It’s no secret that Tex-Mex is way up there on my (and Betsy’s) list of favorite cuisines. I mean how can you go wrong? It’s spicy and cheesy and generally quick to make. Sometimes though I get a bit bored with the standard stuff (Betsy doesn’t). I’ve made some other types of nachos in the past but these Easy BBQ Chickeen Nachos are a huge hit, especially now that it’s back-to-school season and dinner time is short.
I really loved the BBQ sauce I made for this recipe. I’m not a huge fan of really ketchup-heavy BBQ sauces which means I generally don’t like store-bought BBQ sauces (except for a few that I think are really good like Stubbs). You could make this recipe really easy just by using your favorite store-bought sauce, but making your own BBQ can be really fun.
To make this BBQ Chicken Nachos weeknight-friendly, use a rotisserie chicken and your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce and the whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes. BOOM.
Easy Chicken Topping for Nachos
Sometimes I’m feeling ambitious and I’ll make my own BBQ sauce for this recipe. That’s fun if you have the time and I included a really basic version in the recipe below, but for quick dinners, using a store-bought sauce is A-okay in my book.
The easiest way to cook the chicken for this dish is just to poach it in some softly simmering water. Get a big pot of water boiling and add a few pinches of salt. Once it’s simmering, add the chicken and cook, covered, for about 15 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked through.
The good news about poaching chicken like this is that it’s basically impossible to overcook it. It’ll be nice and tender no matter what. Once it’s done, let the chicken cool for a bit before trying to handle it. Again, you can use a rotisserie chicken and shred it for even easier nacho prep.
As an aside, this chicken could be used for a number of things besides nachos (which is good because you’ll probably have leftovers). You could make these BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes with it or these crispy shredded chicken tacos… you get the idea.
If you’re making nachos though, just spread out a bunch of tortilla chips on a sheet pan or in a large cast iron skillet and fork on a good amount of the BBQ chicken.
What kind of cheese to use on BBQ Nachos?
Next, add the shredded cheese. I used a combination of mozzarella and smoked gouda. The gouda works awesomely with the BBQ Chicken. You could go a more traditional Mexican cheese route with some queso fresco as well, but I would keep the smoked gouda. The combination of the BBQ sauce and the smoked gouda is a pretty good one.
Other Toppings ideas for Chicken BBQ Nachos
Beyond cheese, I also sprinkled on some diced red onions and sweet corn to give it some bite. There are, of course, a huge range of toppings you could try out on these BBQ Chicken nachos. Here’s a list of ideas!
- Diced tomatoes
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Sliced radish
- Cilantro
- Diced avocado
- Pinto beans
Betsy and I ate these BBQ Chicken Nachos without any toppings other than the cilantro at first and I thought they were really good but toppings always improve nachos. So, go crazy!
Ways to cook BBQ Chicken Nachos
Since the chicken is already cooked, just bake these guys at 350 degrees until the cheese melts. Should take about 15 minutes. Then sprinkle on some chopped cilantro and any other toppings you fancy.
If you were really in a pinch, I do think you could add these toppings in my master microwave nachos recipe and it would end up just fine.
At the end of the day, this is a really flexible dish that is almost guaranteed to make some really good BBQ Chicken nachos, even on a weeknight. Do me a favor though and at least try to whip up some of your own BBQ sauce. You won’t be disappointed and might never go back to the bottled stuff.
Making these nachos in advance
Generally, I’m not one for making nachos in advance. They are best right out of the oven. That said, almost all of the nacho toppings can be made in advance, including the BBQ chicken topping! Get that all cooked and store it in the fridge for a few days.
Then when it’s time to make nachos, spread some chips out on your baking sheet or skillet and top to your desire. It’ll be much faster since the chicken topping is already cooked and ready to go.
BBQ Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds approx shredded chicken
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces smoked gouda, shredded
- Red onion, sliced
- Sliced radish
- Sweet corn
- Cilantro, sliced
- Optional stuff: sour cream, serrano peppers, avocado, hot sauce, salsa
Homemade Quick BBQ Sauce:
- 1 onion, grated
- 1 serrano pepper, diced (or jalapeno)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon neutral oil
- ⅔ Cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons molasses
- ½ Cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ Cup bourbon, optional
- ¼ Cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- To make the BBQ sauce, grate the onion over the big holes in a box grater. Also, dice the pepper and garlic.
- Add oil to medium saucepan over medium-high heat and, when hot, add the onions, peppers, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until soft.
- Add other BBQ ingredients and simmer on low until thick. Adjust to your tastes.
- Meanwhile, poach chicken in lightly simmering water for 15 minutes until cooked through and tender.
- Remove chicken from water and let cool. Then use two forks to shred the chicken.
- Add the shredded chicken to the BBQ sauce and combine well.
- Cover a baking sheet or large skillet with tortilla chips. Then top with the BBQ chicken mixture. Top with shredded cheese and sliced red onions and corn.
- Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted, probably 15 minutes.
- Top with any addtional toppings and serve immediately!
Tania
looks YUMMY – bet my kids would love this, it's on my Friday evening menu!
Nick
That's the same day I made it. Great for a relaxing start to the weekend!
Dan
Well, now I have to try making my own bbq sauce. Thanks for the inspiration.
Lea
Mr. Nick Macheesmo, sir, that looks SO good. I'm drooling. This is definitely going on the dinner menu for Chez Leanne this week. That sauce …. oh my…. how do you think it would be with ribs?
Susan
I stumbled across your blog the other day and love it!
I tried making the BBQ chicken nachos tonight and they turned out great! I made some adjustments to the BBQ sauce recipe based on another recipe I had. (Similar to yours, but it also included a tiny bit of yellow mustard, a little bit of liquid smoke and some Coke/Pepsi as a sugar component.)
This recipe is going in my "keeper" file! Thanks for posting it and inspiring me to cook for a change!
Darrin
These look awesome, I think i'll have to make some soon.
If you want to kick them up to the next level, I'd plank grill them! If you're not familiar with the technique, soak a food-safe cedar plank in water (or…beer!) for at least 30 minutes before you start cooking. Place nachos on the plank, place plank on a grill that is medium heat (an oven would probably work too, though not as well). Nachos will emerge even more smoky and delicious.
Kevin
One of the only recipes I've seen in a while that does it right! Gotta pull the chicken like you've done here. :)
Sam @ The Junk House
I’m eating these as we speak and they are really good! I added some diced avocado and I’d say it’s a must! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Julia
I made these last night. They were delicious! Next time, I am going to use a little less brown sugar and make sure it is unpacked. It made a massive amount of shredded chicken which I love. Leftovers!