Chicken Nachos

These 30-minute loaded chicken nachos are packed full of texture and flavor! Complete with fresh Pico de Gallo, tangy sour cream, and creamy avocado, these are the perfect appetizer for your next party or game day event!

These sheet pan chicken nachos are a great go-to appetizer to bring to parties, get-togethers, or any game day celebration.

They’re super easy to make with quick clean-up, and everyone loves them!

Packed with your favorite ingredients, these nachos start with thick restaurant-style tortilla chips, layered with pico de gallo covered shredded chicken and Mexican spiced beans, and topped with all your favorite fixings.

The best part about these nachos is that it can be as homemade or semi-homemade as you like. Most of the ingredients you probably have on hand, and if not, a quick trip to the store and you’re all set.

No matter how you make this dish, one thing is for sure, these easy chicken nachos will be an instant crowd favorite!

Big fan of nachos? Try my fajita nachos, Italian nachos, apple nachos, and pretzel nachos for dessert too!

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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

• Tortilla chips – Use the restaurant-style tortilla chips and not the thin and crispy ones as they will break and won’t hold up to all the toppings!
• Chicken – I like to use store bought rotisserie chicken but feel free to use any leftover cooked chicken you may have.
• Spices – This recipe calls for chili powder, cumin, and black pepper but you can certainly use store bought or a homemade taco seasoning.
• Toppings – Pico de gallo, cheese, black olives, lime, avocado, jalapeno.

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How To Make Chicken Nachos

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Storage & Reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

When ready to reheat, spread nachos out on a baking sheet and bake at 275°F for 5-10 minutes or until warmed and cheesy is melty.

Serving Suggestions

• Pico de gallo
• Homemade salsa
• Easy Salsa verde
• Nacho cheese sauce
• Guacamole with pomegranate
• Evaporated Milk Queso blanco (white cheese dip)

Skillet Version

Sure can! The only change to the recipe would be the cooking time as a cast iron skillet allows for more layers and therefore it may take longer to melt the cheese all the way through.

I love making lots of things in my cast iron skillet!

No More Soggy Nachos

You can do a couple of things to keep your nachos from getting soggy.

• First: Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature. Some ingredients release water as they warm up.
• Second: Drain all your ingredients well before adding to the nachos
• Third: Bake the chips and cheese first before adding the remaining ingredients. This melted cheese creates a barrier between the other toppings and the chips.
• Fourth: Serve items or toppings like diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, etc on the side to keep them from dripping onto the chips still waiting to be eaten.

Favorite Toppings for Nachos

• cheese, of course
• black olives
• fresh or pickled jalapenos
• cilantro
• avocado or guacamole
• diced tomatoes
• sour cream
• salsa, salsa verde
• green onions

Tapas Tips & Tricks

• Make clean-up REALLY easy by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Swap out black beans for refried beans.
• If you need more than a sheet pan’s worth of nachos, use an additional skillet or baking dish. Just be aware that it may take a little longer in the oven to ensure the cheese is melted in all the layers.
• Feel free to use a rotisserie chicken from your local grocer or any leftover chicken; especially if it’s ready-to-shred from a crockpot or Instant Pot.
• Use restaurant style tortilla chips as they are a thicker, sturdier chip and hold up better than other varieties.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

Nachos are a great appetizer for a football party, or busy weeknight meal. This homemade chicken nachos recipe is easy to make, budget friendly, and ready in under 30-minutes. Plus, everyone loves nachos!

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