BBQ Chicken Nachos Recipe | Quick And Easy Baked Nachos

BBQ Chicken Nachos are a delicious blend of two family favorites–nachos and BBQ chicken! These baked chicken nachos are not only quick and easy to make, but they are a great way to clean up leftovers from your refrigerator.

What Takes These Nachos Over The Top

• They’re quick. With the help of a precooked rotisserie chicken, you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. This makes these BBQ Chicken Nachos the perfect weeknight meal.
• Little effort required. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet or pan, toss on some chips, and get to layering your favorite ingredients.
• Totally customizable. Grab your essential nacho toppings and use them to create your dream meal.
• Packed with flavor. Layered with tons of BBQ sauce, seasoned chicken, loads of melty cheese, and a variety of other flavorful toppings, these nachos are bold.

What Order Do You Top Nachos?

There may be nacho enthusiasts who have a tried and true method for stacking nachos to ensure you get the best topping coverage and minimal sogginess. I’m not one of those people.

As far as I’m concerned, there are only two rules to follow when making nachos:

1. Use multiple layers of tortilla chips. This allows the chip-to-topping ratio to stay well-balanced and prevents you from going knuckle-deep into your toppings just to find a chip.
2. Pile on TONS of cheese. When it comes to baked nachos, the shredded cheese acts as an edible glue. When you layer on a hearty amount of cheese, you don’t have to worry about all of your toppings falling off when you go to grab your next chip.

Anything you decide to do outside of these two rules is entirely up to you. Treat your BBQ Chicken Nachos like a work of art. Create your ultimate dinner masterpiece!

What Is The Best Cheese To Put On Nachos?

The best cheese for nachos is one that melts well and complements the flavors of your other toppings. It can also be whatever you happen to have in your fridge. We’re not trying to make an extra trip to the grocery store around here. Try some of these popular options when you make your BBQ Chicken Nachos:

• Cheddar Cheese– A classic choice, cheddar melts well and has a sharp, tangy flavor that goes great with traditional nacho ingredients.
• Monterey Jack– This cheese is milder than cheddar and melts beautifully, making it perfect for nachos. For a little extra kick, you could use Pepper Jack, which is Monterey Jack with spicy chili peppers.
• Mexican Blend Cheeses– These are pre-shredded mixes that often include a combination of cheddar, Monterey Jack, asadero, and queso quesadilla. They’re designed to melt well and add a variety of flavors to your nachos.

What Are Chicken Nachos Made Of?

Not sure what you need to grab from the grocery store before you get started? Double-check your pantry for these ingredients before it’s time to prep for dinner:

• Tortilla Chips– The base of the nachos that provides a crunchy and sturdy foundation for all the toppings.
• Rotisserie Chicken– Adds protein and savory flavor to the nachos. It’s typically shredded or diced and mixed with BBQ sauce for a smoky, tangy taste.
• BBQ Sauce– Adds a sweet, smoky, and tangy flavor to the chicken, enhancing its taste and complementing the other ingredients.
• Shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese– Melts over the nachos, providing a creamy and cheesy texture while adding richness and depth of flavor.
• Black Beans– Adds protein, fiber, and a hearty texture to the nachos. They also provide a subtle earthy flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.
• Avocado– Adds creaminess and a fresh, buttery flavor to the nachos. It also provides a contrast in texture and color to the other ingredients.
• Red Onion– Adds a sharp and slightly sweet flavor to the nachos.
• Sour Cream– Serves as a cool and creamy topping that balances out the heat from the BBQ sauce and adds a tangy flavor to the nachos.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Nachos

Gather your ingredients and prepare the pan. Prepare all of your ingredients ahead of time for faster assembly. Preheat your oven to 400F. Place a layer of parchment paper on the pan of your choice.

Create a base of tortilla chips. Place a generous layer of tortilla chips on top of the parchment paper.

Layer on the cheese. Sprinkle on the cheese. Use as much and as many kinds as your heart desires.

Add plenty of chicken. Layer on your rotisserie chicken. Make sure it is shredded or diced into small, bite-sized pieces so they warm evenly.

Sprinkle on the black beans and red onion. Add on the black beans and the onions. This is where you would include more veggies if that’s your style.

Drizzle with BBQ sauce. Get crazy with the sauce. Ok not too crazy. You don’t want the sauce to be overshadowed by the flavors of the other ingredients, but you aren’t trying to make nacho soup.

Repeat the layers. Now, repeat all of the steps from above and top with one final layer of cheese.

Bake, serve, and enjoy! Toss the pan of assembled BBQ Chicken Nachos in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melty and the nachos are heated through.

Tips And Tricks

While there aren’t many rules when layering your nachos, there are a few things to consider when creating the perfect pan. Check out these helpful tips and tricks:

• Don’t overload the chips. If there’s one thing I dislike about ordering nachos at a restaurant, it’s that they never have enough toppings for all of the chips. I tend to overcompensate when I make them at home. Try not to be like me. Excessive toppings can be too heavy and cause the chips to break and become soggy.
• Be generous with the sauce. The BBQ sauce is what makes these nachos special. It adds a sweet and tangy flavor that separates them from a traditional recipe.
• Preheat your oven. Not only does preheating your oven ensure that your BBQ Chicken Nachos are ready even faster but it also helps prevent the toppings from sitting on top of the chips for too long and causing them to be soggy.

Variations

If you aren’t in love with this recipe the way that it is written, no problem! One of the best things about BBQ Chicken Nachos is how versatile they can be. Check out some of these variations to try to create your perfect pan of baked chicken nachos:

• Switch up the protein. If you have a different cooked protein in your refrigerator, feel free to swap it out for the rotisserie chicken. Ground beef, ground turkey, shredded pork, or grilled steak also work great.
• Adjust the veggies. Use these BBQ Chicken Nachos as a way to sneak in more veggies. The robust flavor of BBQ sauce helps mask the flavor of veggies that picky eaters may not love.
• Use a different sauce. If BBQ sauce isn’t your favorite condiment, just swap it out for one that is! Use your favorite salsa, firecracker sauce nacho cheese sauce, or guacamole instead.

Storage And Reheating

The amount of time you have to eat these nachos depends on your willingness to eat a soggy chip.

Ideally, you will make just enough BBQ Chicken Nachos for the immediate meal you’re cooking for. If you happen to have leftovers, you are able to save them for later. Just know that the texture will change over time.

Leftover baked chicken nachos will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator if they are stored in an airtight container. Just pop them back in the oven at 400F until they are warmed through before digging in.

More Oven-Baked Recipes

• Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Pizza Sliders
• Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Ham and Potato Casserole

If you love this BBQ Chicken Nachos recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it on social media so your friends can try it out too! Make sure you save it so you can make it again next time you need a quick and easy meal.