Loaded BBQ Nachos

Turn those tortilla chips into a meal by adding smoked meat, BBQ sauce, cheese and all of your favorite toppings. These Loaded BBQ Nachos are a crowd favorite!

This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

Pile some tortilla chips on a plate. Sprinkle a little (ok, a lot) of shredded cheese on top. Pop that plate into the microwave for about 20 seconds. Delicious! Sure, I’m guilty of making “microwave nachos” in the past. It’s hard to beat warm tortilla chips covered with melty cheese!

But sometimes you need real nachos. You know, the kind that you might order at a restaurant. Nachos with lots and lots of toppings. With meat…and 2 types of cheese! The kind of nachos that are basically a meal by themselves. And that’s where these Loaded BBQ Nachos come in.

Loaded BBQ Nachos

Imagine a BBQ sandwich made with smoked meat tossed in barbecue sauce. Now imagine cheesy nachos topped with all sorts of toppings. Now imagine those two together. These Loaded BBQ Nachos are definitely a meal by themselves, and they’re definitely delicious!

Ingredients for BBQ Nachos

Let’s take a look at the yummy layers of flavor that go into this nacho recipe:

• Smoked Meat. I went with pulled pork, but smoked brisket or shredded chicken would be excellent alternatives, too. I started with plain smoked meat and then tossed it in BBQ sauce. If your pulled pork/brisket/chicken is already coated in BBQ sauce, then you can skip that step.
• Barbeque Sauce. Use your favorite store-bought sauce here…or try this homemade North Carolina BBQ Sauce.
• Pinto Beans. Wait. Pinto beans on nachos!? Hear me out. Pinto beans are a great side dish next to BBQ pork sandwiches, right? So I decided to incorporate those beans into these nachos. Tip: Lightly smash the beans against the side of the bowl. That way they don’t roll off when you grab a loaded chip! If you’re not a fan of pinto beans, feel free to omit or use black beans instead.
• Seasonings. I kept it simple and went with Cajun seasoning, salt and some lime juice.
• Tomatoes, Pickled Jalapenos, Onions and Cilantro. Classic nacho toppings, so of course I had to include them here!
• Tortilla Chips. Just grab a bag of store-bought tortilla chips, but make sure they are sturdy chips. These loaded nachos need sturdy chips!
• Sour Cream. Mix some sour cream with BBQ sauce for a tasty sauce that gets drizzled over the nachos before serving.
• Cheese. You can’t have nachos without lots of shredded cheese! I went with a combination of 2 of my favorites – Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar and Cabot Pepper Jack. For a less spicy version, use Monterey Jack cheese in place of the Pepper Jack. For a spicier version, try substituting the sharp cheddar for Habanero Cheddar.

Tips for Making Nachos in the Oven

The biggest “secret” when it comes to making nachos in the oven is to layer the ingredients. Start by spreading ½ of the tortilla chips on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet. Add fun toppings – including some of the cheese. Spread the rest of the chips on top and then add the rest of the toppings. That way the chips on the bottom have the same amount of delicious toppings as the chips on top.

Nachos don’t need to bake for very long in the oven. I like to use the pop the sheet pan under the broiler for ~5 minutes. That should be enough to melt the cheeses and heat up the chips. Just be ready to dig in as soon as those chips come out of the oven!

Leftover Nachos

While we love to cook in our house, we also really appreciate leftovers. Unfortunately, nachos are one of those recipes where leftovers just don’t work. Reheating the chips usually leads to a soggy mess. If you’re concerned about having leftover nachos, I recommend making a smaller batch. You can always make another batch later!

If you’re looking for a fantastic weekend meal or a hearty appetizer for a game day party, then these Loaded BBQ Nachos need to make an appearance! They’re a crowd pleaser in the best possible way. I hope you enjoy these nachos as much as we do!

Did you make this Loaded BBQ Nachos recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!

Loaded BBQ Nachos

Turn those tortilla chips into a meal by adding smoked meat, BBQ sauce, cheese and all of your favorite toppings. These Loaded BBQ Nachos are a crowd favorite!

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 569kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1½ cups cooked pulled pork can substitute shredded rotisserie chicken or smoked brisket
• ¾ cup barbecue sauce divided
• 1 12-oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 2½ tsp Cajun seasoning divided
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 2 medium tomatoes chopped
• ¼ cup pickled jalapenos chopped
• ⅓ cup fresh chopped cilantro plus more for serving
• 10 oz. tortilla chips
• 2 Tbsp sour cream plus more for serving
• ½ cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese I used Cabot Pepper Jack
• ¼ cup diced red onions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese I used Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar cheese
• {optional} salsa for serving

Instructions

• Using a medium bowl, add the pulled pork (or chicken/brisket) and ½ cup of barbecue sauce; toss until well combined. Set bowl aside.
• Using a separate bowl, add the pinto beans, lime juice, 1½ tsp of Cajun seasoning and salt; stir until well combined. Use a wooden spoon to mash most of the beans against the side of the bowl.
• Using a separate bowl, add the tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro; stir until well combined.
• Finally, in another bowl, mix together the sour cream and remaining ¼ cup of barbecue sauce.
• Spread half of the chips in a single layer on a rimmed sheet pan.
• Spread meat, beans, half of the tomatoes and Pepper Jack cheese evenly over the chips.
• Spread rest of the chips on top.
• Spread red onions, remaining tomatoes, remaining 1 tsp of Cajun seasoning and shredded cheddar cheese on top of the chips. Drizzle sour cream mixture on top.
• Place pan under broiler for 5-6 minutes, or until cheese has fully melted and chips begin to turn brown.
• Garnish with additional sour cream and chopped cilantro before serving.
• {Optional} Serve with salsa on the side.

Looking for more nachos recipes? Check out these other favorites, too: