By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 24, 2023
Chicken Nachos are the perfect appetizer, lunch, or even dinner when you’re craving something salty, full of tasty Mexican ingredients. Tortilla chips are covered in queso, then layered with chicken, pico de Gallo, more cheese, and any of your favorite toppings. Bake these easy sheet pan nachos in the oven in a flash, and be prepared to share because these are delicious!
What’s in Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
All you need for this easy chicken nachos recipe is a sheet pan, chicken, tortilla chips, cheese, and a few other simple ingredients. They’re really versatile, so grab your favorite toppings, bake quickly in the oven, and enjoy.
- Tortilla Chips: Assembling nachos starts with tortilla chips . Use your favorite kind–I recommend using a thicker chip that will hold up under all the toppings.
- Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken tenders cut into small strips. But you can use boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into strips or cubes. You can also use rotisserie or shredded chicken for convenience!
- Queso: I always use my favorite white queso , but you can use any kind you like. Don’t add too much, or the chips will get soggy.
- Shredded Cheese: Use a Mexican blend or any type of cheese you have on hand. Pepper jack would be another good option. Freshly-shredded cheese melts best!
- Pico de Gallo: Sprinkle fresh pico de gallo on top for more flavor and texture. This mix of diced tomatoes and onion is perfect!
- Taco Seasoning : This blend seasons the chicken before adding it on top of the nachos.
- Onion: A little bit of chopped onion adds more texture and flavor.
Flavor Tip: Cook the chicken with tequila and lime juice (1 tablespoon each) to add a bright and zesty flavor!
Chicken Nacho Toppings and Variations
You can add other toppings on the chicken nachos before baking. Try black beans, fire-roasted corn, jalapeno slices, refried beans , or anything you like.
After they come out of the oven, add cold toppings, like blender salsa , the best guacamole , sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), avocado slices, mexican street corn salsa , or more shredded cheese.
Change the type of queso: try this poblano queso , or go with classic nacho cheese sauce .
You can also finish them off with a bite more queso, lime juice, cilantro, or taco sauce .
Instead of using taco seasoning for the chicken, try blackened seasoning or fajita seasoning .
Or try these grilled BBQ chicken nachos for another twist on this easy appetizer!
In a 350F oven, it should only take 10-15 minutes to bake nachos. You’re just warming everything up and melting the cheese, so it won’t take very long. Rotate the sheet pan halfway through to make sure they heat evenly.
I use a mix of queso and shredded cheese for these nachos. A Mexican blend shredded cheese is great, but you can use any type you like, including Colby jack, pepper jack, or cheddar. I recommend shredding your own cheese for best quality.
How to Store and Reheat
Chicken nachos are best served fresh out of the oven! Because the chips are covered with queso, chicken, and other toppings, they will get soft or soggy when refrigerated and reheated.
However, you can store leftover nachos in an airtight container or wrapped in foil, and keep in the refrigerator up to 2 days. For best results, store extra ingredients separately, and assemble and bake fresh nachos.
Serving Suggestions
These sheet pan chicken nachos are the best appetizer for Cinco de Mayo , and it’s a great football food since they make enough for plenty of people. Serve them along with your favorite margaritas or cocktails.
They also pair well with any Mexican snacks or meals, including chicken taquitos , chicken tacos , a Crunchwrap Supreme , or esquites .
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 32(ish) Tortilla Chips click for recipe OR use store bought
- ▢ 6 boneless skinless chicken tenders cut into small strips
- ▢ 1 ounce taco seasoning click for recipe
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon tequila
- ▢ 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ▢ 1/2 cup chopped onion
- ▢ 1/4 cup White Queso click for recipe
- ▢ 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ▢ 1 cup pico de gallo click for recipe
- ▢ 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro optional
- ▢ Optional additional toppings: black beans, mexi-corn, jalapenos, refried beans, olives, or anything you love!
- ▢ Garnish ideas: sour cream, avocado, guacamole, salsa, the list goes on and on!
Video
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F
- In a large skillet, heat your oil over medium/high heat 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the chicken into the skillet and toss in the tequila, taco seasoning, and lime juice, Stir to combine. Cook the chicken until fully cooked; about 4-5 minutes. Set aside. 6 boneless skinless chicken tenders, 1 ounce taco seasoning, 1 tablespoon tequila, 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Lay the chips on a large sheet pan/cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Lay them pretty much in a single layer, only slightly overlapping. 32(ish) Tortilla Chips
- Arrange the chicken and onion over the chips. 1/2 cup chopped onion
- Drizzle the chips and chicken with the white queso. (A little goes a long way. You don’t want everything to get soggy.) 1/4 cup White Queso
- Sprinkle everything with the shredded cheese 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- Top with the pico and cilantro. (Add extra toppings here if using.) 1 cup pico de gallo, 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro, Optional additional toppings: black beans, mexi-corn, jalapenos, refried beans, olives, or anything you love!
- Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes, rotating halfway through. You want the cheese fully melted and the chips starting to turn brown on the edges.
- Remove from the oven and top with all your favorites: sour cream, guac, salsa, the works! Garnish ideas: sour cream, avocado, guacamole, salsa, the list goes on and on!
- Enjoy!
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Nacho Recipes We Love
- Beef Nachos
- Foil Packet Nachos
- Philly Cheesesteak Nachos
- Pulled Pork Nachos
- Steak Fajita Nachos
- Chicken Nacho Casserole
- Nachos Supreme
- Street Corn Nachos
Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 32(ish) Tortilla Chips click for recipe OR use store bought
- 6 boneless skinless chicken tenders cut into small strips
- 1 ounce taco seasoning click for recipe
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tequila
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup White Queso click for recipe
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1 cup pico de gallo click for recipe
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro optional
- Optional additional toppings: black beans, mexi-corn, jalapenos, refried beans, olives, or anything you love!
- Garnish ideas: sour cream, avocado, guacamole, salsa, the list goes on and on!
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F
- In a large skillet, heat your oil over medium/high heat 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the chicken into the skillet and toss in the tequila, taco seasoning, and lime juice, Stir to combine. Cook the chicken until fully cooked; about 4-5 minutes. Set aside. 6 boneless skinless chicken tenders, 1 ounce taco seasoning, 1 tablespoon tequila, 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Lay the chips on a large sheet pan/cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Lay them pretty much in a single layer, only slightly overlapping. 32(ish) Tortilla Chips
- Arrange the chicken and onion over the chips. 1/2 cup chopped onion
- Drizzle the chips and chicken with the white queso. (A little goes a long way. You don’t want everything to get soggy.) 1/4 cup White Queso
- Sprinkle everything with the shredded cheese 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- Top with the pico and cilantro. (Add extra toppings here if using.) 1 cup pico de gallo, 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro, Optional additional toppings: black beans, mexi-corn, jalapenos, refried beans, olives, or anything you love!
- Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes, rotating halfway through. You want the cheese fully melted and the chips starting to turn brown on the edges.
- Remove from the oven and top with all your favorites: sour cream, guac, salsa, the works! Garnish ideas: sour cream, avocado, guacamole, salsa, the list goes on and on!
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
