Reheating Nachos: The Meme That’s Roasting Pop Culture
Nothing hits quite like a fresh plate of nachos—crispy tortilla chips, melted cheese, zingy salsa—pure perfection. But reheating them? Tragic. Soggy chips and rubbery cheese—a pathetic attempt at recreating the magic, in our opinion.
And from this culinary crime, the ‘reheating nachos’ meme was born—the latest trend taking over pop culture discourse. It’s become the go-to phrase for calling out artists, brands, and creatives who seem to be serving up something that’s already been done before, whether that be microwaved versions of their own past successes, or replicating other artists' styles/content. But is reheating nachos always a bad thing? Or is it just a natural part of the creative cycle?
The Birth of the Nacho Metaphor
The phrase traces back to Baddies West, a US-based reality TV show, where Natalie Nunn was accused of eyeing Stunna Girl’s nachos. What started as a throwaway reality TV moment quickly became the internet’s new favourite metaphor for copycat behaviour, repetition, and blatant plagiarism.
By early 2025, the meme exploded when Lady Gaga’s most recent single ‘Abracadabra’ dropped, sounding suspiciously similar to a track from her Born This Way era. Fans playfully accused her of “reheating her own nachos,” and suddenly, the phrase cemented itself in Stan-Twitter vocab.
So, Who’s Been Caught Reheating Nachos?
Lady Gaga - The Abracadabra controversy reignited the debate over artists revisiting past sounds. Inspired revival or just leftovers from the Born This Way fridge?
Benson Boone - The outfits, the dancing, the vocals - it’s like Benson hit copy and paste on Harry Styles. These nachos are feeling a little stale… give us something fresh, we’re begging!
Kylie Jenner - Serving up Lily Rose Depp’s old Chanel looks and conveniently dating her ex, Timothée Chalamet? This one is kind of iconic - the nachos have been reheated, but they’ve also been plated and served.
Tate McRae & Addison Rae - From the dance moves to the pop princess energy; their latest eras are looking a little bit too familiar. But can we blame them? Britney will always be the blueprint.
Why Do People Keep Reheating Nachos?
Nostalgia Sells - Audiences crave familiarity (who hasn’t rewatched the early seasons of Real Housewives a few too many times?), and artists know a throwback sound or aesthetic can trigger significant engagement.
Creative Recycling - Not every idea has to be brand new. Some of the best work in history is a refined version of something old.
Safe Bets in Risky Times - Brands and artists alike often stick to proven formulas when cultural shifts make originality feel like a gamble.
Is Reheating Nachos Always a Bad Thing?
Not necessarily. Sometimes, reheated nachos can surprise us and taste just as good - think Fearless (Taylor’s Version). The key to success is whether the remake brings something fresh or just feels outdated.
What’s Next? More Fresh Nachos or a Luke Warm Future?
With nostalgia-driven marketing and AI-generated content on the rise, we expect to see more reheated nachos-type content in entertainment, fashion, and beyond. However, we think the best creators will find ways to remix the old with the new, keeping things fresh and crispy instead of stale and soggy.
So next time you hear a song that sounds suspiciously like a 2012 banger or see a brand campaign that feels oddly familiar, ask yourself: is this a clever reimagining, or just someone microwaving yesterday’s plate?
Either way, the nacho discourse isn’t cooling down anytime soon.