Chicken Nachos

Chicken Nachos that are quick and easy, made with 10-minute shredded honey lime salsa verde chicken and all your favorite toppings!

This Chicken Nachos recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy enough for weeknight dinner – on your table in less than 30 minutes!  The sweet, tangy, ridiculously flavorful pairing of Honey Lime Salsa Verde Chicken, guacamolepico de gallo, olives, pickled jalapenos and mandatory melty cheese create the best Chicken Nachos of your life with minimal prep and high reward.  The chicken is easy to make in minutes with rotisserie chicken and all the toppings can be prepped ahead for easy assembly, or use store-bought. This Chicken Nacho recipe is endlessly adaptable (variations included) for a lazy yet sumptuous dish that will have everyone coming back for more.

Make game night, movie night, family night, etc. more delicious with your favorite Mexican appetizers! Along with these Chicken Nachos, try Nachos Supreme, Mexican Street Corn Dip, and Carne Asada Fries.

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HOW TO MAKE chicken NACHOS VIDEO

chicken nachos baked in the oven with shredded chicken, cheese and beans then topped with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, olives and jalapenos


 
up close of shredded chicken nachos with cheese, beans pic de gallo and guacamole
showing how to make shredded chicken nachos recipe by melting cheese over nachos in the oven

Ingredients for shredded chicken

  • Shredded chicken: Use three cups of shredded chicken.  I recommend using rotisserie chicken because it is a combination of succulent dark and light meat. You can also make your own shredded chicken with chicken breasts or thighs (see how to below). 
  • Lime juice:  Fresh is best but bottled will work just fine.
  • Honey:  The sweetness of the honey balances out the tangy lime juice and salsa verde.  Use mild, everyday clover honey. 
  • Salsa verde: You can use your favorite store-bought salsa verde, or you can make it yourself.
  • Spices: The chicken is seasoned with chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and chipotle powder/ground chipotle pepper. 
showing how to make chicken nacho recipe by seasoning shredded chicken in a skillet

Chicken variations

BEEF AND PORK variations

You may use the same technique of baking these nachos and swap the shredded chicken for any of the following beef or pork recipes:

  • Mexican Shredded Beef:  spoon tender braised beef (in the crockpot, oven, stove or instant pot) with a caravan of rich, earthy, fiesta seasonings, punchy salsa, tangy green chilies, savory beef broth and smoky liquid smoke.
  • Beef Barbacoa (Crockpot): crazy juicy beef slow cooked until melt-in-your-mouth tender infused with a tangy, chipotle sauce.  Barbacoa Beef is known for its intense flavor and perfect balance of chipotle peppers, cumin, oregano and lime juice.
  • Beef Birria: an explosion of complex earthy, smoky, savory, slightly spicy, juicy, addictiveness in each and every saucy bite.  The beef is stewed until fall apart juicy tender in a from scratch rich broth made from chilies, onions, garlic, tomatoes and toasted spices including peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon. 
  • Carne Asada: is the quintessential Mexican steak marinated in orange juice, lime juice, soy sauce and a splash of liquid smoke then spice rubbed with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic and onion. It’s juicy, flavorful and crazy good.
  • Carnitas (Crockpot):  juicy pork smothered in a dynamic fiesta spice rub then slow cooked with orange juice and lime juice then finished in the oven to create glorious caramelized crispy burnt ends. 
  • Chipotle Sweet Pulled Pork: a Cafe Rio Copycat that’s juicy, tender, melt-in-your-mouth with the perfect balance of saucy sweet heat.

ESSENTIAL NACHO TOPPINGS

  • Sour Cream:  The bright refreshing, silky creaminess of sour cream compliments and cuts through the richness of the nachos and marries all of the flavors and textures together – a must for any nachos! 
  • Salsa Verde Crema: If you want to elevate the nachos even further, use Salsa Verde Crema instead of plain sour cream. It’s simple to make by whisking sour cream, salsa verde, lime juice and chipotle pepper together – so simple and so good.
  • Guacamole:  You can’t beat guacamole’s lusciously creamy, tangy, salty freshness. You have three options when it comes to guacamole: 1) go simple by picking up store-bought in the deli section; 2) mash avocados with lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper or 3) go all out with my favorite guacamole recipe made with avocados, lime juice, cilantro, jalapenos, red onions, and juicy tomatoes.
  • Pico de gallo:  This is a fresh tomato salsa that adds a vibrant, punchy freshness.  You can use my homemade pico de gallo recipe or store bought usually found in the deli section. You can make the pico de gallo ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.  Bring to room temperature before serving.
  • Beans:  Black beans for their hearty earthiness, or you may use pinto or warmed and seasoned refried beans.
  • Jalapenos: Pickled jalapenos are preferred over fresh due to their fabulous pickled tang.  Bonus, pickled jalapenos are also easier to use – simply open the can, drain and add!  I particularly love these sweet and spicy pickled jalapeños from Trader Joes.  They are similar to candied jalapenos but a little less sweet AKA perfection.

