our photos closes over the chips and pot, with a slot or tab to hold the lid shut. It suits seat delivery in stadiums and takeaway orders.

Nachos do soften when closed in with hot sauce, so keep toppings separate if the journey is long. For other open trays, see our printed paper food trays.

How do you order custom nacho trays?

Tell us the style, your dip pot diameter and the number of trays. Nacho trays begin at £0.25 per unit, with your exact price set out on a written quote.

Your artwork comes back on a free proof that shows the cut-out and the zigzag edge in place. Making the run takes 4–6 business days from your go-ahead. Then a free, tracked UK delivery gets the cartons to your kiosk or venue within 2–3 business days.

Trays that land bent or misprinted are replaced or refunded when you show us photos inside the 10-day window. Ready for prices? Send your nacho tray details.