Bbq Chicken Nachos (30 Minutes!)

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BBQ Chicken Nachos are going to be your new favorite dinner. This great recipe comes together quickly and is perfect for an appetizer or fun weeknight meal.

Nachos are my absolute weakness. Whenever I see them on a menu, it’s all I want. They are so very easy to make at home, and while it’s easy to fall back on chicken nachos or beef nachos , it’s time you branch out to this amazing BBQ Chicken Nachos recipe.

We start by smothering shredded chicken in my amazing homemade BBQ sauce . To that we add bacon, red onions, and two different types of cheese. And it all comes together in just under 30 minutes. This is a fantastic game-day appetizer!

How to Make BBQ Chicken Nachos

This is a brief overview to show you how easy these sheet pan nachos are. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Cook the chicken in BBQ sauce. Though we are starting with pre cooked chicken, this step of cooking the chicken in BBQ sauce ensures that it completely absorbs that amazing BBQ flavor.
Cook the bacon. I like to dice the bacon first and remove it just as it begins to crisp as it will continue to cook a bit after being pulled from the pan.
Put your nachos together. We are going to layer tortilla chips on a large rimmed baking sheet. Then top them with the BBQ chicken, the crispy bacon, the cheeses, and finally the red onions.
Bake the nachos for 15 to 20 minutes. Or bake until the cheese is fully melted. Garnish with chopped cilantro and pickled jalapeños .

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Shredding Cheese for BBQ Chicken Nachos

In this recipe for barbecue chicken nachos, we are going with two different types of cheese – Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese. These are both great melting cheeses and perfect for nachos. The combination of the two pairs perfectly with the barbecue sauce .

When you are using shredded cheese for any recipe, but especially for a recipe where the cheese is the star of the show, shred your cheese from a block of cheese. Resist the urge to save time by buying pre-shredded cheese. It is coated in a preservative that keeps it from melting well. The difference in a recipe like this is pretty remarkable. It isn’t worth the five minutes or so (it’s really less) that it will save you.

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Shredded Chicken for Nachos

There are a few different options for shredded chicken for these nachos.

Use frozen shredded chicken . It is great (and easy!) to keep shredded chicken on hand in your freezer. It thaws very quickly, and makes so many recipes faster.
Buy a rotisserie chicken. The quickest hack in the book, just pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store on the way home from work.
Boil chicken breasts. Add chicken breasts to a sauce pan, cover with water and simmer for 4 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the breast. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure that it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

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What to Serve with Nachos

Here are some great ideas to pair with your sheet pan nachos!

My homemade guacamole is always the first thing to go no matter where I bring it.
This corn salsa is absolutely delicious and so quick to make.
I could eat this pico de gallo endlessly.

If you make these BBQ Chicken Nachos or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I love hearing from you.

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Ingredients

6 slices thick cut bacon diced
2 cups shredded chicken see note 1
1 cup BBQ Sauce
14 ounces tortilla chips
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, see note 2
1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese shredded
1/4 small red onion diced
cilantro for topping
pickled jalapeños for topping

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
Cook the diced bacon in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat. Remove with a slotted spoon just as it begins to crisp as it will continue cooking during this process. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. 6 slices thick cut bacon
In a non stick skillet, combine BBQ sauce and chicken over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for five minutes, allowing the BBQ sauce to thicken. 2 cups shredded chicken, 1 cup BBQ Sauce
While the chicken and BBQ sauce simmer, spread the chips over a rimmed baking sheet. When the chicken is done, scoop all of the chicken and BBQ sauce over the chips. Top with bacon, then cheese, and then red onions. 14 ounces tortilla chips, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese, 1/4 small red onion
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted.
Top with chopped cilantro, pickled jalapeños, and a side of sour cream. cilantro, pickled jalapeños

Recipe Video

Notes

An easy way to make shredded chicken is to cook chicken on the stove top covered in water for 4 to 10 minutes depending on thickness or until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, a rotisserie chicken is really helpful for this recipe.
I highly recommend shredding cheese from the block rather than buying pre-shredded cheese. It melts much better.

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