Loaded Chicken Nachos
Equipment
- baking paper
- Knife
Ingredients
- 250 g leftover roast chicken shredded
- 170 g tortilla chips lightly salted
- 100 g tasty cheese grated
- 125 g sour cream
- ยฝ teaspoon fajita seasoning
- 4 green onions sliced
- 4 tablespoons salsa
- 50 g jalapeรฑos pickled
- Fresh coriander to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200ยฐC.
- Combine the shredded chicken, fajita seasoning and lime juice, if using, in a bowl.
- Line the air fryer basket with baking paper.
- Arrange half the tortilla chips in the basket.
- Spoon over half the chicken mixture, half the salsa, half the cheese and half the green onions.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Use the baking paper to carefully lift the nachos onto a serving platter.
- Spoon over the sour cream and scatter with pickled jalapeรฑos and fresh coriander.
- Serve immediately.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the nachos immediately while the tortilla chips are still crisp and the cheese is hot and melted. They work particularly well as an Appetizer or informal sharing dish.Recipe Notes
Layering the tortilla chips, chicken, salsa and cheese rather than placing everything on top helps distribute the toppings throughout the nachos. Keep the sour cream, jalapeรฑos and coriander until after air frying.Using Leftover Chicken
Cold leftover roast chicken works perfectly for this recipe. Shred it into small pieces so it heats quickly and spreads evenly across the tortilla chips.Cooking Advice
Watch the nachos during the final few minutes because tortilla chips can brown quickly in an air fryer. The nachos are ready as soon as the cheese has melted and is bubbling.Wine Advice
A fresh, fruity wine works best with the salty tortilla chips, melted cheese and spicy jalapeรฑos. Choose a suitable bottle from Renรฉ’s Wijnbeleving.Nutrition values
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About Loaded Chicken Nachos
Loaded Chicken Nachos are a quick way to transform leftover roast chicken into a hot and satisfying sharing dish. Lightly salted tortilla chips are layered with seasoned chicken, salsa, grated cheese and green onions before being cooked in the Airfryer. Sour cream, pickled jalapeรฑos and fresh coriander are added after cooking for a combination of creamy, spicy and fresh flavours.
Using Leftover Roast Chicken
This recipe is particularly useful when there is a small amount of roast chicken left from another meal. Shredding the meat allows it to spread evenly through the nachos and means every layer gets some chicken.
Because the chicken is already cooked, it only needs to be heated through. This keeps the total cooking time short and prevents the meat from drying out.
Seasoning the Chicken
Fajita seasoning adds a mixture of warm spices without requiring several individual seasonings. Only a small amount is needed because the salsa, cheese and jalapeรฑos already contribute plenty of flavour.
Tossing the seasoning directly with the shredded chicken distributes it more evenly than simply sprinkling it over the finished nachos.
Choosing the Tortilla Chips
Lightly salted tortilla chips provide the crisp foundation for the dish. Sturdy chips work particularly well because they are better able to support the chicken, salsa and melted cheese.
Avoid using too much salsa between the layers. Excess liquid can soften the tortilla chips before they have a chance to become hot and crisp.
Building the Layers
Start with half the tortilla chips and add half the chicken, salsa, cheese and green onions. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
Layering rather than simply piling everything on top means there is melted cheese and seasoned chicken throughout the dish rather than only across the surface.
Cooking Nachos in the Air Fryer
The strong circulating heat of the air fryer melts the cheese quickly and warms the chicken while keeping the exposed tortilla chips crisp. The nachos need only around 8 to 10 minutes at 200ยฐC.
Using baking paper makes it considerably easier to transfer the finished nachos from the basket to a serving platter without leaving half the toppings behind.
Adding the Cold Toppings
Sour cream, pickled jalapeรฑos and fresh coriander are added after cooking. Keeping these ingredients cold provides a useful contrast with the hot cheese and chicken.
The sour cream also softens the heat from the jalapeรฑos, while coriander adds freshness to the rich cheese and seasoned chicken.
Adjusting the Heat
Pickled jalapeรฑos provide most of the chilli heat in the finished dish. Their quantity can easily be adjusted according to preference.
For a milder version, use fewer jalapeรฑos or serve them separately so everyone can add their own. For more heat, add extra jalapeรฑos immediately before serving.
Serving Ideas
These nachos are designed for sharing and are best placed in the centre of the table while still hot. They work well for an informal lunch, party or relaxed Main Course when served with additional side dishes.
Extra salsa, guacamole or sour cream can be served alongside for dipping. A fresh tomato or avocado salad also provides a lighter contrast to the cheese and tortilla chips.
Perfect for Cinco de Mayo
The Mexican-inspired flavours of tortilla chips, salsa, jalapeรฑos and seasoned chicken make these nachos particularly suitable for Cinco de Mayo. They are easy to share and can be served alongside other Mexican-style dishes as part of a larger spread.
Serving Immediately
Nachos do not improve by waiting. Once salsa, melted cheese and sour cream are combined with the tortilla chips, the chips gradually lose their crispness.
Have the cold toppings ready before the nachos finish cooking so they can be added immediately and the dish can go straight to the table.
Loaded Chicken Nachos combine crisp tortilla chips, seasoned leftover chicken, bubbling cheese, salsa, cooling sour cream and spicy jalapeรฑos in a quick air fryer dish. With only a few minutes of cooking, they are an easy way to give leftover roast chicken an entirely different second life.