Chipotle Braised Chicken Nachos.
Chipotle Braised Chicken Nachos. Slow cooked chicken, braised in cider beer, chipotle peppers, and enchilada sauce, then layered with tortilla chips, topped with two cheeses, baked in the oven until melty and perfect, and finished with avocado salsa. TOO GOOD! Equally as great for entertaining as they are for a fun dinner at home. No one can not love these nachos…easy to make, and so delish!
Thursday night nachos anyone? Kind of perfect for tonight, right?
First, there’s Thursday night football, which means game day food all around. Two, it’s Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday, which really just means the weekend is pretty much here, and we should start celebrating. Obviously.
So, nachos it is!
Okay, please excuse all my excitement, I’m just loving these nachos. Plus, it’s been a long week, and my brain is kind of all over the place right now. So I’m very much ready to enter weekend mode, even if it means pushing it a little. Anyone else in the same place today?
In all seriousness though, these nachos are really delicious, pretty easy to make, indulgent, but not overly so. And equally great for snacking as they are a Thursday night family dinner.
Here’s the story with these nachos.
It’s probably pretty obvious that I don’t tend to make nachos all that much. Well, let me rephrase that, I make nachos, but I don’t share them here on HBH very often.
Why? It’s pretty simple and comes down to two reasons…
One, nachos are down right one of the hardest foods to photograph, and we all know that I’m not the fondest of ugly food. That said, sometimes ugly food is just too good to not share. I just have to accept that it’s just not that pretty, but it’s extra delicious.
Two, if I’m being honest, when I do make nachos at home, I just cover tortilla chips in cheese, bake them, sprinkle with them herbs, and call it a day. Yep, that’s pretty much just cheesy chips. And while those are good, they’re not worthy of sharing the recipe (because it isn’t a recipe).
These nachos however? Much, much, more than cheesy chips, and 100% worth sharing the recipe.
When I set out to make these nachos, I made them with one person in mind, my oldest brother, Creighton.
He’s the Cleveland Brown’s most loyal fan, and with the Browns recent win (their first in 635 days…yes you read that right). I knew I had to create a recipe that he’d love. Enter in these extra cheesy, spicy, chicken filled nachos.
The details.
To start, you’ll braise a few chicken breasts in a mix of cider beer, chipotle peppers, and enchilada sauce. Yes, beer, chipotle and enchilada sauce. Complete game day food, and completely delicious.
The chicken slowly cooks in the cider beer, peppers, and enchilada sauce, soaking up all the spicy/smoky flavors. This takes about twenty or so minutes. Then you’ll shred the chicken and layer it with tortilla chips, and cheddar and pepper jack cheese.
Throw the nachos into the oven to melt the cheese, and while they are baking, make a quick avocado salsa. I love the addition of the avocado salsa. The creamy avocado adds a nice coolness to the dish, along with a bright pop of fresh green color.
Once the nachos are topped with salsa…DEVOUR.
The key to nachos is eating them immediately after baking, so don’t let these sit. As soon as you take them out, top with salsa, eat and enjoy! Trust me, if you make these tonight your Thursday night will be the highlight of your week.
If you make these Chipotle braised chicken nachos, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Chipotle Braised Chicken Nachos
Slow cooked chicken, braised in cider beer, chipotle peppers, and enchilada sauce, then layered with tortilla chips, topped with two cheeses, baked in the oven until melty and perfect, and finished with avocado salsa. Equally as great for entertaining as they are for a fun dinner at home.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped, use more or less to your taste
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon honey
- kosher salt
- 1/2 cup hard cider or your favorite beer
- 1 cup red enchilada sauce
- 1 large bag tortilla chips
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
Avocado Salsa
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- kosher salt
Instructions
-
1. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, chipotle peppers, paprika, honey, and a pinch of salt. Toss well to combine, making sure all the chicken gets coated in seasonings.
2. Heat the remaining olive oil in a large brasier or dutch oven over medium high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and sear on both sides, about 2-4 minutes per side. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the beer and 1/2 cup enchilada sauce, partially cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
3. Shred the chicken with 2 forks and continue to cook another 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens around the chicken. If desired, add the remaining 1/4 cup enchilada sauce. Remove from the heat.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. To assemble, layer the chips, chicken, and cheeses on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer, being sure to not over crowd the pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
6. Meanwhile, make the avocado salsa. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients.
7. Top the nachos with the avocado salsa. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Our Favorite Recipes
Pan Roasted Pomegranate Glazed Salmon.
It’s my birthday this weekend and we’re doing a family meal – so YES to this recipe – right on time!!
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBECCA!!?I hope its the perfect meal.
These nachos look yummy!!!! Superb recipe
Thanks so much Sheenam!
Not pretty?! These nachos are some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! ?
Haha, nachos are tough to make “pretty” but thank you so much for saying the photos of them are!! So nice.
Looks like another recipe I’m going to love! Quick question…by cider beer, do you mean hard cider? I live in the UK. I think what you mean is hard cider which is just called cider over here. (What is called apple cider in the US is called apple juice over here). Thanks!
