BBQ Chicken Nachos
Finding my home in Kansas City, I have consumed no shortage of BBQ. It’s something like a rite of passage to live here – you must like smoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket and BBQ chicken.
My dad owns a BBQ restaurant in my hometown – did you know that? I’m not sure that I’ve ever actually mentioned it here. Anyway, at his restaurant, he serves pulled pork nachos. We barely make it to the county line before Paul starts biting his nails in anticipation of these nachos. My dad piles them high with melted cheese, jalapenos, onions and, of course, his slow-smoked pulled pork and homemade BBQ sauce.
And they really are something rave about – so simple but so amazing. So when we get a craving for BBQ nachos, but aren’t anywhere near my hometown, we turn to our at-home fix: BBQ chicken nachos. They are beyond simple, so flavorful and there are no special ingredients – just chicken, onions, BBQ sauce, cilantro, cheese and various toppings of your choosing. We used some leftover chicken, our favorite local BBQ sauce and some fresh veggies that we had on hand. These BBQ chicken nachos will win your family over, I promise!
BBQ Chicken Nachos Recipe
Yield: Serves 4
Total Time: 30 minutes
Quick and simple recipe for weeknight nachos topped with BBQ chicken, onions, cilantro, and cheese.
Ingredients:
for the BBQ chicken:
3 cups cooked chicken (see note below)
1/2 cup BBQ sauce + more for drizzle and dipping
4 dashes liquid smoke
1 Tbs. red onions, chopped
1 tsp. garlic powderfor the nachos:
Tortilla chips
Tomatoes
Cilantro
Shredded cheese
Black olives
Jalapenos
Red onion
Green onionDirections:
Combine the chicken, BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, red onion and garlic powder in a sauce pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, for about 8 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat.
Turn the broiler on to hi. Spread a thin layer of tortilla chips on a baking sheet. Top with the BBQ chicken, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, olives, jalapenos, onions, cheese and any other toppings that you desire.
Broil the nachos for 7-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown. Garnish with additional cilantro and BBQ sauce.
Cassie’s Notes:
I cooked about 1 pound of chicken breasts for this recipe. I seasoned both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and cooked over medium heat in a large skillet for about 6 minutes on each side, and then shredded the chicken after it had cooled slightly.
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I usually do a buffalo chicken version but THIS version sounds out of this world!
These look so good, I’m now craving BBQ nachos at 8am!
You are my new best friend. My husband also thanks you in advance. These look divine!
YUM! These look crazy good!!!
Oh my goodness. You’re showing up at my door with these later, right?
OMG yes please! I want these like now.
I grew up in KS and both of my sisters live in KC, MO, so I can certainly understand what you mean when you say BBQ is a right of passage. I’m driving through on my way home for the holidays and pretty much demanded that we stop at Okie Joe’s, lol.
These nachos look outstanding! I’m going to have to check out Heffy’s next time I’m in KC also. The right sauce is so key.
I need this in my mouth now. Not even kidding.
You had me at barbecue! This would be a huge hit with the boys!
These look so good! This would be the perfect party food!
YUM! These look delish!!!! 🙂 GAME.DAY.FOOD.
This is EXACTLY what I could use right now for breakfast!!
Oh sweets GOODNess..
Oh my stars.
Pinned these! I may have to break it out this weekend! I don’t know if my favorite local BBQ sauce will work, it’s mustard based and more spice driven.
yes please. And that’s so cute about your dad! How did I not know that?
The nachos look incredible! Beautiful clicks too.
I love that your dad has a BBQ restaurant. So cool! I have to make these; my hubby would love them!
I had no idea about your family’s bbq joint!! How neat! 🙂
When I ask my husband for dinner ideas one of the suggestions he almost always gives is nachos. We like to do them with bbq chicken and pulled pork too. So good.
Your dad has a bbq joint? Lucky girl!
I can’t believe your dad owns a bbq restaurant! I am so so so jealous! Now these nachos? These I can totally get onboard with! I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day!
So cool that your dad owns a bbq restaurant! I see where you get your skills now! These look unreal and I’m totally craving nachos now.
Mmmm…I really could eat nachos every day. And I order them way too often at restaurants 🙂
Hello, nachos. It’s like the BBQ chicken pizza, but better because it’s nachos.
I love that we both did nachos this week–must be something about craving comfort foods with the chilly weather. 🙂 These look SO DARN GOOD! I am going to have to figure out how to make them vegetarian.
These are simply amazing!!
One word: YES!
BBQ chicken nachos were my favorite food when I lived in Memphis. Man, I miss them! They even sold them at the ball park. Yummy!
I LOVE nachos and these ones look fantastic! What a great idea!
When I was growing up, I always wanted my parents to own a restaurant. I thought it would be the coolest thing ever. On another note, these nachos look insane and perfect for sunday night football.
BBQ Nachos are my favorite! Yours look delicious! Will be making some soon.
I didn’t know your family owns a restaurant! That’s awesome. Love learning this about you! I grew up in a restaurant family too. And my husband always was the same when we got close to the county line – but in anticipation of spinach pizza 🙂
These nachos are making my mouth water. They are perfect!!
Mmm…that looks absolutely yummy.
These look sooooo yummy!! I would want the whole dish though, not just the plate. Seriously. I’m not even being funny
Oh goodness me, these nachos are everything I could want in a nacho and more!
Oh-me-gosh! I love love love this idea!! So totally making these soon!
BBQ… nachos… yes that’s one brilliant idea. 🙂
These look incredible, Cassie!
What a great idea! I love BBQ but don’t make it often enough because I’m obsessed with Open Pit BBQ sauce (less smoky, more sweet & spicy). Heffy’s sounds great!
These sound incredible! I just happen to have all the ingredients at home… 🙂
Oh wow, that’s so cool that your dad owns a BBQ restaurant! I’d be in serious trouble with access to that much pulled pork 🙂 These nachos look fantastic!
These look seriously addicting!
OMG Cassie. These nachos looks dangerous and amazing at the same time – I honestly do NOT think I would be able to stop reaching for another cheesey BBQ sauced chicken bite! My favorite american meal – bbq chicken – and my favorite mexican dish – NACHOS! This is genius. i LOVE this idea!!
SO cool about your dad’s restaurant! And these sound seriously awesome. Pretty sure the.boy. would kiss the ground I walk on if I made these for him!
I’m drooling here… you are killing me. These look fab! Great way to use up leftover chicken!
Holy cow, these are amazing! Things were crazy busy last week, I am sorry I missed them!
This sounds so easy and delicious!
I love how loaded these are! And what a great idea to do BBQ!