These easy, loaded chicken nachos are a delicious appetizer or snack recipe, layered with deliciousness from the perfectly seasoned chicken, refried beans, Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, and jalapenos on crispy tortilla chips.
Nachos are a favorite snack in my family. I love to make them for backyard parties, taco Tuesdays, movie nights, potlucks, or just as an afternoon snack. I’ll take any opportunity I can to make nachos, and my family and friends will take any opportunity to eat them. These chicken nachos are a variation that I make quite often. They’re chock full of great flavors, and they make the perfect food to feed a crowd. I love to pair them with other finger foods and create a buffet meal that everyone can enjoy when they come over for dinner or parties. They’re always a hit!
Loaded Chicken Nachos
The name I gave to these nachos is highly accurate. They are fully loaded. A base of tortilla chips is piled high with chicken, bell pepper, chilis, refried beans, jalapeno, two types of cheese, and more. I put everything but the kitchen sink on these bad boys. The result is a nacho dish that explodes with flavor in every bite.
The Ultimate Party Appetizer
Whether it’s for game day or a backyard party, I always make these nachos. They’re truly the ultimate party appetizer. They are piled so high with toppings that you can make a meal of them or stretch one pan of them quite far by pairing them with other finger foods to create a buffet of deliciousness that leaves everyone full and satisfied.
Nacho Variations
The best part about nachos is how much fun they are to play with. As long as you start with a base of tortilla chips, you can do just about anything you want with them. I love to try different meats and cheeses along with various other Mexican toppings to make a unique nacho experience every time. Some of my favorite ways to switch things up include:
- Steak
- Ground beef
- Pulled pork
- Shredded chicken
- Rotisserie chicken
- Different shredded cheeses
- Nacho cheese sauce
- Banana peppers
- Various hot peppers
- Black beans
- Black olives
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about these loaded chicken nachos, then read on. This FAQ answers all the most commonly asked questions about nachos, so it’s worth a read.
What cheese makes the best nachos?
The most commonly used cheeses to make killer nachos are Monterey Jack, cheddar, and nacho cheese sauce. Any of these are excellent cheeses for some truly epic nachos.
How do you keep nachos from getting soggy?
One of the best ways to keep your nachos from getting soggy is by using a two-part method. First, bake your chips for a few minutes at 350 degrees to toughen them up a bit. Then, top them with a layer of shredded cheese. The cheese acts as a barrier to protect the chips from the moisture of the other toppings.
What are the best chips to use for nachos?
Choose thick, corn tortilla chips. A thick chip will stand up to the moisture and weight of the toppings best.
What to Serve with Loaded Chicken Nachos
There are a lot of options to choose from on this front. Nachos are always best with other foods to create a buffet of flavors. Some of my favorite options include:
- Corn salad
- Mexican street corn
- Mexican slaw
- Pico de Gallo
- Tacos
- Burritos
- Sloppy joes
- Beer
- Cola
How to Store Fully Loaded Nachos
Store your leftover nachos in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container for up to 4 days.
How to Reheat Fully Loaded Nachos
To reheat them, remove the cold toppings from the nachos, then reheat the nachos in the oven and microwave the toppings. When they’re both hot, spoon the toppings back onto the chips. This method of reheating allows for the most crunch in your chips.
Loaded Chicken Nachos Ingredients
These nachos are made with a few ingredients, but almost all of them are kitchen staples. You’ll find that many of them are seasonings. Anything you don’t have can be easily found at your local grocery store.
- Olive oil
- Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, and cut into small pieces
- Onion, chopped
- Green bell pepper, chopped
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Garlic salt
- Chili powder
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Chili powder
- Diced green chilies
- Refried beans
- Jalapeno slices
- Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- Tortilla chips
- Salsa and sour cream
- Cilantro, chopped
How to Make Loaded Chicken Nachos
At first glance, the ingredient list might make you think that this is an incredibly involved recipe, but it’s actually very easy to make. All it takes is a bit of cooking and then layering and baking. It’s very simple and very forgiving.
Step 1: Cook the Chicken and Veggies
In a large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, onions, and bell pepper sprinkle with all the seasonings. Stir and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the onions are translucent.
Step 2: Cook the Refried Beans
In a small pot, cook the refried beans and diced green chilis over medium heat until heated through, stirring frequently.
Step 3: Assemble the Nachos
Assemble the nachos by placing the tortilla chips on an oven-safe plate or a large sheet pan. Top the chips with refried beans, the chicken mixture, cheese, jalapenos and more cheese. Next, bake in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove and top with tomatoes, olives, green onions, guacamole, and any additional toppings you like. Enjoy!
Try These Delicious Loaded Chicken Nachos Today
These loaded chicken nachos are the perfect finger food for any occasion. From game day to potlucks and even a fun family dinner, these nachos are always a great choice. They’re absolutely full of flavor, and they’re so easy to make. It’s the perfect combination. Give them a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making them again and again.
Looking for More Delicious Mexican Recipes
Cheesy Ground Beef Enchiladas – These enchiladas are not only packed with cheese, they are full of deliciously seasoned ground beef and are super easy to make.
Old School Tamale Pie – This tamale pie is absolutely scrumptious. Loaded with perfectly seasoned ground beef, corn, black olives, green chilies and more, and has the BEST cornbread topping on top.
Rib Eye Street Tacos – If you love tacos, you are certainly going to love these rib eye street tacos. These are perfect to make with leftover rib eye roast or made with rib eye steak. SO GOOD!
And, here is some Homemade Guacamole from Deliciously Seasoned you might enjoy too!
Easy Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless, and cut into small pieces
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama®
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- 16 ounce can refried beans
- 2 jalapenos sliced
- 3 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- Tortilla chips
- Optional toppings: salsa, green onions, diced tomatoes, cilantro, black olives, sour cream
Instructions
- In a large pan or skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
- Add chicken, onions, and bell pepper to the pan. Sprinkle with seasonings. Stir and cook until chicken is cooked through and onions are translucent.
- In a small pot, heat refried beans and diced green chilies over medium heat until hot, stirring frequently.
- Assemble the nachos by placing tortilla chips on a large baking sheet. Top with refried beans, cheese, chicken mixture, jalapenos, more cheese and then place in a preheated oven at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Carefully remove from the oven and top with salsa, green onions, diced tomatoes, olives, and any additional desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
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