HI! Hard cider is perfect and yes, it is what I mean! 🙂 Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Looks wonderful! I will make tonight. I’d like to make this without using cider beer. What would be a good sub? Cider vinegar? Mix of cider vinegar and apple cider?
Hi Kathy! I recommend using apple cider. That will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
What brand of tortilla chips did you use? Or did you make them yourself?
Hey Dana! I made the tortilla chips myself. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Looks amazing! Any suggestions for making this vegetarian?
Love how these nachos can easily be a main dish! 🙂
What is cider beer? Hard cider? And to the writer from the UK, apple juice, apple cider and hard cider are 3 different things in the US. Apple juice tends to be a clear, sweetened apple juice; apple cider is pressed apple juice without any filtering or added sweetness; hard cider is an alcoholic beverage, often lightly sparkling due to fermentation, typically around 4-5% alcohol and can range from sweet and appley to tart to dry like champagne. In Michigan USA, where I live, you can find more styles of hard cider than styles of beer, and usually an appley version works well in recipes vs. dry.
Hey Sue, so sorry for the confusion. I meant to write hard cider. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
These look sooooo good, I am drooling?
Thank you Sue!
These look amazing! I cannot wait to make them. Question, what kind of chips did you use here? They look homemade, if so how do you make them?
Hi Cassandra! I homemake all my tortilla chips with corn tortillas cut into 4 sections. I will do them one of two ways.. the first way is putting oil on a skillet, letting it heat and frying the cup up tortillas in the oil, flipping and taking them out when they’re crisp. Right after taking them out I salt them. The other way, is preheating the oven to 350 degrees F, oiling a baking pan and then baking the cup up tortillas for about 15 minutes, flipping half way through. Make sure they are crisp before taking them out. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Another amazing recipe!!! Thank you so much! Made these for my husband for his birthday dinner today…a little casual, but that’s only because I had a dinner party with the family yesterday and made your incredible Crockpot Cider Braised Short Ribs with Sage Butter Mashed Potatoes from October 2016. All of your food was (as always!) a major hit :-). You’re the best!!
That is so sweet! Happy Birthday to him! I am so glad you both loved this Jeannine! Thank you!
I love chipotle anything and these nachos look incredible!
Thank you Laura!
I’m glad I’m not the only one that doesn’t post really delicious recipes because I can’t photograph them cute, lol. You’re photos came beautiful and this recipe sounds amazing, as always!
Thank you so much Lauren!
Yep. This was SO GOOD. I made this Saturday as a “snack” – we ate so much of it that we had to reschedule our dinner date plans! It was sooo tasty!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Libby!
Oh man, that chicken is good. I just made the chicken and used it in tacos instead of making nachos, because as a single woman who only has time to cook a few times a week, leftover-ability is of prime importance to me. But the chicken was incredible, and it worked great in tacos!
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you so much Chelsea!
So here’s a story for you. I was at my best friend’s house the night prior and whiskey happened. So much whiskey. I wake up on a floor and drag my deeply hungover/ slightly still intoxicated self home. Upon arrival I think, “Wow, sobriety needs nachos.” Alas, my pantry’s chip supply was low, however I still had leftover fries from the pub. Oh yes, I made this with french fries instead of chips. It was glorious. What was not glorious was laying miserably on my bed, eating these horizontally like a pathetic waste of a human. I digress, make these people. They’re easy as pie and like any other nachos, you can just throw anything on here. I added some fried eggs, and the regrets of the night before. Tasty!
Haha such a great story behind these now! I am so glad you loved these and even with fries! Sounds delish! Thank you so much Shelby!
Holy cow – these are delicious!! Perfect fall football food. We’ll make these again!
I am so glad you loved this recipe, Melissa! Thank you!
These are gorgeous! I can’t wait to try a low carb version. I have some leftover smoked brisket I think would be a nice substitute. ?
Kristi | http://www.farmsteadchic.com
Yes I am sure it would be! I hope you love this, Kristi! xTieghan
My absolute favorite way to make nachos now. 🙂 This recipe has become a staple! Love the flavor the chipotle peppers give the nachos, and can’t go wrong if beer is in the recipe! Seriously love all your recipes I’ve tried so far. My favorite blog/recipe source by far.
Haha agreed! I am really glad you are loving this recipe, Andrea! Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
Hi Tiegan!
Love this recipe (and so many of your recipes). I reduced the leftover chipotle sauce after shredding the chicken and topped the nachos with the reduced sauce. It was great!
Allison
Thank you so much Allison! I am really glad you enjoyed these! xTieghan
SOOOO good. We added green pepper, onion, and black beans to the nachos themselves to feed more people and they were super good. Highly recommend this! Easy but impressive, definitely a crowd pleaser!!!!
Hey Tori,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hi,
Would there be a way to make this chicken in a crockpot instead of braising? I appreciate the help and excited to make!! Thank you for all of the deliciousness you send us!
Hey Sophie,
Totally, I would cook on low for 6-8 hours. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan