Late dinner
A sheet pan of nachos turns a late night into a treat.
The chicken is cooked and tossed in barbecue sauce, so all that is left is layering and a quick bake.
It feels like a reward after a long evening, and it is on the table in ten minutes.
Ingredients
Gather the food for late dinner bbq chicken nachos before the clock starts crowding the kitchen.
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 large bag (about 12 oz) tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup corn, thawed if frozen
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
How to Make It
Keep late dinner bbq chicken nachos focused on cooked food, simple assembly, and one clear stopping point.
- Toss the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce in a bowl until evenly coated.
- Spread the tortilla chips on a foil-lined sheet pan and scatter the chicken, beans, and corn over the top.
- Cover with the cheese and bake at 400F for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the chicken is hot.
- Top with green onions and cilantro and serve straight from the pan.
Do the Slow Part Early
Cook and sauce the chicken ahead so the only after-practice step is layering and baking. A sheet pan of nachos is ready 10 minutes after you walk in.
- Shred and sauce the chicken in the afternoon
- Drain the beans and thaw the corn ahead
- Line the sheet pan with foil so cleanup is one toss
Store and Reheat
Nachos are best fresh, so store the sauced chicken on its own and build a new pan when you reheat. Chips go soggy if you save the assembled pan.
- Microwave the sauced chicken 2 minutes, then layer onto fresh chips and broil
- Reheat leftover loaded nachos in a 375F oven 6 minutes to re-crisp
- Sauced chicken keeps 3 days in the fridge for a second round
- Serve with: sour cream, guacamole
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Add pickled jalapenos
Scatter them on for the adults who want heat.
Swap in pulled pork
Leftover barbecue pulled pork works just as well as chicken.
Make it ranch-style
Drizzle ranch over the top instead of cilantro for a kid-favorite finish.
Go red-sauce
Use salsa and taco-seasoned chicken for a classic nacho instead.
Build individual plates
Portion onto microwave plates so each kid melts their own.
Plan The Next Step
Plan your sheet-pan nights
Use the planner to keep sauced chicken ready for nachos and other fast layered dinners.