Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos – The Perfect Appetizer To Feed A Crowd!

There is nothing better on game day than enjoying Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos and watching your team win the biggest game of the year! Although, I can’t guarantee that the later will happen, I can certainly help you make the best nachos for your tailgate party.

And it all starts with restaurant style, corn tortilla chips spread out on a rimmed baking sheet. Then the chips are covered in a layer of cooked, diced or shredded chicken that is mixed with your favorite salsa.

Add two different varieties of shredded cheese and repeat the layer of chips, chicken, and cheese one more time. All that is left to do is to place the sheet pan in the oven until the chips are warm and toasty and the cheese melts.

Once the nachos come out of the oven add your favorite toppings. However I highly suggest that if you are making Sheet Pan Nachos for a crowd, provide the toppings in individual dishes so everyone can customize each serving to their liking.

The Benefit Of Sheet Pan Recipes

I have always enjoyed making sheet pan meals because not only are the recipes delicious, but there is very minimal clean up afterwards. From Sausage and Sweet Potatoes, to our favorite Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables, I love the ease of making them all on one pan.

But there is something extra special when you pull out a large baking sheet of tortilla chips layered in melted cheese, shredded chicken, salsa, onions, and black beans. And when you place the tray in front of your family and friends you can be sure that within seconds, there will be fingers diving in for the nachos in no time!

However, besides the amazing flavor that the warm nachos have, it is also great to know that there is no clean up afterwards! That is because the sheet pan is lined with foil before baking.

Therefore, after everyone finishes picking off those little bits of stuck cheese on the foil (my favorite part) and scooping up the last of the toppings, all that you need to do is to remove the foil and throw it away. And if you are like me, you will welcome this type of clean up!

Because I know that there will be plenty of other dishes to do from the various dips, spreads, wings, and sandwiches that were enjoyed during the game as well!

Tips For Making Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos

Although you could simply pile chips on a baking sheet and throw on some cheese and chicken on top, there are a few tips for making the best nachos that you have ever had.

1. Line The Baking Sheet With Aluminum Foil – As mentioned above, by lining the sheet pan with foil it will make clean up a breeze! However for those who prefer not to use foil you can spray the sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray instead.

2. Layer The Nachos – For the most even distribution of ingredients, layer the ingredients instead of spreading them in a single layer. There is nothing worse than finding tortilla chips at the bottom of the pile with nothing on them.

3. Mix The Chicken With The Salsa – To prevent the chicken from drying out in the oven, mix the cooked chicken with your favorite brand and flavor of salsa.

4. Add Your Favorite Ingredients – Although this recipe calls for adding black beans to the nachos, the choice to do so is up to you. If you aren’t a bean lover, leave them out.

In addition, feel free to switch up the ingredients to make the nachos exactly how you like them. For instance, use lime flavored tortilla chips instead of the classic plain chips. Or instead of using cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese us Mexican blend shredded cheese instead.

Like things spicy? Add fresh, diced jalapeno peppers and pepper jack cheese to give the nachos a bit of heat. These are just a few ways to make your game day nachos customized to your preference.

How To Make Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) bag restaurant-style tortilla chips
• 1 1⁄2 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 1⁄2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 pound shredded and cooked chicken
• 1⁄2 cup thick and chunky salsa
• 1 small sweet onion, diced
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans

For Serving:

• Diced Jalapeño
• Sour Cream
• Green Onions, diced
• Roma tomato, diced
• Cilantro

Instructions

Before you get started making the sheet pan chicken nachos, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven. Then turn the heat of the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

You can use any size sheet pan that you would like. I prefer to use the biggest one that will fit inside my oven so that the cheese can coat all the nachos!

Next, drain and rinse the black beans and dice your onion and set aside. Now in a medium bowl, add the shredded and cooked chicken and salsa and toss to combine.

Although you can certainly cook and shred your own chicken, I highly suggest saving yourself some time and energy by purchasing a cooked rotisserie chicken at your local grocery store. Then simply shred the warm meat when you bring it home.

You can use the meat right away or store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the nachos. We also use this meat in our Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Dip recipe. It one of my favorite recipe short cuts.

Assembly Instructions

Now that you have the ingredients prepared, it is time to assemble the Chicken Nachos on the sheet pan. Do this by spreading half of the bag of tortilla chips in an even layer across the baking sheet. Top with half of the chicken and salsa mixture and half of both varieties of cheese. Repeat with another layer of chips, chicken and cheese.

Top the nachos with the diced onion and drained black beans. Then place the nachos in the preheated oven until the cheese melts and the chips around the edges are starting to brown. This will take approximately 8 minutes.

Just before serving, garnish with diced jalapeño, sour cream, diced green onions, tomatoes and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve warm and watch them disappear!

Enjoy! Mary

Other Favorite Game Day Recipes:

Although I love a variety of dips, spreads and chicken wings, I always have a hard time choosing which one to make when we preparing game day appetizers. However, that is definitely not the case when it comes to making Nachos, especially when I make a large sheet pan of them and bake them in the oven!

• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
• Mini Pigs In A Blanket
• Sheet Pan Quesadilla
• Million Dollar Dip
• Loaded Chicken Quesadillas
• Instant Pot Chicken Wings
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Jalapeno Popper Bites
• Instant Pot Appetizer Meatballs
• Barbecue Pulled Pork
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders

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