BBQ Chicken Nachos
With ooey-gooey cheese and sweet and spicy chicken, BBQ chicken nachos are a fun and festive dinner that takes almost no effort but taste delicious! Using rotisserie or leftover chicken, this is the perfect 30-minute meal for a night when you want something, quick, easy, and completely satisfying. A special treat that’s actually healthy, too!
Visual Guide: How to Make BBQ Chicken Nachos
Robyn’s Testing Notes
Is there anything better than a crunchy and cheesy plate of nachos? Sometimes it just really hits the spot!
That’s why I created these barbecue chicken nachos! They seem super indulgent, but are actually pretty healthy because they’re made with real ingredients, and you control over the quality and amount of those ingredients.
Plus, with the sweet and tangy shredded chicken, they’re a quick and easy dinner that’s packed with protein, leaving you more full and satisfied than regular nachos.
And on top of that, this recipe is oh so easy to make and totally customizable, so it works for most people!
You have your choice of cooked chicken (I highly recommend my slow cooker BBQ chicken) or shredded rotisserie chicken, plus all.the.toppings like pickled jalapenos, red onion, cilantro, and cheese.
The best part is that you can customize this last minute dinner idea, so feel free to pick and choose any and all toppings you like.
For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and try swapping in BBQ Chickpeas, and for a dairy free version, use dairy free cheddar cheese.
Serve these fresh out of the oven with fresh tomato salsa and 4-ingredient guacamole – it doesn’t get much better than that!
The Best Chicken for BBQ Chicken Nachos
The star of these loaded nachos (for both flavor and ease) is my slow cooker BBQ chicken, but you can also use my slow cooker enchilada chicken.
Both of these recipes serve 6 people, so whip up a double batch of either one earlier in the week for one meal and save at least 2 cups of chicken for these nachos.
Recipe Shortcuts & Substitutions
With leftover chicken, this recipe naturally comes together in just 30 minutes, but you can even save more time and effort if you want.
If you don’t have slow cooker BBQ chicken or slow cooker enchilada chicken on hand, or don’t have the time to make them, no worries! You can also use store-bought rotisserie chicken or any other pre-cooked chicken.
And while I love my chipotle BBQ sauce and usually have a jar on hand, you can use a store-bought BBQ sauce instead.
The same applies to the fresh tomato salsa and 4-ingredient guacamole – in a pinch, premade are totally fine.
And, pre-shredded Mexican cheese blend will save you time, but if you don’t have it, you can shred your own cheddar cheese or a mix of cheddar and monterey jack.
This Recipe Is…
BBQ Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken, such as leftover slow cooker BBQ chicken, or rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 (14-oz) bag of tortilla chips
- 1-2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup sliced pickled jalapeños
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Optional Serving Suggestions
- Fresh Tomato Salsa
- Easiest Guacamole
- Sour Cream
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Combine the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce in a medium bowl and mix until well combined.
- Arrange a layer of half of the tortilla chips on a large baking sheet or oven-safe dish. Top the chips with half of the shredded chicken mixture.
- Sprinkle half the cheese, half the diced red onion, and half the sliced pickled jalapeños over the chicken and chips.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining tortilla chips, shredded chicken, cheese, red onion, and jalapeños.
- Place the baking sheet or dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the nachos are heated through.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped cilantro, fresh tomato salsa, guacamole, and sour cream (if using). Allow the nachos to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the BBQ chicken nachos while they're still warm with any additional toppings if desired.
