Smothered nachos for dinner. Does it get any better than this?
A while back I told you about my looooooooove for nachos. I want to inhale them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yesterday, I told you about my looooooooove for my new 5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing. I want to smother everything in it.
So I created a new love that IS crunchy, cheesy nachos and IS creamilicious Mexican ranch goodness: Smothered Nacho Chicken with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing!
Chips, cheese, tomatillos, avocados, jalapenos, ranch – there is just so much to love about this chicken! It reminds me of a Mexican country fried chicken (except that its baked) with both crunchy and creamy in every savory bite. Every time I make this smothered chicken, I continuously exclaim to to myself how amazing it is. But now, I’m excited to share with YOU how amazing it is.
To make this exclaim worthy chicken, you first marinate the chicken in some of the 5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch. Next, coat chicken in crushed, spiced tortilla chips…
Then bake and top with Jack cheese…
…That broils until golden and bubbly and screams “eat me”…
But wait, don’t give into the siren cries…yet. The crunchy cheesy chicken is about to enter flavor overload…overload I tell you!
The chicken is then smothered in Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing. A creamy ranch packed with tomatillos, avocado, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro and smoked paprika. A creamy ranch so dreamy its earned its place smothering this chicken.
After I have smothered my chicken with the most heavenly dressing known to man, I like to top my chicken with fresh mangoes and tomatoes, and I’ve even topped my chicken and dressing with Chipotle Mango Salsa with Black Beans Avocado and Sweet Corn. Talk about A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Nachos. Its what for dinner. I’m pretty sure your entire family will love the sound of that!
Smothered Nacho Chicken with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch
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Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 ½ pounds)*
- 8 heaping cups of your favorite tortilla chips
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 Recipe 5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup Monterrey Jack Cheese
Additional Toppings (optional)
- Additional Toppings (optional)
- mangos
- Tomatoes
- Recipe Chipotle Mango Black Bean Salsa with Avocado and Sweet Corn
Instructions
- Prepare Tomatilla Avocado Ranch Dressing according to directions but do not add any milk (you can prepare the dressing days in advance).
- Add chicken to freezer bag and pound thin with meat mallet or side of a can, cutting the breasts in half if they become large. Add ¼ cup Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing and marinate for 6 hours up to overnight.
- Add chips to food processor and process until crushed (or crush with rolling pin). Transfer to a large bowl and mix in chili powder, cumin and black pepper.
- Lightly spray a baking rack with nonstick cooking spray and place on top of a baking sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup). Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove chicken from marinade then dredge in the chip mixture, pressing chips into chicken to securely coat. Place chicken on the baking rack and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked all the way through. Top chicken with an additional ¼ cup cheese per breast (more or less to liking) and broil until golden.
- To Serve, top each chicken breast with desired amount of Tomatilo Avocado Ranch Dressing and any additional toppings.
Notes
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Renee's Kitchen Adventures says
Fantastic way to serve chicken. I just bought some chicken breasts (coleman brand) from costco, and they were so big, I sliced them in half longways to make cutlets! 🙂
Jen says
Cutlets are definitely the way to go! I love Costco and their jumbo everything!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
OMG this totally sounds amazing Jenn! You got it going on! Did you bake these on the rack shown? Where do you get something like that? I imagine it save loads of fat since nothing sticks to it!
Jen says
Hi Sophia! yes I baked on the rack shown. Honestly, I have had it SO LONG, I have no idea where I got it. You can probably get them anywhere, but when all else fails, Amazon!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
Oh wow! I love this dinner idea! Nacho chips for the breading on the chicken? Genius! Going to have to try this soon. 🙂
Jen says
Thanks Carrie! I think you will love it! Opens up a whole new world!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic says
Wow! That is just layer upon layer upon layer of flavor. Every one of your recipes I’m like, Oh. I have to make that. This is no exception.
Jen says
You are so sweet Michele, thank you so much! My husband and I are both flavor addicts. 🙂
Angie K says
I have no experience with tomatillos… I don’t even know what they are, really… But I…must…make this. The avocado ranch dressing sounds and looks so delicious, and the idea of pulverizing tortilla chips to bread chicken sounds like fun in the kitchen to me 😀 😀
Your recipes consistently have a certain something that screams DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND MAKE ME!!
That is to say… thanks for all the amazing inspiration! You rock! 😀
Jen says
This is the nicest comment/compliment ever Angie, thank you so much!!! I am so thrilled you are liking my blog and that my recipes are screaming “eat me” at you – in a non bossy tone, I hope 🙂 ! You will LOVE the dressing – and tomatillos are super easy to work with – normally found next to the jalapenos. All you do for this recipe is remove the husk (it slips right off), wash, chop a couple times and add to the blender. you will b a believer 🙂 Have fun pulverizing your tortilla chips and thanks again for making my day!
shelby says
This looks and sounds amazing Jen! I think your dressing is what really sets it off for me. I love all the flavors involved!
Jen says
Thanks Shelby and yes the dressing is amazing. Everything in my life has become a vehicle to eat that dressing!
Rachael says
Okay, wiping my keyboard off now from all the drool dribbling down my chin. I probably would have given in to the siren’s call! Thanks for waiting so we can have the final product!
Jen says
LOL! It was a hard wait but worth it for you guys 🙂 Thanks Rachel!
Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry! says
Wow, there are so many flavors going on in this! I love it!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Wow this chicken looks amazing.. loving all the ranch dressing going ontop it too. I bet it tastes amazing!
Jen says
Thank you so much Thalia! Can’t go wrong with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch smothering anything – let alone nacho chicken :)! I hope you enjoy!
Katie Pierce says
This literally made my mouth water, pinning now!!
Jen says
Ah, thanks Katie! Much appreciated!
Hilary says
This looks SO tasty, you always have great stuff (and then I post it on my social media). 🙂
Jen says
Thanks so much Hilary, for your kind words AND for sharing my recipes! I hope you are able to try this soon, I think you will love it!