🌮 Mexican · Snack · Easy difficulty · Contains meat or poultry
Chicken Nachos
A smoky Mexican snack built around chicken, seasoned with tortilla chips and cheddar.
- Prep time
- 8 min
- Cook time
- 17 min
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Calories
- 404 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 27 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Course
- Snack
About this Mexican snack
Chicken Nachos is a Mexican snack built around chicken. It takes about 25 min from start to finish, 8 minutes of prep and 17 minutes of cooking, and serves 6.
Cooking method: snack. Difficulty is rated easy. Contains meat or poultry.
Good for: under 25 minutes, high protein, party & sharing, kid friendly.
Ingredients
Quantities are for 6 servings. Change the servings in the app to rescale them automatically.
- 500 g chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
- 300 g tortilla chips
- 200 g cheddar, grated
- 1/2 cup jalapeños
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Method
Step 1. Prepare the chicken and season with salt.
- Heat
- Off, no heat yet
- Look for
- Pieces are roughly the same size, so they all finish cooking together.
- Why it matters
- Even pieces cook at the same speed. Prepping everything first (mise en place) stops you scrambling once the pan is hot.
- Avoid
- Cutting pieces of mixed sizes: small ones burn while big ones stay raw.
Step 2. Mix the tortilla chips, cheddar and jalapeños in a bowl.
- Heat
- Off, no heat
- Look for
- Everything is evenly coated or just combined, with no dry pockets.
- Why it matters
- Mixing spreads salt, fat and flavour through the food so every bite tastes the same.
- Avoid
- Overmixing batters and doughs makes them tough; stop once just combined.
Step 3. Shape or assemble the chicken with the mixture.
- Heat
- Off, no heat
- Look for
- Everything is evenly coated or just combined, with no dry pockets.
- Why it matters
- Mixing spreads salt, fat and flavour through the food so every bite tastes the same.
- Avoid
- Overmixing batters and doughs makes them tough; stop once just combined.
Step 4. Cook until crisp and golden - fry, bake or griddle for about 10 minutes.
- Heat
- Medium to high, stir or flip now and then
- Look for
- Golden-brown edges, a steady sizzle and a toasty smell.
- Why it matters
- Browning (the Maillard reaction) creates deep savoury flavour that boiling cannot.
- Avoid
- Overcrowding the pan: the temperature drops and food steams. Cook in batches.
Step 5. Serve warm with sour cream.
- Heat
- Warm plates
- Look for
- Hot food on warm plates with a fresh, bright garnish on top.
- Why it matters
- Garnish adds colour, crunch and freshness. Tasting and adjusting salt or acid at the end lifts the whole dish.
- Avoid
- Waiting too long: the dish cools and crisp parts go soft.
Chef's tip
Serve straight from the pan for the best crunch.
Equipment you will need
- Mixing bowl
- Pan or baking tray
- Paper towels
Nutrition per serving
Estimated per serving: 404 kcal, 34 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate and 18 g fat. Roughly 33% of the energy comes from protein, 27% from carbohydrate and 40% from fat, using standard energy values.
Nutrition values are estimates from typical ingredient profiles. They are not medical data, and brands and portions vary. Consult a doctor or registered dietitian about your diet.
When to cook Chicken Nachos
Substitutions and variations
- Bake instead of frying for a lighter snack.
- Use wholegrain flour or oats for extra fibre.
- Store in an airtight container to keep the texture for a few days.
Frequently asked questions about Chicken Nachos
How long does Chicken Nachos take to make?
It takes about 25 min in total: 8 minutes of prep and 17 minutes of cooking. Times are estimates and depend on your stove, pan and how small you cut the ingredients.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving has about 404 kcal, with 34 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate and 18 g fat. These are estimates for the recipe's 6 servings.
Is Chicken Nachos gluten-free?
It is not marked gluten-free in our data. Use certified gluten-free alternatives for any sauces or stocks if you need to avoid gluten.
Is it suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
No, it contains meat or poultry. For a meat-free version, swap the main ingredient for tofu, chickpeas or mushrooms and adjust the cooking time.
How difficult is it to cook?
It is an easy recipe with simple steps and minimal timing pressure, so it suits beginners.
Can I make Chicken Nachos ahead or freeze it?
Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days. Most baked and saucy dishes freeze well for up to 3 months, but avoid freezing crisp items and salads.
How many servings does it make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. To change the amount, scale each ingredient in proportion. The interactive app's servings control does this automatically.