This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Nachos always make a tasty snack and these BBQ chicken nachos are in a league of their own. Crunchy tortilla chips are topped with BBQ chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, cheese, sour cream, and more. Whether you’re whipping up a huge nacho platter for a party or you just want to make something the whole family will love, you can’t go wrong with these.
BBQ chicken nachos with shredded chicken, shredded cheese, BBQ sauce, coleslaw and more, makes a wonderful appetizer for everyone to share.
More chicken recipes you might want to try include tangerine chicken, chicken mozzarella sticks, and this delicious blackened chicken alfredo.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: Nachos are an easy recipe to whip up and you just have to layer some toppings over tortilla chips and cook until the cheese is melted. Add a few more toppings, then serve immediately. It’s so simple!
Tasty: These nachos offer a variety of flavors as well as different textures to make them a truly mouthwatering treat. This recipe might be low-effort but it’s certainly high in flavor!
Customizable: Another thing you’re going to love about these is you can add any kinds of toppings you prefer, omitting any you don’t like. While ingredients like cheese, beef (or chicken) and jalapenos are nachos mainstays, there’s no limit to what you can top them with.
Barbeque Chicken Nachos Main Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below
Tortilla chips: Whichever kind you like works here. For the very best results, you can’t beat those freshly cooked ones from a Mexican market because they’re still crisp after baking.
Shredded cheese: Pepper jack and colby jack cheese taste great in BBQ chicken nachos, but you can use whatever you want. Cheddar cheese is good. I like to shred my own, since it melts better than the pre-shredded kind which is coated in starch.
Rotisserie chicken: Feel free to cook your own chicken. Rotisserie chicken just makes this recipe quicker and easier. Chicken is a healthy option too!
BBQ sauce: Any kind you like is fine, whether it’s spicy, sweet, smoky, or a mixture (my fave is Sweet Baby Ray’s (here)!)
Coleslaw: Any readymade kind is fine or you can make your own.
Onion rings: You can make your own onion rings recipe or just cook the frozen kind.
Spices: Garlic powder and chili powder add lots of flavor. Sub cayenne pepper for the chili powder if liked, or omit it altogether if you’re making BBQ chicken nachos for kids or for a mixed crowd.
How to Make Barbeque Chicken Nachos
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card
Assemble the chips and cheese: Spread your crispy tortilla chips out in a cast iron pan or oven-safe pan, and sprinkle half of each kind of cheese evenly on top.
Add more toppings: Combine the chicken, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, and chili powder, then spoon this over the cheese, followed by the baked beans and remaining shredded cheese.
Bake the nachos: Bake the barbecue chicken nachos for 20 to 25 minutes at 375 degrees F or until the cheese is melted.
The finishing touches: Take the nachos out of the oven and add the coleslaw, onion rings, sour cream, jalapenos, red onion, and green onions and/or cilantro on top.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, choose gluten-free tortilla chips (these gluten-free chips are made using cassava flour and these chips are from corn).
A brisket version: Not so keen on chicken with nachos? You can buy BBQ brisket and shred that instead.
Low carb version: You can make your own tortilla chips using low carb tortillas (use a pizza wheel to cut them into triangles and spritz on some nonstick spray, then bake at 350 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes or until crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Other great appetizers to pair with these shredded chicken nachos include pizza sliders, crab cake egg rolls, and artichoke dip.
Side dishes: You might like to serve some sides with your BBQ chicken nachos, such as skillet cornbread or watermelon and feta salad.
How to Store BBQ Chicken Nachos
Store: Sheet pan nachos don’t keep well unless you don’t mind them getting soggy. If you have more nachos toppings that you can use for the BBQ chicken nachos, just keep them separate from the chips and away from each other. That way, you can use them in other recipes later on.
Freeze: Nachos don’t freeze well – don’t do it!
Top Tips
Spice levels: Although you can adjust the amount of chili powder used, you might want to omit it if making BBQ chicken nachos for kids or for a mixed crowd. Those who like it spicy can season their own portion.
Dips on the side: If you add dollops of sour cream, guacamole and salsa all over your nachos, they’re going to get soggy fast, which is why it’s better to serve the dips on the side.
Generously layer: Make sure your toppings are spread out evenly but don’t skimp on them! You don’t want all those goodies gone from the top leaving a naked pile of chips no one wants, neither do you want to be able to see most of the chips under your toppings.
BBQ Chicken Nachos FAQs
Yes, and that’s the great thing about nachos recipes – you just use the toppings you want. So, if you’re making this for a mixed crowd you can either make one portion with chicken and one without, or else just serve some of the more controversial toppings on the side like the chicken and the chilies.
There are lots of ways to use the rest of the rotisserie chicken, remaining shredded cheese and so on. Perhaps make BBQ chicken pizza or some kind of tasty skillet dish.
The key to delicious nachos is keeping the chips to one layer, maximum two if you have to. This means every tortilla chip is going to have some toppings on it. You might need to make two pans of nachos to achieve this, especially if you’re doubling the recipe for a crowd.
BBQ Chicken Nachos Recipe
BBQ Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
- 13 Ounces tortilla chips
- 1 1/2 Cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 Cups colby jack cheese, shredded
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 Cup BBQ sauce, any kind
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 Cups baked beans
- 2 Cups coleslaw
- 12 onion rings, cooked
- 1/2 Cup sour cream
- 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
- 1/4 Cup red onion, finely chopped
- green onion , optional, for garnish
- cilantro, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lay the tortilla chips in an oven-safe pan or a cast iron pan. Sprinkle half of each kind of cheese over the chips.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, and chili powder.
- Spoon the chicken mixture over the cheese. Add the baked beans, then top with the remaining cheese, aiming for even layers.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and add the coleslaw, onion rings, sour cream, jalapeno slices, red onion, and green onion slices and/or cilantro on top. Serve immediately.
Notes
Dips on the side: If you add dollops of sour cream, guacamole and salsa all over your nachos, they’re going to get soggy fast, which is why it’s better to serve the dips on the side.
Generously layer: Make sure your toppings are spread out evenly but don’t skimp on them! You don’t want all those goodies gone from the top leaving a naked pile of chips no one wants, neither do you want to be able to see most of the chips under your toppings.
Nutrition
Sheet pan chicken nachos with barbecue sauce is perfect for any kind of get-together or party. These BBQ chicken nachos combine everything from crunchy to soft, spicy to sweet, and of course, they’re a riot of different textures and colors. Everyone will love this easy chicken nachos recipe and if you use pre-cooked chicken they take mere minutes to make!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These BBQ chicken nachos were an instant hit at our family party! Super flavorful!
I’m over the moon with how delicious this dish is. It’s definitely going to be a regular on our dinner table!
The dish was such a hit with my family; they’re already asking for more!