These slow cooker chicken nachos are meaty, cheesy, and loaded with Mexican flavor. Tender shredded chicken breast, salsa, taco seasoning, cheese, and more come together to create delicious nachos everyone will love.
Let's face it, Mexican food is a party on a plate. From tacos to burritos, the bold flavors and fresh ingredients never disappoint. But what if you could capture all those Mexican flavors in a dish that's practically effortless? Enter the glorious world of Crockpot Chicken Nachos!
This Tex-Mex recipe is your weeknight hero, your game-day MVP, and your stress-free recipe for eating something amazing. With minimal prep and a crock pot doing all the hard work, you can whip up a crowd-pleasing feast that's perfect for any occasion.
Why You'll Love These Pulled Chicken Nachos
- Simple Ingredients: Everything you need to make these nachos can be found in your kitchen or your local grocery store.
- Easy: This is a crock pot recipe, so you'll just combine all the ingredients and wait for the crock pot to do its thing.
- Budget-Friendly: All the ingredients used in this recipe are basic and budget-friendly.
- Tons of Flavor: The taco seasoning, salsa, and diced green chilies make this a super-flavorful dish.
Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: The slow-cooked chicken is tender and juicy, and its mild flavor makes it the perfect vehicle for the other flavors in the dish.
- Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning adds classic Mexican flavor to the chicken.
- Green Chilies: Green chilies add a sweet, slightly warm Tex-Mex flavor.
- Mexican Blend Cheese: Mexican blend makes these nachos nice and cheesy with even more Mexican flavor.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos
- Add the chicken to the bottom of the crockpot and cover it with the rest of the ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2½-3 hours. When done cooking, shred the chicken with two forks and stir into the sauce.
- Turn on the broiler in your oven. Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet, sprinkle cheese over them, and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Hint
There's no need to stir anything until the dish is done. Just put all the ingredients on top of the chicken!
Flavor Variations and Topping Ideas
- Meats: You can use ground beef, chorizo, or beef for these nachos.
- Cheese: Try any of your favorite cheeses to switch things up, like Monterey Jack, queso fresco, or a mix.
- Spicy: Diced jalapenos, pickled red onions, or a dollop of your favorite hot sauce.
- Creamy Delights: Sour cream, plain Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lime, or creamy avocado crema.
- Fresh Veggies: Chopped tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, avocado, pico de Gallo, black olives, or a quick pickled jalapeno relish add tang and pops of flavor.
- Beans: Black beans, pinto beans, or refried beans add protein and heartiness.
- Guacamole Power: Homemade or store-bought guacamole adds a rich, decadent layer.
Storage
Refrigerate the assembled nachos is not recommended, as they chips will get soggy. Instead, make an amount you think will be eaten, then refrigerate the remaining chicken for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, the chicken mixture can be frozen for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
To reheat, defrost the chicken mixture overnight in the refrigerator. Then, prepare the nachos as directed in the recipe.
What to Serve with Crock Pot Chicken Nachos
Serve these nachos with delicious main dishes like carnitas or chicken tacos for a hearty Mexican dinner.
You can also make these chicken nachos the main dish and pair them with street corn dip or taco dip and chips for a fun Mexican appetizer meal.
Finally, finish your meal with a sweet treat like chocolate lava cake or bread pudding.
Tips
- Place the chicken in the crockpot followed by the remaining ingredients. This allows the breasts to baste as they cook.
- Shred your chicken as soon as its safe to do so. Hot meat shreds much more easily than cool meat.
- Keep a close eye on your nachos when you broil them. It won't take long to melt the cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Crockpots were designed to cook raw meat and vegetables slowly over low heat. They were designed for raw meat.
No, you shouldn't. There was a time when people thought washing chicken reduced bacteria. However, studies have proven that washing chicken does not reduce bacteria. In addition, washing the chicken causes contaminated water droplets to splash onto other kitchen surfaces.
The best way to keep nachos crispy is to make as much as will easily be eaten. It's better to make a second batch than have soggy nachos!
More Easy Mexican Dishes
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Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounces jar of your favorite salsa
- 1 (1.5 ounce) packet of taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces diced green chilies
- 2 cups Mexican blend cheese shredded
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in the crockpot. Cover with salsa and sprinkle taco seasoning, black pepper, and green chilies on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2½-3 hours. When done cooking, shred the chicken with two forks and stir into the sauce.
- Turn the broiler on in your oven. Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet and sprinkle cheese over them.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
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- Place the chicken in the crockpot followed by the remaining ingredients. This allows the breasts to baste as they cook.
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- Shred your chicken as soon as its safe to do so. Hot meat shreds much more easily than cool meat.
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- Keep a close eye on your nachos when you broil them. It won't take long to melt the cheese.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Jessica says
These nachos were a huge hit at the last potluck. Thanks for the recipe!
Ryan Allen says
I am so glad that they were a hit at your potluck.