BBQ Chicken Nachos

Let me introduce you to these extra loaded BBQ chicken nachos! This absolutely delicious BBQ chicken nachos recipe has less than 10 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes.

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What are BBQ Chicken Nachos?

These BBQ chicken nachos are for the people who want to step up their nacho game. These aren't regular nachos, but extra loaded absolutely delicious nachos. Take a second to think about these layers: crunchy tortilla chips topped with shredded BBQ chicken, red onion, black beans, corn, and a lot of melted cheese. Then, add salsa, cilantro, and avocado on top. Are you drooling yet?

This BBQ chicken nachos recipe has less than 10 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes! Perfect for game-day, party, or a date night, there will not be leftovers of these nachos. So grab a sheet pan, some toppings, and let's get going.

What ingredients do I need?

Like most recipes I create, I like to keep the ingredient list short and sweet. I prioritize keeping things simple and easy. This recipe only has 9 ingredients, most of which you might have in stock. Here's what you'll need:

• Shredded BBQ chicken - Having BBQ chicken on the nachos will add protein and delicious flavor. I make BBQ chicken in a crock pot to keep things quick and easy (see the recipe notes for the easiest way to do this!)
• Red onion - Not only do red onions add some color to these nachos, but they add some some crunch and they're a great source of antioxidants.
• Cilantro - I'm a firm believe that cilantro makes most dishes better. As soon as the nachos come out of the oven, add some chopped cilantro for extra flavor and a finishing touch.
• Black beans - It's often a toss-up as to whether people add beans to their nachos. Since we're loading these chips up, it felt right to add at least one kind of bean, so I chose black beans because they're soft, creamy, and have a mild flavor. On top of that, there are so many health benefits of black beans, including building strong bones!
• Corn - Similar to black beans, adding corn to nachos is a move for to make them extra loaded. A little goes a long way, so just a ¼ cup will be enough to spread across the entire pan.
• Shredded cheese - Melted cheese is the ultimate nacho ingredient. Whether classic or fancy nachos, there will absolutely be cheese. I like to use a mix of shredded cheese to keep things interesting (and I'm also able to use what I have in my pantry).
• Salsa - Similar to cheese, salsa is super important for nachos. Using a hot salsa is a great way to make the nachos spicy if you're into that.
• Tortilla chips - Use a big bag of your favorite tortilla chips for this recipe. It truly doesn't matter the kind, as long as they're a proper shape to hold toppings!
• Avocado - Adding sliced avocado is one of the easiest ways to make nachos extra fancy. If you'd rather use avocado to make guacamole, that is a great option as well. Avocado is an awesome source of healthy fats.

Can I make substitutions to the recipe?

Almost all of these ingredients can be changed based on your flavor and dietary preferences. There are a few ingredients I would suggest you keep, but other than those, the opportunities are endless!

• Shredded BBQ chicken - Since these are BBQ chicken nachos, it's a given that BBQ chicken is necessary for this recipe. You can buy pre-cooked BBQ chicken or make your own!
• Red onion - If you don't like red onion, you can use a white or yellow onion. If onions aren't your thing, just leave them off all-together.
• Cilantro - It's not a necessity, but cilantro really adds to the nachos! I buy a bunch of cilantro and use the leftover on my meals throughout the week.
• Black beans - Part of a can of black beans is all you will need for these nachos.
• Corn - Similar to black beans, you will only need part of a can of corn. You could use fresh if for some reason you have an extra cob in your fridge.
• Shredded cheese - For this recipe, you can use whichever kind of cheese you prefer! Shredded will melt the best, but the specific kind is up to you.
• Salsa - Whether it's spicy, medium, milk, or some other flavor - you can use whatever kind of salsa you like for these nachos.
• Tortilla chips - Tortilla chips are a must for this recipe. The specific kind doesn't matter, but make sure it's big enough to hold all of the toppings!
• Avocado - This is an optional topping for the nachos. Guacamole would also work well!

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED FOR THIS RECIPE?

To make this recipe you will need:

• Sheet pan - Layer a sheet pan with a piece of aluminum foil to make an easier cleanup. This will be what you cook the nachos on!
• Cooling rack - I place the cooling rack over the sheet pan because it allows air to flow underneath the nachos, which really makes the tortilla chips crispy while baking! If you don't have a cooling rack, you can totally just put the nachos on the sheet pan and they will still turn out delicious.
• Oven - This will be important to bake your nachos!

How do I make this recipe?

1. If needed, prepare the bbq chicken.
   1. To easily cook bbq chicken, place 3 large frozen chicken breasts into a slow cooker with 1 cup of  bbq sauce and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until temp is 165. Use two forks to shred.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Place a cooling rack over a sheet pan.
4. Cover the cooling rack with tortilla chips.
5. Layer on the shredded bbq chicken, cheese, black beans, red onion, corn, and salsa. 
6. Bake at 350 for 15- 20 mins or until cheese is melted.
7. Top the nachos with avocado and cilantro. 
8. Enjoy!

How do I store nachos?

This recipe will be the best if you eat it when it's ready. If you make it ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge, the chips will likely become soggy. If you don't mind the texture, you can make these nachos and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I will warn you that every time I have made these, there haven't been any leftovers!

How do I eat BBQ Chicken Nachos?

My husband and I love to eat these hot and straight off the pan! You can serve them on plates as well. If you wanted, you could make the nachos really basic and then serve them at a party or potluck and let people add on their on toppings. These are perfect for date night, weekends, potlucks, or any occasion!

Tips for this recipe

• To easily cook the chicken, place 3 large frozen chicken breasts into a slow cooker with 1 cup of bbq sauce and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until temp is 165. Use two forks to shred. 
• Put cooling rack over sheet pan to cook because it gets the chips extra crispy.

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Can I have the recipe?

If you try this recipe and love it, please rate it and me know your thoughts! Get creative with the ingredients and what you serve it with. Try what you love and make this your own!