Grilled Chicken Nachos

Name: Grilled Chicken Nachos
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 8 ounces tortilla chips; 2 cups finely grated cheddar cheese; 1 cup cooked chicken meat, chopped; 1/2 cup BBQ sauce; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1 tomato, chopped (optional); 1/4 red onion, chopped (optional); 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional); 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped (optional); 1/2 avocado, chopped (optional)

Recipe GLPR3ca556b577030d

Mexican

Appetizer

25 min

671 cal

Servings: 6

Oven

Stovetop

Grill

SNAP eligible

Crispy tortilla chips layered with melted cheddar cheese, tender grilled chicken, and zesty BBQ sauce. Top with cool sour cream and fresh garnishes for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main course.

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Ingredients

8 ounces tortilla chips

2 cups finely grated cheddar cheese

1 cup cooked chicken meat, chopped

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tomato, chopped (optional)

1/4 red onion, chopped (optional)

1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

1/2 avocado, chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. If using pre-cooked chicken (such as rotisserie), warm it gently on the grill for 2-3 minutes per side to add a light char, or simply use it at room temperature.
Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with the BBQ sauce in a small bowl until evenly coated.
Spread the tortilla chips in a single layer on a large heat-safe platter or baking sheet. For easier handling, you may also assemble nachos on a grill-safe skillet or cast-iron pan.
Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the tortilla chips, making sure to cover as much surface area as possible.
Place the platter on the grill over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, or transfer to a 400°F oven for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
Remove from heat and distribute the BBQ chicken evenly over the melted cheese.
Drizzle the sour cream generously over the top of the nachos.
Top with your choice of optional garnishes: diced tomato, chopped red onion, sliced jalapeño, fresh cilantro, and chopped avocado. Serve immediately while the cheese is still warm and the chips are crispy.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.5

This is a straightforward crowd-pleaser with ingredients widely available at any Charlotte supermarket—tortilla chips, cheddar, and basic produce all stock at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, and ALDI without a special trip. The stated 25 minutes assumes grilled chicken is ready to go; realistically add 20–30 minutes if you're cooking it from scratch, which most weeknight cooks will be. At roughly $2 to $2.50 per serving, the cost lands in the comfortable middle, driven mainly by chicken and cheese. The dish works well for families and casual entertaining, reheats adequately on a sheet pan in a 375°F oven, and plays to North Carolina comfort-food expectations—though it doesn't lean into local produce like tomatoes would in summer, or benefit from regional flavor signatures. Budget the time honestly and treat this as an assembled dish rather than a true 25-minute meal.