Easy Chicken Nachos Recipe from The Food Charlatan (2024)

FAQs

What are the layers for nachos? ›

Arrange half of tortilla chips onto prepared baking sheet in single layer, overlapping chips slightly. Top with half each of meat mixture, corn and black beans. Top with 2 cups cheese. Repeat Step 3 to create second layer with remaining beef, corn, beans and cheese.

Spread 5 cups chips in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron). Top with 1 cup chili, then half the beans and 1 cup cheese. Layer with remaining 5 cups chips, 1 cup chili, remaining beans, and 1 cup cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, 5 to 7 minutes.

Layers of chips, saucy meat, beans, cheese and salsa give these sheet pan nachos lots of texture and all the right flavors. To make them vegetarian, omit the beef and double the beans.

Limiting the number of ingredients baked with the chips is the key to crispiness. Top chips with no more than two or three toppings. Choose from items such as black beans, refried beans, chopped grilled chicken, seasoned ground beef (browned and drained), or chopped jalapenos.

Spread out a layer of chips, followed by an even distribution of meat and beans, then lots--I mean lots--of cheese. Complete coverage guarantees you don't commit the cardinal sin of nacho making: the sad chip with no topping. Repeat until you have an impressive tray a few layers high, then bake.

A: While you can technically use any type of cheese for nachos, some cheeses work better than others. The best options include Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Queso Blanco.

Start with a base of tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, jalapeño, and any warm fillings like meats and veggies. Once the cheese melts, remove from the oven, add another layer, and repeat. This extra step ensures your nachos are well-covered and evenly baked from top to bottom.

Tip tortilla chips on to a baking tray, pour over salsa and scatter over a few sliced spring onions. Grate over a good chunk of cheese (fontina is perfect, but cheddar will do). Add a pinch of crushed chilli flakes, then put under a hot grill for about 3 minutes to melt the cheese.

Here's a fact: If you put a plate of tortilla chips topped with cheese in the microwave and zap them until the cheese melts, the cheese will melt way before the tortilla chips have the chance to take on any color or toasted flavor. With nachos baked in the oven, the chips toast while the cheese melts.

Should I put parchment paper under my nachos? ›

Be sure to add a layer of aluminum foil or parchment paper to the bottom of your baking sheet before assembling the nachos. This will make clean up easy and prevent the nachos from sticking.

Traditional nachos consist of the tortilla chips topped with cheese and jalapeños, as done by Anaya. The modern form of nachos has several possible ingredients with the most common toppings being cheese, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, olives, refried beans, ground beef, chicken, and sometimes lettuce.

The best side dishes to serve with nachos are salsa, guacamole, cream cheese gravy, sloppy joes, refried beans, pico de gallo, lazy enchiladas, crispy chicken wings, Spanish rice, chicken burrito bowl, tostilocos, ranchero sauce, pineapple salsa, chicken tortilla soup, blooming onion, turkey chili, taco casserole, and ...

But you can top your nachos with whatever you want! If you want to stick with the classic vibes, we recommend shredded lettuce, cotija cheese, grilled corn, pinto beans, black olives, pickled red onions, or shredded chicken.

“Because we have a rule here that if you order one nachos to share, one person cannot eat all of the fully loaded nachos.” Tim pretends to be surprised by the waiter setting ground rules but is called out by his date.

Lay out your chips in a single layer with some overlap on your baking sheet. This maximizes chip-to-topping contact, avoiding the disappointment of a dry and cheeseless chip. Work in batches if necessary. If you must construct a leaning tower of nachos, do so by mounding chips on the serving platter after cooking.

The 7-Layer Nacho Fries are available nationwide, à la carte for $3.99 or in a burrito for $3.49, however the Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries are currently only being tested in Sacramento, California.

Pico de gallo (store bought or fresh), guacamole, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, diced onions and tomatoes, and fresh cilantro are classic fresh nacho toppings to sprinkle over top.