substitutions

  • Greek yogurt: This is a great creamy alternative to sour cream if you are trying to save some calories. 
  • Tomatoes: Quartered cherry tomatoes or seeded, chopped Roma tomatoes can be used if you skip the pico de gallo.  Combine the tomatoes with some fresh cilantro.
  • Avocados: Chopped avocados are the easiest avocado option. Toss them with a splash of lime juice and some freshly cracked salt and pepper.
  • Hot Sauce: Spice up your loaded nachos with hot sauce instead of jalapenos.

variationS

  • Green onions: If you skip the pico de gallo, consider adding green onions for their mild onion-y flavor.
  • Black olives: For the olive lover! They add a salty bite with black olives.
  • Pickle onions:  These are tangy, punchy fantastic and so easy to make at home. Use my super simple pickled red onions recipe and they’ll be ready in 30 minutes!
  • Radishes: Thinly sliced radishes add a spicy, zesty, crispy crunch.
  • Corn: Use sweet drained canned corn or corn straight off of the cob.  You can also grill or char the corn like I do in my corn salsa for a tantalizing charred smokiness.
  • Salsa: Add an extra layer of flavor and texture with salsa such as black bean corn salsaavocado salsa, charred corn salsa, mango salsa, or pineapple salsa.
  • Cotija cheese:  Consider a layer of Cotija for a salty finish.  Cotija is known as “Mexican Parmesan” because it is wonderfully salty, hard, and crumbly. It is traditionally found with the specialty cheeses and should be readily available.  You may also use queso fresco.
  • Mangos: I know it might sound odd, but I love mangos on my nachos, the sweet and spicy combo is intoxicating.

HOW TO MAKE chicken NACHOS

These Shredded Chicken Nachos can be on your table in less than 30 minutes star to finish!  Let’s take a closer look at how easy they are to make with step-by-step photos or you can watch the HOW TO MAKE Video in the recipe card (full recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post): 

  • Step 1: Season chicken.  In a nonstick skillet, whisk together salsa verde, honey, lime and seasonings.  Add the chicken, turn to coat and warm through.  Set aside for the chicken to soak up all the flavor while you prep your toppings.   
a collage showing how to make chicken nachos recipe by adding seasonings to a bowl and then combining with shredded chicken
  • Step 2: Assemble. Spread half the tortilla chips in a single layer on a baking sheet. Top with half of the seasoned chicken, half of the black beans and half of the cheese; repeat.  
a collage showing how to make chicken nachos recipe by 1) layering chips and chicken, 2) layering beans, 3) layering cheese then repeating
  • Step 3:  Bake.  Bake the nachos until the cheese is completely melted about 8-10 minutes.
  • Step 4:   Add toppings:  Top with desired toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, olives and green onions.  Serve immediately.
showing how to make chicken nachos by adding guacamole, olives, pico de gallo, jalapenos and sour cream on top of chips, beans and cheese
baked chicken nachos on a baking sheet with melted cheese
showing how cheesy the shredded chicken nachos are by picking up a tortilla chip with stringy cheese

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Chicken Nachos

This Chicken Nachos recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy enough for weeknight dinner – on your table in less than 30 minutes!  The sweet, tangy, ridiculously flavorful pairing of Honey Lime Salsa Verde Chicken, guacamolepico de gallo, olives, pickled jalapenos and mandatory melty cheese create the best Chicken Nachos of your life with minimal prep and high reward.  The chicken is easy to make in minutes with rotisserie chicken and all the toppings can be prepped ahead for easy assembly, or use store-bought. This Chicken Nacho recipe is endlessly adaptable (variations included) for a lazy yet sumptuous dish that will have everyone coming back for more.
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

HONEY LIME SALSA VERDE CHICKEN (SEE NOTES FOR OPTIONS)

  • 3 cups packed shredded chicken (I love rotisserie)
  • 1/2 cup mild salsa verde
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 3-4 tablespoons honey (see Notes)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, salt
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder

NACHOS

  • 14 ounces thick/sturdy tortilla chips
  • 12 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese (3 packed cups)
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

SALSA VERDE CREAM SAUCE (optional)

SUGGESTED TOPPINGS

  • Sour cream (if not use above)
  • Guacamole
  • Pico de gallo or chopped tomatoes and cilantro
  • Sliced olives
  • Pickled jalapenos
  • See post for tons more ideas!

