These super easy Shredded Chicken Nachos are baked in the oven and loaded with all of your favorite toppings! They are my go to easy Summertime dinner or weeknight meal and they are the perfect snack for game day.
When we are busy playing outside or if I have had a busy day running kids around, an easy dinner takes the stress out of dinnertime. These Sheet Pan Baked Chicken Nachos are perfect because they are prepped in no time and barely use any dishes. It's a win-win really!
They also make a great snack for movie night, watching the game or hanging out with friends. Try serving them with my Cheesy Baked Pizza Dip, Crispy Italian Garlic Parm Chicken Wings or Baked Italian Meat Stromboli. They are all great shareable snacks like these!
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🧀 What you Need to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
Below are all of the ingredients you will need for this recipe, BUT you don't have to use everything. These are OUR favorite toppings to serving on nachos, but customize them to what you and your family like. I have also listed some other toppings below for inspiration, so make sure to check that out.
- Shredded Chicken - There are a couple of options to use for the shredded chicken on nachos. Shredded rotisserie chicken is a quick and easy option OR I will grab whole chickens when they are on sale at the grocery store and make my Slow Cooker Jalapeno Shredded Chicken. I'll freeze it in 2-3 cups quantities to use for this, Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas or even tacos. You can also cook up chicken with your favorite tacos seasonings and shred it for these nachos.
- Tortilla Chips - When picking tortilla chips for nachos, you need to have something solid. There are some chips I have tried that are light and crisp, which I love, but they aren't good for nachos. Get something a little bit sturdier and thicker to make sure they don't get soggy. It doesn't really matter on the flavor or shape, so just pick what your family likes.
- Cheese - For oven baked nachos, you have a couple options when it comes to cheese. Some of my kids like shredded cheese and then some like "stadium cheese". If you are going to use shredded cheese, I always recommend shredding up a block. It will melt better and also has a way better flavor. Pre-shredded cheese has as coating on it to prevent sticking, which also prevents it from melting and it doesn't taste as good. As far as types go, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese are all good flavors that will melt the best on nachos. If you go for a liquid stadium-style nacho cheese, don't put that on until AFTER baking or your nachos will get super soggy.
🌶 The Best Toppings for Chicken Nachos
The options are never ending when it comes to toppings for nachos but here are some popular ones to get your creative juices flowing.
- Diced onions
- Pickled or fresh jalapeños
- Diced tomatoes
- Pico de gallo or salsa verde
- Hot sauce
- Sour cream
- Sliced black olives
- Avocado or guacamole
- Shredded lettuce or cabbage
- Chopped cilantro
- Black beans or refried beans
- Sautéed sliced bell peppers (think fajitas!)
- Lime Wedges
- Corn
📋 How to Customize Your Nachos
- Meat - Use ground beef, sliced steak or shredded pork instead of chicken.
- Dairy-Free - Omit the cheese and also sour cream or use dairy-free alternatives.
- Gluten-Free - Make sure to get gluten-free tortilla chips as well as toppings.
- Vegetarian - Omit the meat or use a plant-based meat alternative.
Chef's Secret
To make sure your nachos DON'T get soggy, layer the softer and more liquid ingredients on the top, with the more hearty and dry ingredients towards the bottom.
🔪 How to Layer Oven Baked Chicken Nachos
1. Tortilla Chips
First, layer the bag of tortilla chips on a baking sheet that has been lined with either parchment paper or aluminum foil. (This will help make clean up SUPER easy!)
2. Shredded Chicken
Next, evenly distribute your shredded chicken over the top of the chips.
3. Black Beans
Third, layer the black beans over the chicken, making sure they are evenly distributed.
4. Shredded Cheese
Last, but not least, is the shredded cheese. Make sure to add the cheese over all of the other ingredients. As it melts, it will help to meld everything together.
5. Bake the Nachos!
After the nachos are layered, bake them in the oven for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Turn on the broiler for a minute or two at the end to get the chips browned on the edges (that is my fav!).
6. Add Toppings
Once the nachos are baked, then you can add the toppings that shouldn't be baked like the sour cream, avocado, pico de gallo, etc.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
🥘 Other Ways to Cook Nachos
Microwave - Layer a microwave safe plate with chips, chicken, beans and cheese and microwave in 30 second intervals to melt the cheese. Top nachos with the extra toppings and enjoy!
Air Fryer - Layer chips in the air fryer basket with a liner or lined with parchment paper. Top with chicken, beans and cheese and then cook at 350˚ for approximately 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
🍽️ Serving, Storing and Reheating Nachos
Leftover nachos just don't keep the best, especially if they have all of the toppings on them. I will usually bake the nachos with the main ingredients and then serve the extra toppings on the side. That way everyone can add what they want and then leftovers don't have to be thrown away.
You can keep any leftovers in a zip top bag or an air tight container in the fridge for a couple of days. They can be reheated in the microwave, but I have found they are better reheated in the oven or an air fryer. That way the chips get crispy again!
🏈 More game day recipes
If you loved this Shredded Chicken Nachos, then check out these other game day recipes that I know you will love too!!
📖 Recipe
Loaded Shredded Chicken Nachos in the Oven
Ingredients
- 16-18 ounce bag plain tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups shredded cheese, monterey jack, pepper jack or cheddar
- 8 ounces pico de gallo salsa, or salsa verde
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1 medium avocado, peeled, seed removed and sliced
- 1 jar pickled jalapenos
- 1 whole lime, cut into slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Spread the tortilla chips into an even layer over the entire sheet pan. Top the chips with the shredded chicken, black beans and lastly the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve nachos with the salsa, sour cream, avocado, jalapeno and lime.
Notes
Topping Ideas
- Diced onions, sliced pickled or fresh jalapeños, diced tomatoes, pico de gallo or salsa verde, hot sauce, sour cream, sliced black olives, sliced avocado or guacamole, shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, black beans or refried beans, sautéed sliced peppers, lime wedges, corn
Substitutions and Variations
- Meat - Ground beef, sliced steak or shredded pork can be used in place of the shredded chicken.
- Dairy Free - Omit the cheese and sour cream or use a dairy free substitute.
- Gluten Free - Make sure to get gluten free chips as well as toppings.
- Vegetarian - Omit the meat or use a plant based meat substitute.
Alternative Cooking Methods
- Microwave - Layer a microwave safe plate with chips, chicken, beans and cheese and microwave in 30 second intervals until the cheese is melted. Top nachos with your favorite toppings.
- Air Fryer - Layer chips in the air fryer basket, top with chicken, beans and cheese and cook at 350˚ for approximately 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Top air fried nachos with your favorite toppings.
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