This nacho cheese sauce recipe deserves its own board. How to make the best game day dip

Creamy avocado, smoothed onto a board like butter and blanketed with nacho-inspired toppings like smoky cheese sauce, tomatoes, black olives, green onions and cilantro make this board, dare I say, the best appetizer ever.

The butter board craze got my creative ideas going and thoughts immediately turned to fresh avocado. The key to the perfect board is the marriage of a creamy base and colorful, textural toppings so I came to think of this recipe as butter board meets deconstructed nachos. The key is to make every ingredient count, starting with your avocados which should be ripe enough to yield to gentle pressure when you squeeze them. If your avocados are firm when you buy them, place them in a paper bag with an apple or banana and they will be soft in 24 to 48 hours.

The other star of the show is the homemade cheese sauce. This one is similar to chili con queso dip, but instead of dried chilies, we used dried chili powder and smoked paprika that liven up a sharp cheddar and Monterey jack blend. Don't skip this step. I'm telling you, if you make the sauce, it will be one of the most delectable things you’ve ever tasted.

If you keep the cheese sauce mild, be sure to serve your favorite hot sauce on the side so folks can customize each bite.

Tailgate worthy beef chili:How to make classic beef chili — the only recipe you'll ever need (with or without beans)

This board is all about the toppings

For more of a loaded nachos, add more ingredients. Great additions include cooked ground beef and shredded rotisserie chicken. When adding meat or poultry, spoon it over the mashed avocado and under the cheese sauce.

Toss on pickled jalapenos or hot peppers of choice for color and extra heat. Add them just before serving so the flavors don't bleed into the surrounding ingredients.

You can also swap in salsa instead of tomatoes. Since salsa is standard when it comes to nachos, feel free to use your favorite variety in place of the tomatoes. You can also serve salsa on the side.

Remember that a “board” is a playful appetizer, so don’t overthink it. Just balance the ingredients and your board will shine every time.

How to make a loaded guacamole board

Here's a pro tip: Just before setting out your glorious guacamole board, warm up your tortilla chips. There’s nothing better than warm chips and dip. Simply spread them out on a baking sheet and bake at 300 F for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

For the cheese sauce:

• 1 cup half-and-half, divided

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1 ¼ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the board:

• 4 ripe avocados, halved, pitted and peeled

• ½ cup diced fresh tomatoes

• ¼ cup sliced black olives

• ¼ cup chopped green onions

• Fresh cilantro leaves

• Tortilla chips for serving, warmed if desired

• Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. To make the sauce, whisk together ¼ cup of the half-and-half and the cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Place the remaining ¾ cup of half-and-half in a small saucepan and whisk in the chili powder and smoked paprika. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the half-and-half-cornstarch mixture and simmer until the sauce thickens, whisking constantly.

3. Reduce the heat to low and fold in both cheeses, one handful at a time. Stir until the cheese melts. Remove the pan from the heat and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

4. Assemble your board. Place the avocado halves on a wooden board or serving platter of choice and mash with a fork to spread them out to cover the board. Spoon the cheese sauce over top and spread it out like you’re frosting a cake.

5. Top with the tomatoes, black olives, green onions, cilantro and any other toppings you'd like to add. Serve at once with warm tortilla chips and lime wedges.

More apps to loveHow to make crispy honey garlic chicken wings — no frying necessary

Questions or comments? Email the culinary team at cooking@azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This easy nacho cheese sauce recipe is a game changer. How to make it