Instructions

  • Chicken: Whisk all of the Salsa Verde Chicken ingredients together (except chicken) in a large nonstick skillet. Add the chicken, stir to coat and warm through. Remove from heat and set aside while you prep the toppings.
  • Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Whisk all of the Salsa Verde Cream Sauce ingredients together in a small bowl; set aside. Prep all of the toppings so you can quickly assemble the nachos as soon as they come out of the oven.
  • Assemble: Spread half the tortilla chips in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Top with half of the seasoned chicken, half of the black beans and half of the cheese; repeat.
  • Bake: Bake at 350 degrees F until the cheese is melted, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Toppings: Just before serving, drizzle with salsa verde and garnish with desired toppings.

TOPPINGS BAR OPTION

  • If you know your nacho eaters don’t all like the same toppings, create a nacho toppings bar. You can even let everyone create their own from-scratch nachos and micorwave them separately.

Video

Notes

Jen’s expert tips:

  • Chicken variations: Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken, Chicken Tinga or Shortcut Mexican Chicken.  Generally, shredded chicken is ideal because it doesn’t dry out as easily when baked.   You can also swap I your favorite beef or pork such as Mexican Shredded Beef, Beef Barbacoa, Beef Birria, Carne Asada, Carnitas or Chipotle Sweet Pulled Pork
  • Chips: Use the thickest tortilla chips you can find.  I recommend checking your bakery section for chips that were fried in-house or locally.  I have also had success with La Fortaleza Tortilla Chips, pictured in this recipe.  They are sold at Costco in two 3-pound bags.
  • Chipotle chili powder: Adds a sublime smoky heat instead of just pure heat.  If you don’t have chipotle chili powder, add a pinch-¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper – start with less and add to taste.
  • Use more or less honey: The honey balances out the heat so if you choose to make the chicken less spicy, start with only 3 tablespoons honey.  You can add more to taste after it’s all combined if you still want it sweeter.  
  • Cheese: Shred the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses are coating in anti-clumping chemicals which prevents the strands from clumping together in the bag – this also prevents the cheese from melting as well – it also doesn’t taste as good. 
  • Shortcuts: Use store-bought guacamole or shortcut guacamole by mashing avocados with lime juice, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. For the pico de gallo, use store-bought. 
  • Microwave nachos for individual servings: Spread one layer of chips on a microwave safe plate, top with chicken, beans, then cheese, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the cheese is completely melted, dig in!
  • Meal prep: The Honey Lime Salsa Verde chicken can be made and stored in the refrigerator up to 2 days ahead of time. Gently reheat before using.  The toppings can also all be prepped ahead of time. 
  • Scale the recipe: This recipe can easily be scaled up or down by using the sliding scale next to the servings in the recipe card. 
  • Storage: Leftover nachos are good for up to 3 days but they will no longer be crunchy.  If you are a chilaquiles fan, consider adding some additional salsa verde to your reheated leftover nachos and topping with a fried egg like in this chilaquiles recipe.

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6 Comments

  1. Sue Olsen says

    I have been searching for a super good nacho recipe and this just might be it. The chips I use for nachos are super crispy and spicy.. They are jalapeno flavored called the Better Chip..from Sprouts.Going to make them now!

    • Jen says

      Ooooo, I am going to have to check those out, thanks Sue!

  2. Kristi says

    How much salsa verde do you add to the chicken mixture? The only place I see salsa verde listed in the recipe is with the cream sauce. Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Oh my goodness, thanks for catching that – fixed! It should be 1/2 cup.

  3. Larisa says

    I just made these and they turned out amazing! I would say these are one of my top 3 nachos that I’ve had! The salsa verde cream sauce is an outstanding touch on boring sour cream. After drizzling the sauce, I added olives, pickled jalapeños, homemade guacamole and pico de gallo and everything was eaten right up! I would definitely make these again! I thank you for all your flavorful, delicious recipes!

    • Jen says

      Thank you for the awesome review Larisa, I’m thrilled you loved them so much!